The Good Neighbor News
“THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS”
November 2022
Community Renewal International awarded $1 Million Opus Prize in honor of founder Mack McCarter
With great pleasure, excitement and gratitude, we are honored to announce that Community Renewal International, in honor of founder Mack McCarter, has been awarded a $1 million prize from the Opus Prize Foundation.
Opus Prize laureates prove change is possible, empowering and inspiring us all. Community Renewal is a movement of HOPE helping to restore the relational fabric of our lives and create safe, connected and caring communities. It’s a movement that makes a life-changing difference!
SENSATIONAL DOUBLE LAYER PUMPKIN PIE
Looking for a delicious autumn dessert to enjoy with your neighbors?
This “Sensational Double Layer Pumpkin Pie” is sure to please!
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 T half & half
1 T sugar
1 1/2 cup Cool Whip, thawed
1 graham cracker crust
1 cup half & half
2 pkgs vanilla instant pudding
1 can of pumpkin (16 oz)
1/2 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cloves
Mix cream cheese, 1 T half and half, and sugar in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Gently stir in cool whip and spread mixture on graham cracker crust. Pour 1 cup of half and half in bowl with vanilla pudding and mix until well blended. Blend in pumpkin and spices, Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill for 3 hours and garnish with cool whip and nuts.
“ROCK AND ROLL NEIGHBOR PARTY”
Last month we enjoyed a “rock and roll party” outside on our street. We painted rocks and enjoyed ham and cheese roll sandwiches! Everyone had lots of fun and now we have a collection of colorfully decorated rocks to display in one of our neighbor’s front yards.
Want to have your own “rock and roll” party? You can order painting rocks from Amazon if you want them all to be the same shape and size, or you can collect some from your own neighborhood.
And these “Hot Ham and Cheese Rolls” are so tasty!
Ingredients:
3/4 lb Monterey Jack cheese
16 oz sliced honey ham
4 pkgs Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
4 T sugar
2 sticks margarine
2 T minced onion
4 T Durkee sauce
4 T poppy seeds (optional)
Slice rolls and fill each with ham and cheese. Mix sauce ingredients and pour over rolls. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
HOLIDAY COOKIE SWAP
A simple and fun idea for the holiday season is to host a neighbor cookie swap!
Make a big batch of hot chocolate and invite your neighbors to come over with 1 dozen cookies.
Enjoy the hot chocolate and a cookie or two while you chat, and then invite everyone to take home an assortment of the remaining cookies to enjoy later!
Looking for a great holiday cookie recipe?
These Chewy Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are delicious and festive!
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 tsp natural peppermint extract
1 1/4 cup unbleached flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 candy cane (finely crushed)
1/3 cup dark, bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes. Add egg, peppermint extract and beat until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder. Mix in chocolate chips and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes. Form the dough into small balls and place on baking sheet. Press the tops down and then top with a few more chocolate chips. Bake for 10-12 minutes and sprinkle with crushed candy cane.
BLOCK LEADER GATHERING ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13
All are welcome to join us for the next Block Leader Gathering at Allison Finch’s home (7512 Orrick Drive, Austin, TX, 78749) from 6-7:30 pm on Sunday, November 13.
Block Leader Gatherings are a friendly and casual way to support one another in keeping our neighbors connected in friendship.
Can’t join us on November 13? Mark your calendar for our Block Leader Gathering on January 8, 2023 from 4-5:30 pm.
“THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS”
September/October 2022
COOKIES AND COMMUNITY
Do you enjoy baking? Making a batch of cookies and sharing with your neighbors is a simple way to show you care.
Here’s an easy Snickerdoodle Cookie recipe that you could bake and share with your neighbors this weekend…
“Super Easy Snickerdoodles”
Preheat oven to 375°F for a non-stick cookie sheet
Cream 1/2 cup butter
Add 3/4 cup sugar and mix.
Sift 1 & 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder into the mixture.
