What Makes a Neighborhood Feel Like Home?
I recently finished Dawn Staley's powerful memoir Uncommon Favor, and one quote stopped me in my tracks:
"My neighborhood felt like a neighborhood. Yes, we shared struggles and pain, but we also shared our happiness and hope."
This got me thinking about my own childhood in Birmingham's East Thomas neighborhood, and what truly makes a community thrive. It's not about perfect conditions or pristine infrastructure—it's about the people and the connections they build together.
In my latest piece for The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, I explore The 4 C's of Thriving that can transform any neighborhood into a place where people genuinely share life together:
Conditions - Understanding where your community stands
Connections - Finding the places where neighbors naturally gather
Collaborations - Working together through existing networks
Commitments - Building lasting bonds that sustain community care
Whether you're looking at your neighborhood through rose-colored glasses or feeling discouraged by its challenges, there's hope. Every neighborhood has the potential to become a place where people don't just live side by side, but truly share happiness and hope together.
Read the full post: "Creating Community in Your Neighborhood" →
What makes your neighborhood feel like home? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.