Good Neighbors, Make Good Neighbors.

Robert Frost claimed that, "good fences make good neighbors"- but if you have intentions to create a happy and safe neighborhood, then forget the fences, walls and barriers and instead, think about what you can do to contribute and lead by example. After all, being part of a community is directly related to a sense of well-being - so, why not start close to home, in your very own neighborhood.

There are some simple steps you can follow, that may seem self-evident. But every little bit will count as you forge toward creating a great sense of community in your neighborhood. Begin by the simplest of greetings and when you have the chance to say, "Hi" to a neighbor passing by, then by all means do so. You need to encourage the openness to get to know the people in your neighborhood. Once you start the trend, hopefully others will follow and more spontaneous meetings will occur.

Organize a block, or street party. Creating social opportunities that are just for your neighborhood, offer a fabulous way to get people together and chatting. The wonderful thing about these gathering is that you can learn more about the people who surround you, and begin to tune into what sorts of issues and concerns, hopes and dreams others might have for the area. These sorts of events may seem scary to dive into. But someone needs to be the first to extend an open invitation, so why not make it yourself? Likewise, if you're relatively new to the area, these sorts of gatherings can be a great way to learn the inside scoop on the community. You might also become aquatinted with other neighborhood newbies - this can be a great way to start a lasting friendship.

If you have a concern about a particular issue that's affecting your neighborhood, chances are others are also concerned. Organize an informal gathering to discuss issues that concern you - anything from crime, new development to city maintenance, or whatever you feel will improve your area. Having a collective vision as a neighborhood will only strengthen the neighborhood's sense of community and work to make for a better quality of living.

If you can, offering your services to someone in need will promote some of the best in old fashioned community ethics. Maybe you notice a family gearing up to head out for a holiday - can you offer to do some watering for them, or to just keep an eye on the house? In many cases folks have already arranged for such things, but by being the neighbor who offers a helping hand you're truly promoting "neighborly" behavior.

Promoting the creation of a neighborhood watch programs is yet another healthy way to create a safer neighborhood, but also to get people together on a regular basis. The most important aspect in creating a better neighborhood, is to promote such social interaction.

Another idea is to create a neighborhood fundraiser for a charity or for other neighborhoods in need. This is a wonderful way to get people thinking about all the positive aspects of their neighborhood, that might otherwise be taken for granted - to reflect on what you have and not to complain about what you haven't. When people can get together with a focus on other people, the best of the human spirit shines through.

On this note, an idea might be to create a fruit tree gleaning group in which homeowners volunteer excess fruit on their trees and neighborhood volunteers get together to pick the fruit. The fruit can then be donated to local food charities. Such an event brings neighbors together in the spirit of giving, and makes everyone feel like their neighborhood has contributed to the well-being of the entire community. And, so they have!

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