"Communities work better (students perform better,
crime rates are lower, kids are safer, people live longer) when neighbors know
one another better. Knowing your neighbor on a first-name basis...is a
surprisingly effective first step."
- Robert Putnam, Harvard Public Policy Professor and author of Bowling Alone
- Robert Putnam, Harvard Public Policy Professor and author of Bowling Alone
While advancements in technology have made it
possible for us to connect with people from around the world, numerous studies
show that it has led to a decline in face-to-face interactions.1
Places where we used to strike up casual
conversations—such as a doctor’s office waiting room, bus stop or grocery
line—are now filled with people looking at their smart phones, barely
acknowledging those around them.
Even many families dining together or relaxing
in the evenings can be caught spending more time focused on screens than each
other. Is it any surprise that we’ve experienced a steady decline in community
involvement?
In his book Bowling Alone, Harvard Public Policy Professor Robert Putnam “draws
on evidence including nearly 500,000 interviews over the last quarter century
to show that we sign fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations that meet,
know our neighbors less, meet with friends less frequently, and even socialize
with our families less often.”2
How is
this shift impacting our overall well being? A study
by Oregon Health & Science University researchers found that having limited
face-to-face social contact nearly doubles an individual’s risk of depression.3
CONNECTING
WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
If you’re considering a move to a new city or
neighborhood, you may be worried about replacing the comfort and support of
family and friends you’ll leave behind. Or perhaps you have completed a move
but would like to meet more people, build friendships and strengthen your
support system.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 ways you
can utilize technology to foster in-person connections with your neighbors,
make friends and get engaged in your local community.
1. JOIN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD’S SOCIAL NETWORK
A growing number of neighborhoods are
utilizing private social networks like U.S.-based Nextdoor and Canadian-based GoNeighbour.
These platforms are designed specifically to connect neighbors and include an
address verification process.
Residents post about a variety of topics,
including neighborhood news, recommendations for local businesses, lost pets,
etc. These platforms are a great way to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in
your neighborhood, but don’t just use them to connect virtually. Extend an
invitation to your neighbors to attend an in-person event, such as a park
playdate for families, an informal soccer game or a potluck block party.
2.
ATTEND A PLACE OF WORSHIP
If you have a religious affiliation, joining a
local place of worship is great way to meet people and get involved in your
community. Aside from attending services, most religious institutions also host
extracurricular activities to foster fellowship amongst the congregation.
Whether you are looking to join a church,
synagogue, mosque or temple, there are a variety of online resources available
to help you find a match in your area, including:
●
Church Finder
(Christian Churches)
●
MavenSearch (Jewish Synagogues)
●
Salatomatic
(Islamic Mosques)
●
All Hindu
Temples (Hindu Temples)
●
Buddhanet (Buddhist Temples)
To make the most of your affiliation, look for
opportunities to meet in smaller group settings. It’s a great way to form
interpersonal relationships with people who share your beliefs and values.
3. FIND
AN INTEREST GROUP
Whatever your favorite hobby or pastime,
you’re guaranteed to meet people who share your interests when you join an
interest group!
The website Meetup.com has over 32 million members in
288,000 groups in 182 countries. You can search for a group in your area that
appeals to you … from book clubs to running groups to professional networking,
they have it all.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you
can start your own group for a monthly fee. The site makes it easy to ask (or
require) members to pitch in to cover the cost. It also enables you to promote
a corporate sponsor on your page, so you may be able to find a local business
to cover the cost.
Most people who join Meetup are there for the
same reason you are … to meet people who share their interests. So it’s a great
place to make like-minded friends in your community.
4. LEND
A HAND
Volunteering your time and talents is another
good way to get engaged in your community and meet those who share a similar
mission.
Most nonprofit organizations rely heavily on
volunteers. Find one with a cause you’re passionate about by visiting VolunteerMatch.
You can search by cause, location and
keywords, and filter your results to include opportunities that are suitable
for kids, seniors or groups. Another option is to search for volunteer
positions that require specialized skills. Perhaps you’re musical or maybe
you’re good with computers. There could be an organization in your area that
needs your talents or skills.
Lotsa Helping Hands is another site focused on
connecting volunteers with those in need. Members can request help or search
for opportunities to assist others in their area. Most of the volunteer
opportunities involve aiding neighbors who are ill or elderly by delivering meals,
offering rides to appointments or just stopping by for a visit. This can be a
great way to make a direct impact on your neighbors who need a helping hand!
5. TAKE
A CLASS
Taking a class is a wonderful way to develop a
skill while meeting people who share your interests and passion for learning.
Whether you want to brush up on your Spanish,
finish your novel, or learn how to tango, most community colleges offer
inexpensive, non-credit classes on a variety of topics.
And if you are pursuing a degree, forego
taking your courses online. Opt for the traditional route instead. There’s no
substitute for being part of a live community of your peers.
To search for a community college in your
area, visit the American Association of Community Colleges or SchoolsInCanada.com.
6.
