Happy New Year! Every year around this time, life is filled with hope and expectation. The possibilities seem endless. We’ve filled out vision boards, declared our resolutions, and committed that this year will be different than last! I’m rooting for you! As you embark on a new year bursting with potential, I hope you make significant progress towards your goals! I want to encourage you to not only dream of what your life could be, but to dream for your neighbors’ lives and the life of your neighborhood as well. 

Hello, friends. I am Danny Brister, Jr., and I want to help you dream. I love dreaming, don’t you? I love coming up with innovative ideas and solutions to challenging problems and ways I can use my life to influence and impact others positively. That’s why I write and serve as a coach and consultant to leaders seeking to transform their neighborhoods and communities. I want to serve leaders like you, what I call “everyday leaders”: mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, employees, and employers–the folks who make up our neighborhoods and drive this nation forward.  

Throughout January, I will share three articles focused on helping you Learn, Love, and Lead in your neighborhood. What’s the goal? Since you are reading this piece on The Hopeful Neighborhood Project‘s blog, you are probably interested in learning more about a hopeful neighborhood. I aim to ignite your curiosity into a vision for the place you call home. So, let’s get started.  

I’ve learned that not all neighborhoods are the same, but all neighborhoods are beautiful because of the people and the history they hold.

Learning Your Neighborhood 

Do you know your neighbors or the characteristics that make your neighborhood unique? I’ve learned that not all neighborhoods are the same, but all neighborhoods are beautiful because of the people and the history they hold. I’ve been married for almost twelve years, and my wife and I have had the privilege of living in three distinct places. The first two were both historic neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama, initially built for local mining and steel mill workers. We fell in love in the first neighborhood. My wife served children going through difficult seasons at a local group home that was within walking distance from our house, and I moved into that neighborhood as a young community organizer to be a part of the development that was taking place. 

While many people from outside our neighborhood wouldn’t consider it to be very beautiful or an ideal place to live, we loved it. We had a close group of friends who lived within walking distance of our home. I would spend mornings and evenings running through the neighborhood. We met people who were going through different life circumstances than us and invited them into our home and got to know them as neighbors. 

Often, we only get to see some of what our neighborhood offers because we are so busy going from place to place. Getting to know your neighbors can be difficult, but there is beauty in slowing down and truly enjoying the places we call home.  

Here are a few tips I’ve used to learn about my neighborhood and neighbors over the years.  

1. Walking: Walking or running allows you to explore your neighborhood and meet new neighbors. It invites you to wander down unfamiliar streets and encounter fresh faces. I understand that this may only be possible for some. I used to live in a community where running presented a few challenges. Unfortunately, things like wild stray dogs and unsuspected violence happen in our neighborhoods as well. Being aware of these challenges gives us an opportunity to love the people impacted by these daily realities, then lead and advocate for safer places. We will discuss this in more detail in the next two posts.  

2. Attending a Neighborhood or Homeowners Association Meeting: Does your neighborhood have a regular gathering of the people who live there? In my city, we have ninety-nine neighborhoods that make up twenty-three communities, and each of those ninety-nine neighborhoods has what’s known as a Neighborhood Association led by the people who live there. These meetings are a great place to learn more about what’s going on in your neighborhood. Often, city leadership sends representatives from the police department, fire department, and community development office to give updates on crime, hazards, and city plans for development or grants.  

3. Utilizing Shared Spaces: When our small family moved into our second neighborhood, we loved how connected everything seemed. We enjoyed visiting our local library, which was within walking distance of our home. A local park had fallen into disrepair, but the city had worked diligently to reopen it. At this time, my wife ran a small entertainment company. Because she connected with the local arts collaborative, she had the opportunity to set up a booth for its grand opening and provide face painting and balloon sculpturing for children. The local National Night Out block party, an annual event meant to bring communities together with their police forces, was hosted right up the street from our house. So many neighborhoods have these shared spaces that are often underutilized. Places like libraries, school gymnasiums, community centers, parks, churches, or other houses of worship are great places to get to know our neighbors and learn about their experiences.  

Friends, these are just a few ways to learn more about your neighborhood and neighbors. Take some time this week to either create a plan to visit unfamiliar places or spontaneously go for a walk. You won’t regret it. Let’s fill our hearts with hope and our minds with possibilities for the places we call home.