Add 1 egg and mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the topping.
Shape the dough into walnut size balls and roll in topping mixture. (If your dough is too sticky, put it in the freezer for roughly 15 minutes or until firm enough to handle.)
Place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 - 10 minutes
"Sometimes me think what is love, and then me think love is what last cookie is for. Me give up the last cookie for you." - Cookie Monster
“NATIONAL NIGHT OUT”
National Night Out (NNO) is coming up on Tuesday, October 4. This is a great night to host an outdoor gathering with your neighbors and invite your neighborhood’s police officers to attend! You could grill hamburgers or hot dogs and ask everyone to bring side dishes, or keep it super simple and ask everyone to come outside to enjoy ice cream sandwiches from a cooler.
PASTA POTLUCK NEIGHBOR GATHERING
A festive neighbor gathering idea is to host a “pasta potluck.”
Prepare a big pot of pasta noodles and invite your neighbors to bring the other ingredients to add to the pot, such as…
spaghetti sauce or alfredo sauce
chicken or ground beef
sun dried tomatoes
fresh shredded basil
shredded mozzarella
grated parmesan
Enjoy getting to know your neighbors better over a delicious pot of pasta and a glass of red wine!
MORE NEIGHBOR GATHERING IDEAS…
DINNER, DESSERT AND DOMINOES: Invite a neighbor over for dinner and play a round of dominoes afterwards while you enjoy dessert.
TOASTS AND TV TALK: Invite a neighbor over for a glass of champagne and chat about the best tv shows you’ve watched lately.
PIZZA ON THE PATIO: Ask a neighbor to join you for a slice or two of pizza and conversation on your patio.
CREOLE JAMBALAYA
This recipe is a great dish to prepare and then invite your neighbors to join you for dinner!
Ingredients:
2 T butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
8 green onions, chopped
3 cups cubed sliced deli ham (1 lb)
1 lb Andouille or smoked sausage
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/2 t. ground red pepper (optional)
5 cups cooked rice
Instructions: Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and next 3 ingredients; saute until tender. Add ham, sausage and next 4 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Stir in rice, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes over low heat. Bon appetit!
SET ONE “GOOD NEIGHBOR GOAL” A MONTH
Setting one simple “good neighbor goal” a month can have a big impact on building a friendly community on your street.
Small gestures with big impact could include baking cookies for a neighbor, inviting a neighbor to join you for dinner at a nearby restaurant, or hosting a potluck neighbor gathering.
Write your goal down and post it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror until it is accomplished!
“The happiest people I know are people who don’t even think about being happy. They just think about being good neighbors, good people. And then happiness sort of sneaks in the back window while they are busy doing good.”- Harold Kushner
HOW TO REMAKE THE WORLD NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD -
Looking for inspiration to be a more caring neighbor? “How to Remake the World Neighborhood by Neighborhood,” an excellent source of neighborhood nurturing insights from Mack McCarter, founder of Community Renewal International, is available now for pre-order at Amazon.com. “A proven answer to our most difficult social problems is underway, and it begins locally. This is a way to heal racial tensions, create bonds of friendship, and cure the loneliness and depression that blights our communities. “How to Remake the World Neighborhood by Neighborhood” tells the story of Community Renewal International (CRI), an organization that has built a movement to include cities across the United States and Africa. Where it takes root, crime rates plummet and people come out of their homes to lead happier lives, feeling safe and loved.”
BLOCK LEADER GATHERING ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
All are welcome to join us for the next Block Leader Gathering at Allison Finch’s home (7512 Orrick, 78749) from 4 - 5:30 pm on Sunday, September 18. (Note date change!)
Block Leaders regularly reach out to their neighbors in caring ways and host group neighbor gatherings.
Block Leader Gatherings are a friendly and casual way to share good neighboring ideas and support one another in serving as a Block Leader.
Please invite your friends who want to learn more about Community Renewal Austin’s Block Leader program!