ATTEND AN EVENT
Attending a live event is another way to
engage with members of your community. From festivals to fundraisers to
retreats, Eventbrite
is a great place to search for events in your area. You can filter your search
by category, event type, date and price to find something that fits your
interests, schedule and budget.
Be strategic about the type of event you
choose. For example, while attending a large festival might be a fun way to
feel engaged with your community, it might also be harder to meet people. A
retreat or a networking event may offer more opportunities for one-on-one
interaction.
7.
SHARE YOUR STUFF
Everyone’s talking about the rise of the
“sharing economy” with the popularity of Uber and Airbnb. But there’s also been
a rise in “sharing communities,” which facilitate the free exchange of goods
among neighbors to reduce consumption and keep usable items out of landfills.
Nonprofit groups like The Freecycle
Network are made up of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for
free in their own towns and neighborhoods. Members can post “offers” of free
items or “wanted” items they need.
The company Peerby has a similar goal of reducing
consumption by encouraging neighbors to lend and borrow items they don’t often
use. For example, you can offer to share your blender, rake or ladder. Maybe
you need to borrow a drill, cake pan or moving trolley. Peerby enables you to
request items to borrow from your neighbors and encourages you to register
items you are willing to lend.
The Little Free Library is another innovative way
neighbors are participating in a sharing community. Stewards build or purchase a box to house
the library and fill it with books they are willing to give away. The library
is usually placed in their front yard or in a public outdoor space. Visitors
are encouraged to take a book they’d like to read, and in exchange leave a book
for someone else to enjoy. With over 60,000 libraries in 80 countries, the
organization estimates millions of books are exchanged annually among
neighbors.
8.
SUPPORT A COMMUNITY GARDEN
Community gardens have become increasingly
popular in both urban and rural areas across North America. Not only do they
beautify a neighborhood, they also foster community, encourage self-reliance,
reduce family food budgets, conserve resources, and provide opportunities for
recreation and exercise.
The mission of the American
Community Gardening Association is to build community by increasing
and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and
Canada. The organization’s website enables you to search for existing community
gardens in your area. If there isn’t one nearby, you might considering starting
one. The site provides helpful tips and resources for organizing a garden in
your neighborhood.
9.
CARPOOL WITH A COWORKER
In the spirit of joining a “sharing
community,” carpooling offers many similar benefits. It presents an opportunity
to form a bond with coworkers and/or neighbors during your daily commute.
Additionally, you can save money on gas, reduce wear-and-tear on your vehicle, lower
carbon emissions, and in many cities reduce your commute time by taking
advantage of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) travel lanes.
The success of ridesharing companies like Uber
and Lyft has spurred a new wave of carpooling websites and apps that aim to
revolutionize the way we commute by making it easier and more convenient to
carpool. While many of these are still in their infancy stages, they are
expanding into new markets and improving functionality at a rapid pace.
Kangaride Local, Scoop
and Waze
Carpool are just a few examples, and more are popping up every day.
They are currently available in limited markets throughout the United States
and Canada, but are becoming prevalent in more cities as residents opt-in.
Check to see if any of these are available in your local area.
Alternatively, you can try posting on your
neighborhood’s social network to see if one or more of your neighbors are
commuting to a nearby location. Take turns driving and start benefiting from
all that carpooling has to offer!
10.
PARTICIPATE IN WORLD NEIGHBORS DAY
The organizers behind World
Neighbors Day promote it as “an invitation to share a moment with
your neighbors, to get to know each other better and develop a real sense of
community.”
In Canada it’s held on the second Saturday in
June, and in the United States it’s held on the third Sunday in September.
Participants are encouraged to organize gatherings with their neighbors to
build relationships that “form the fabric of our communities.”
You can participate by attending or organizing
a gathering in your neighborhood. Examples include: a block party, outdoor
movie screening, book exchange, charity bake sale, volleyball game, etc.
Anything that brings neighbors together in a fun and relaxed setting is a good
choice!
Gatherings can be promoted through your
neighborhood’s social media network, blog or listserv, or you can go the
old-fashioned route and hand out flyers door-to-door. Whatever you do, be sure
to make your gathering inclusive and welcoming to all.
BE A
GOOD NEIGHBOR
As with anything in life, you will get out
what you put in. It can take time to build lasting and meaningful friendships
with your neighbors, but the effort you make is likely to pay off tenfold.
The tried-and-true way to make friends, expand
your circle, grow your support system and get engaged in your community? Be a
good neighbor yourself.
What
are the best ways you’ve found to meet and engage with your neighbors? Share
your success stories or challenges in the comments below!
Sources:
1. Lengacher, L. (2015) Mobile
Technology: Its Effect on Face-to-Face Communication and Interpersonal
Interaction. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences –
http://www.kon.org/urc/v14/lengacher.html
http://www.kon.org/urc/v14/lengacher.html
3. Bergland, C. (2015 October 5)
Face-to-Face Social Contact Reduces Risk of Depression. Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201510/face-face-social-contact-reduces-risk-depression
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201510/face-face-social-contact-reduces-risk-depression