It’s easy to spot problems. We drive past them every day—empty buildings, underused parks, faded signage, and disconnected neighborhoods. But what if we shifted our mindset? What if, instead of seeing what’s broken, we chose to see what’s possible? Take Ash Grove’s empty Main Street. Yes, it’s a problem—vacant storefronts and quiet sidewalks aren’t what we hope for in the heart of a town. But if we step back and see it through the lens of possibility, it becomes a blank canvas. What could that space become? A boutique shopping district? A community hub? The opportunity is waiting for someone to imagine it. I read of one city in Ohio that owned the old four story hotel on the corner of their main intersection and had it priced for $4 million for over a decade. Finally, they decided to offer it for free to any developer that would invest (millions of dollars) in redeveloping it and now the town has a boutique hotel that is the anchor of a redeveloped downtown. It required someone to see ...

  This movie is being screened at the Moxie Cinema in Springfield, Missouri, on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. to launch Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Tickets are free and available online  but are limited in number. There will be a group discussion following the film. In a time when societal divisions often seem insurmountable, Leap of Faith offers a compelling testament to the power of dialogue, empathy, and shared humanity. Directed by Nicholas Ma and produced by Morgan Neville, this documentary follows 12 Christian pastors from Grand Rapids, Michigan—representing a spectrum of theological, racial, and political perspectives—as they embark on a year-long journey to bridge their differences through intentional conversation and fellowship. A Bold Experiment in Unity The pastors, brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum, engage in a series of retreats designed to confront contentious issues such as race, gender, and sexuality. Rather than seeking to resolve ...

  This movie (A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks) is being screened at the Moxie Cinema in Springfield, Missouri, on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. to conclude Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Tickets are  free and available online  but are limited in number. "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman (which is the book that is the basis for the movie, "A Man Called Otto"), is a touching and emotional novel about love, loss, and the power of community. At first, Ove seems like a grumpy old man who has no patience for anyone. He follows strict rules, dislikes change, and believes things should always be done the right way—his way. However, as the story unfolds, readers discover there is much more to Ove than just his tough exterior. His story is both heartwarming and inspiring, showing us the importance of kindness, understanding, and the impact we have on the lives of those around us. One of the most powerful aspects of this book is its message about relationships with neighbors....

In a world where moral ideals are often universalized, the concept of “loving your neighbor” can lose its practical edge. We say “everyone is my neighbor” and feel that this satisfies the command to love others. But what if that’s actually a loophole—a way to diffuse responsibility so broadly that we never have to act meaningfully? What if the point of the command is not abstraction, but proximity? What if it’s not about loving humanity in general, but about loving the people who share your fence, your street, or your apartment wall?   There’s something unsettling about how easily we substitute vague goodwill for concrete action. Loving “everyone” is noble in theory, but impossible in practice. No one can engage deeply with all 8 billion people on the planet. That’s not a moral goal—it’s an escape hatch. By saying everyone is our neighbor, we sometimes give ourselves permission to love no one in particular. We avoid the awkwardness of knocking on a door. We sidestep the effort of l...

  If you truly want to stand out in your neighborhood or community, don’t aim for status, flashiness, or power—be a person of peace and a truth teller. In a world where gossip travels faster than facts and conflict often drowns out compassion, peace and truth are radical. They are rare. And precisely because they are rare, they are powerful. Walter Scott, in his 1808 poem Marmion, observed, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Though centuries old, his words still ring with sharp relevance today. Deception—whether through outright lies, half-truths, or whispered rumors—creates a web that eventually entraps everyone it touches. In close-knit settings like neighborhoods, that web can spread fast. A single lie can fracture relationships, fuel suspicion, and tarnish reputations. And once trust is broken, it’s a long, hard road to rebuild it. Neighborhoods do not need deceivers or gossips—they need peacemakers and people who speak the truth, even w...

  Strong neighborhoods don’t just happen—they are built by people who care enough to connect, serve, and create spaces where everyone feels included. One of the most effective ways to inspire this kind of engagement is to celebrate those already doing it well. That’s where a citywide “Most Engaged Neighbor” nomination program comes in. This initiative (done as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week) provides residents with a platform to recognize neighbors who go above and beyond to build connection and community. It also raises awareness about the importance of neighboring, generates positive media coverage, and deepens trust between residents and city government. If you’re ready to start your own program, here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide—complete with ideas for forming a selection committee and celebrating winners in ways that leave a lasting impact. Step 1: Planning and Gaining Support (4–6 weeks before launch) Before launching the program, secure buy-in from city leader...

  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Residents of Missouri are encouraged to participate in appropriate events and activities to help establish connections with their neighbors during the fourth annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week from Sept. 28 to Oct 4. The official website for the week can be found at http://missourigoodneighborweek.com . The celebration is created, organized and supported by two organizations: University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. Missouri Good Neighbor Week was established by legislative action in 2022 and signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Parsons on July 1. This weeklong effort was recognized nationally in May of 2023 at the annual Neighborhoods USA conference as the “Neighborhood Program of the Year for the United States.” In 2024, over 31,000 acts of neighboring were reported across Missouri, 20 individuals were recognized as “Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbor” and five cities earned the title of Missouri’s Most Neighborly City:...

At a time when political arguments fill our screens and loneliness grips entire neighborhoods, Tim Jones has a radical remedy: set a longer table.  As the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Longer Tables, Jones has spent the last decade reclaiming the table as a place of connection, storytelling, and human belonging. I met Jones for the first time in 2023. But when I heard about his plan for a mile-long table in Denver on July 26, I bought a ticket—and then began thinking how we might do something similar during Missouri Good Neighbor Week. The Mile Long Table—a 5,280-foot table (symbolic of Denver’s altitude) – this year seated 3,650 people for a communal meal.  From Tacos to Transformation “I half-joke that I believe tacos could save the world,” began Jones. But behind the humor is a deep truth—food is universally human, and the table is a place where everyone belongs. “I have a hard time thinking of a place that feels like home, no matter where you grew up, how...