Why Good Neighboring is Important

Good neighboring activities promote stronger, healthier communities. Studies show that the kinds of relationships formed among neighbors involved in block projects, parties and other neighborly activities improve the health, safety and overall well-being of residents. Recent publications such as Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, lament the current trend in the U.S. for people to be increasingly isolated from their neighbors and communities.

Public health experts are finding that an individual's well-being is the product not just of his/her behaviors and emotions but more of the way they feed into a larger social network. If a subject's neighbor is happy, that subject is 34% more likely to be happy too. A happy neighbor had more apparent influence on one's happiness than siblings or friends living within a mile, or a co-resident spouse! (TIME December 22, 2008)

The goodwill among neighbors throughout the state leveraged by NRC’s Good Neighboring program serve to reverse these isolating tendencies and helps to sustain the strength of our neighborhoods. Furthermore, a Kettering Foundation study on Citizens and Politics found that people need to relearn the skills of developing essential community relationships and how to build positive traditions in their neighborhoods. Good neighboring activities can develop essential community relationships and promote stronger, healthier communities.

Good Neighboring micro-grants and Party Pak's are essential ingredients to NRC-Colorado’s Good Neighboring initiative, which inspire efforts at the block level to connect neighbors. These block-level activities are particularly effective in bringing lasting relationships among neighbors. They provide residents a tool for community-building with ease and fun. NRC-Colorado’s Good Neighboring project provides incentives for people to get to know their neighbors better and create a safer and more pleasing environment, which leads to a healthier life.

The message of good neighboring is given wider exposure through NRC-Colorado’s annual statewide promotional effort broadcasting the value and benefits of these community-building strategies with local and regional media. Although historically the largest portion of NRC-Colorado’s constituency lives predominantly along the Front Range, all Colorado residents are invited to participate in NRC-Colorado’s Good Neighboring project. The increasing availability of our program materials through our Web site allows these efforts to be accessible throughout Colorado.

The people who willingly organize block activities already believe in the value and importance of making their communities better places to live. The incentives offered by NRC-Colorado’s Good Neighboring program, particularly the Good Neighboring micro-grants and Party Paks with Safeway certificates prompt these active community members to prompt others on their block to join with them to create lasting connections among neighbors thereby promoting a stronger, healthier community