As a realtor I am often asked, what does it take to build a strong community? So I came up with this response which I have posted on several blogs and in my monthly newsletter.
Building a Strong Community
First and foremost, get out in the neighborhood and mingle with your neighbors. It’s not as hard as you think to get to know the people living in your community. It’s as simple as taking a walk and sending the right signals. Before you know it you’ll have new friendships you can rely on to be there when you need them most.
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- Take action - Don't just sit there and wait for the community to get better by itself. You need to get involved. Find out what you can do to make it a better place to live. Attend community meetings and put your two cents in.
- Volunteer your time, energy, money and yourself - Help clean up. Get a group of people together and pick up trash on the streets, on the side of the road, local parks or in alleys.
- Get to know your neighbors - Know the people that live around you. Building a strong community is a team effort. You can't do it on your own. So get to know your neighbors and make it a goal to make your community a better place to live.
- Wave and smile – This may not seem like much, but it’s the ice breaker. It lets your neighbor know you’re open to a friendship and gets the ball rolling for you.
- Encourage neighbors to maintain their homes and to have well maintained yards, shrubs and flowers - This adds to the beauty of the entire community. Are there elderly people who might need some help around the house? Offer up!
- Throw a party or plan a block party – One of the best ways to bond with your neighbors is to throw a party around your Bar-B-Q grill. Everyone loves a good BBQ. Better yet, organize and plan a pot-luck block party. Have a contest; who makes the best burgers or desert?
- Form a “welcoming committee” – Welcome all new neighbors into the neighborhood. Don’t forget to include them in all the community activities.
- Start a community newsletter – What’s happening in the neighborhood? Exciting news happens all the time. Who’s having a new baby? Who has a new job? Who just graduated from school? Who hit a home run at their last baseball game? Who scored the winning basket?
- Organize activities – Be a good neighbor and organize activities for the kids and adults. Organize a community day at the ballpark, a cook off, wine tasting, neighborhood yard sales, form a book club, invite neighbors over for dinner or a cookout, community clean-up day, plan a food drive or some other charitable event, etc. Get creative.
- Watch out for each other and have each others back – A neighborhood watch program is a good way to build not only a sense of community but a sense of safety. If you notice something odd going on at a neighbor’s house, let them know. If little Johnny rides his bike out into the road tell his parents. If you see something suspicious, call 911.
- Be friendly – Is there something going on? Find out how you can get involved and get involved.
- Support your local businesses - Try to shop at local businesses when you can, avoid big box stores. Mom & pop shops create a home town feeling and welcoming atmosphere. Don't let the big box stores take over your community. Remember, when you buy local the money stays local.
Be patient. Realize that making your community a better place to live will not happen overnight. It will take time, energy and money to get the job done. Remember, don't sit back and wait for it to happen. You have to get involved.
A strong community and a well maintained community add value to your investment, your home, and it improves the quality of life.