Connecting in Community Step 6: CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS

We want to engage our whole community in peacebuilding, so we’re giving you 10 small, easy things you can do to start connecting in your community by understanding yourself, your context, the people in your community, and the conflicts in your setting. Check out Step 1 , Step 2, Step 3, Step 4 , and Step 5.

Step 6 is an obvious one: CONNECTING WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. Healthy communities are built when neighbors know, trust, and care for each other, so this one is important.


Here are some suggestions:

Draw or print out a map of your street or block. For every home, write the names of the residents that you know.

• How many do you know?

• How well do you know them, and how often do you connect?

• How well do you think they know each other?


Reconnect with a neighbor you haven’t talked to in awhile.

• Make a point to bump into them on the street

• Call them over for a beverage and a chat or invite them over for a last-minute dinner. Not available? Try someone else!


Have neighbors you don’t know? Find an excuse to introduce yourself. If they’re new, put together a welcome basket and say hello. If they’ve been around awhile, consider asking for their help with something easy, or borrow something small. Maybe head their way if you see them outside. Or just embrace the awkwardness, tell them you’re trying to get to know more of your neighbors, and dive in!