Decide to be an engaged neighbor and make 2025 the year of community

Many years ago, my wife and I had a friend who came home to find that her husband had died on their porch. Their house was on a busy street and we often wondered how many people had seen him lying there without stopping to help him. This story reflects a troubling trend: people passing by without noticing or caring about someone in need.

Neighbors are often the people closest to us in an emergency, acting as first responders when help is needed. Yet it seems more common today for neighbors to remain disconnected and focused on their own lives. This may be partly due to distractions, like technology, but it also shows a decline in empathy and concern for others.

Building Trust Builds Community

Trust is the foundation of any community. When neighbors trust each other, they create stronger bonds and a sense of belonging. People are more likely to help each other, share resources, and work together. This creates a positive environment where everyone feels cared for and invested in each other’s well-being.

Communities where trust is strong are more vibrant. People participate in neighborhood activities, look out for each other, and form a common identity. Trust doesn’t just make individuals feel supported: it strengthens the entire neighborhood.

Trust creates security

When neighbors trust each other, they look out for each other. This vigilance can prevent crime and make communities safer. Trusted neighbors can organize surveillance programs or simply keep an eye out for anything unusual. This feeling of shared responsibility makes it more difficult for criminal behavior to occur.

The feeling of safety in your community does not happen by chance: it is built through relationships based on trust.

Resolve disputes peacefully

Conflicts arise, even in the best neighborhoods. Whether it’s noise, property lines, or other disagreements, trust makes it easier to resolve problems peacefully. Neighbors who trust each other are more likely to talk openly and find solutions. Instead of making problems worse, they build on mutual respect and understanding.

This ability to calmly resolve conflicts maintains a positive and cooperative community atmosphere.

Stronger together

Trust also leads to collective success. Neighbors who trust each other can pool their skills and resources to improve their neighborhood. Whether it’s planning a block party, creating shared spaces, or advocating for local improvements, working together makes the neighborhood stronger.

Commit to making a difference

Trust is at the heart of any great neighborhood. It promotes connection, security and shared success. By getting to know our neighbors, showing empathy, and building relationships, we can create communities where everyone feels supported and valued. Let us strive to be caring, trusting neighbors who make a difference every day.

One of the core principles of my Engaged Neighbor Principles (engagedneighbor.com) is empathy, an important part of building trust between immediate neighbors. Take the pledge from an engaged neighbor today and learn more about the principles in 2025.

David Burton is a community development specialist at University of Missouri Extension and author of Engaged Neighbor Principles.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Need a New Year’s resolution? Commit to being a better neighbor | Notice