Neighbor to Neighbor
photo by elaine casap
Connect with your neighbors.
Welcome! Are you here because you want to strengthen connections in your neighborhood? Just curious and not ready to take action? Trying but feel overwhelmed or stalled out? We can help!
Below are a collection of resources to help build relationships with those in your immediate community (i.e., “neighborhood pod”). Some provide a framework for doing this and some provide very practical ideas. If you feel stuck, reach out to us to brainstorm and get support.
Neighborhood Maps
To help neighborhoods organize during the pandemic, BAMA created maps. These are not “official” designations and boundaries drawn are meant only to be useful. Please choose the neighborhood that you feel the most connected to based on your neighborly connections.
Many people reported that having a named neighborhood helped them and others develop a sense of community around where they live, not only as a resident of Brattleboro, but where they live in town.
If it helps in your current-day organizing and strengthening neighborhood connections, please click on the image to find all of the maps.
Bright Ideas
Crowd-sourced inspiration from members of our community for fostering connections in our neighborhoods
Get together with one or two other people you know to plan a neighborhood potluck. Send invitations the old-fashioned way, a flyer or postcard delivered to each home. If there are apartments, leave an invitation for each residence or several in a common location.
Grow extra veggies (or flowers!) and put them where neighbors can easily get them when walking, biking, or driving by. Invite them to leave a note introducing themselves (put out note cards, pens, and a container). If you live on a busy road, take your own privacy needs into consideration.
Start a neighborhood group through email, text, or a messaging app (i.e., WhatsApp). Begin with the people you know and ask them to reach out to others in the neighborhood.
Go for a walk and say “hello” when you see your neighbors. Sometimes the smallest acts set bigger things into motion.
Organize a neighborhood team for Green Up Day or any day during the year to clean up litter.
Additional Resources
Neighborhood Pods
video workshop
Beautiful Solutions
ideas & inspiration
Mutual Aid Toolbox
resources & guides