April showers are here, May flowers are coming, and before too long, the dog days of summer will be, too. So NOW is the time to neighbor.
Did I just turn it into a verb? Yes. YES I DID!!
Hat tip to my local Johnson County Health Department for creating neighborhood grants to combat social isolation... How, you ask?
One local TV station called it - Paid to Party! (Thanks to our friends at KCTV5 for today’s fun headline.) Neighborhoods could apply for grants to pay for low-barrier neighborhood activities (think ice cream social, potluck, tailgate, game night, etc.)
Kudos to North Kansas City for a similar program.
I love this so much - especially, as you’ll see below, because it originated in the Health Department. Building community is a positive health factor. Period. From the grant application page:
When neighbors know each other, communities thrive. Stronger Together is a Johnson County Department of Health and Environment initiative that helps Johnson County, Kansas, neighborhoods host block parties and community events that bring people together, strengthen relationships and build a greater sense of belonging.
Neighborhoods with strong connections are more resilient, inclusive and supportive. When people know and trust their neighbors, they’re better prepared to respond to and recover from disasters or other emergencies.
The response was overwhelming and far exceeded the grant budget, so they closed applications and provided the toolkit for free. Bring this idea to your community by saving the documents linked here and sharing this post.
What has your neighborhood done lately to build community? I’d love to hear and share your ideas!
Happy serving,
Stephanie Sharp
About Serve60Sharp
Serve60Sharp is a weekly, read-in-60-seconds newsletter, which provides readers with actionable ideas to serve their communities.