Day to Week: Upsizing National Good Neighbor Day
On September 28, people across the U.S. will be celebrating National Good Neighbor Day (NGND). It’s a day dedicated to the spirit of being neighborly in its many forms: a simple hello, a shared plate of goodies, a hands-on effort that benefits a neighborhood, or a community project getting businesses, churches, or other civic groups working together. While most locations do their neighborly thing in one day, others spread their efforts out over an entire week.
In Orlando, Florida, the city is launching Orlando Good Neighbor Week, from Sunday, September 27, through Saturday, October 3. Spearheading this ambitious project is founder Megan Ginn. She says she and task force members “hope to celebrate and honor local communities to develop a sense of ‘we-ness’ across Orlando. In other words: What makes people proud to call this city home?” Taking ideas from other states, Orlando is creating Good Neighbor Nominations like Missouri did to brag about one’s neighbors, and tying in area events to connect people and celebrate neighborhoods like San Francisco.
While Orlando’s upcoming week-long celebration involves many dedicated individuals, often the impulse to do a Good Neighbor Day starts with a simple conversation—or even the inspired idea of a single person. “Every story I hear of good neighboring starts with one thing: someone making a first connection. This could be taking flowers to a neighbor, sharing some homegrown vegetables, or just asking a few questions to learn more about someone,” says Jennifer Prophete, director of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project and National Good Neighbor Day. “All these small things lead to celebrations, community, and a welcome sense of safety and belonging in one’s community that changes a person’s outlook on life and their well-being. Those are big outcomes, but they always start with one small act of connection.”
Wherever the spark comes from, at nationalgoodneighborday.org, you’ll find free “Getting Started” guides for involving churches, libraries, coffee shops, local governments, neighborhood HOAs, and individuals. New this year are guides for starting your own neighborhood good neighbor week and for engaging area businesses.
Each year’s momentum is increasing. NGND now has 24 (and counting) official partners. More states and local governments are joining in, too. “This year Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill to make NGND an official day of recognition in his state,” Prophete adds. “The movement is growing one person, one state, at a time.”
For ideas to improve your neighborhood any day of the year, visit hopefulneighborhood.org.