Can’t join us on Sept. 18? Mark your calendar for our Block Leader Gathering on November 13 from 4-5:30 pm.
“THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS”
August 2022
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE
In the 1980s, AT&T had a catchy commercial slogan to “reach out and touch someone.”
The suggestion behind the slogan was to call someone you cared about and touch their heart.
Consider calling one of your neighbors today to ask how they are doing and offer help if needed.
Your small act of caring could really brighten their day!
"Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors." - Fred Rogers
“THANK A POLICE OFFICER DAY” & “NATIONAL NIGHT OUT”
National “Thank A Police Officer Day” is coming up on Saturday, September 17.
Writing a note of appreciation and delivering it with some cookies to your local police precinct is a simple way to thank your local police officers for protecting and serving your neighborhood!
National Night Out (NNO) is traditionally held on the first Tuesday in August but in Texas and other select areas it will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 4.
The purpose of NNO is to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. This is a great night to host an outdoor gathering with your neighbors and invite your neighborhood’s police officers to attend!
HOSTING A SALAD SOCIAL
A simple neighbor gathering idea is to host a potluck “salad social.”
You provide the salad greens and dressing and ask your neighbors to bring a salad topping to share. (And you don’t even have to heat up the oven!)
Salad topping suggestions:
hard boiled eggs
cucumber
carrot
walnuts
radishes
chopped ham
sliced tomatoes
goat cheese
Enjoy socializing and getting to know your neighbors better over a salad!
NEIGHBOR GATHERING IDEAS…
LIFE STORY LUNCH: Invite a neighbor over for lunch and ask them to tell you about their life story such as where they grew up, etc.
TV TIME: Invite your neighbors over to enjoy dessert or popcorn and watch a tv show with you.
DRIVEWAY DONUTS: Ask your neighbors to bring their coffee and join you in your driveway on a Saturday morning for donuts and conversation.
COCONUT CHICKEN CURRY
This recipe is a great dish to prepare and then invite your neighbors to join you for dinner!
Ingredients:
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 teaspoon salt and pepper, or to taste
1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons curry powder
½ onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed, diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
Instructions:
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat oil and curry powder in a large skillet over medium-high heat for two minutes. Stir in onions and garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add chicken, tossing lightly to coat with curry oil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear. our coconut milk, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar into the pan, and stir to combine. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Serve over jasmine rice and enjoy!
SETTING GOOD NEIGHBOR GOALS
Consider setting one simple “good neighbor goal” this month such as calling a neighbor or inviting them over for a chat.
Then write your goal down and post it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror so you don’t forget!
Our world is a much better place to live in when we all take a little time to be caring neighbors.
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead
THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING
Remember the children’s television program “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”? For over thirty years, Fred Rogers swept us off to his neighborhood and taught us about love, friendship, respect, imagination, and more. His kind heart, gentle spirit, and excellent listening skills made him beloved by millions.
May we all be inspired by Mr. Rogers to kindly listen to our neighbors: “More and more I’ve come to understand that listening is one of the most important things we can do for one another. Whether the other be an adult or a child, our engagement in listening to who that person is can often be our greatest gift. Whether that person is speaking or playing or dancing, building or singing or painting, if we care, we can listen.” - Fred Rogers
BLOCK LEADER GATHERING ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
All are welcome to join us for the next Block Leader Gathering at Allison Finch’s home (7512 Orrick, 78749) from 4 - 5:30 pm on Sunday, September 18. (Note date change!)
Block Leaders regularly reach out to their neighbors in caring ways and host group neighbor gatherings.
Block Leader Gatherings are a friendly and casual way to share good neighboring ideas and support one another in serving as a Block Leader.
Please invite your friends who want to learn more about Community Renewal Austin’s Block Leader program!
Can’t join us on Sept. 18? Mark your calendar for our Block Leader Gathering on November 13 from 4-5:30 pm.
“THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS”
July 2022
CARING CAN TRANSFORM A COMMUNITY
Little acts of service go a long way in showing your neighbors that you care!
Here are three simple caring neighbor ideas…
Bring in your neighbor’s trash cans from the street
Offer to water your neighbor’s plants when they leave town
Drop off a plant or cookies on their doorstep with a simple “I’m glad we’re neighbors” note
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."
- Margaret Mead
THANK A POLICE OFFICER DAY IS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
National “Thank A Police Officer Day” is celebrated on the third Saturday in September. Now is a great time to plan ahead for thanking your local police officers on Saturday, September 17!
Last year, our neighbors gathered together in early September to write notes of appreciation in a jumbo thank you card that we ordered from Amazon.com. We also offered an opportunity for neighbors to make a donation to purchase cookies for the officers.
On Saturday, September 17, a police officer came to our street and collected the card and cookies to share with his fellow officers at our local police sub-station.
We were so glad to be able to give the officers a small thank you for the great sacrifice they make for our neighborhood!
BACK TO SCHOOL BANANA SPLIT PARTY
A simple neighbor gathering idea for the month of August is to host a “Back To School Banana Split Party.”
You provide the ice cream, bowls and spoons and ask your neighbors to bring the bananas, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, maraschino cherries and other toppings.
Take a look at this All American Banana Split Recipe and enjoy this fun way to cool off with your neighbors!
SUMMER GOOD NEIGHBOR IDEAS…
SWIM TIME: Have a pool? Invite your neighbors over to take a dip with you. Don’t have your own pool? Make plans with a neighbor to go to the local pool or swimming hole together.
MOVIE NIGHT: Invite your neighbors over to enjoy dessert or popcorn and watch a movie with you.
BOOK SWAP: Encourage your neighbors to bring over some books that they would like to give away. Draw numbers to determine the order for each neighbor to select a book to take home. Do this for as many rounds as you’d like and then donate the remaining books to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
NEED MORE IDEAS? More summer good neighbor ideas are listed below in the June and May 2022 editions of “The Good Neighbor News.”
EASY BERRY COBBLER
This recipe is a simple way to enjoy summer berries!
Ingredients:
2 cups of strawberries
1 cup of blackberries
1 cup of blueberries
1 large egg
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of flour
6 T of butter
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place berries in a lightly greased 8 inch square baking dish. Stir egg, sugar and flour until it resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle over fruit and drizzle melted butter on top. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Serves 6
SETTING GOOD NEIGHBOR GOALS
One of the most efficient and effective ways to build positive community relationships is by being a good neighbor. When we make time to be caring neighbors, our world is changed for the better.
Let’s not be discouraged if we don’t have lots of time for our neighbors and just do what we can! Each little way that we show our neighbors that we care has a powerful impact on our community.
Consider looking at your calendar for the next month and setting one good neighbor goal! Here are some ideas:
Call a neighbor to say hello
Bake cookies for a neighbor
Invite a neighbor over for a meal
Host a neighbor potluck party
Create and share a neighbor contact information directory
Thank you for being a caring neighbor!
GOOD NEIGHBOR INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:
“The honest truth is I go about my days with my agenda, maintaining my priorities and my comfort. My default is to protect what feels good, safe….
When I think about loving my neighbors, I wonder what it will cost me as far as time and energy, both of which feel maxed. Not to mention my worries about if we’ll relate, what we’ll talk about, what they’ll think of me, if it will be awkward (even contentious), and whether it will feel more like work than friendship.
Despite these self-focused hangups, I know it’s not all about me. That’s the idea behind loving our neighbors, right? That we move past our agenda, comfort, and convenience, toward love.”
- “Loving My Actual Neighbor: 7 Practices to Treasure the People Right In Front of You” by Alexandra Kuykendall
BLOCK LEADER GATHERING ON SUNDAY, JULY 10
All are welcome to join us for the next Block Leader Gathering at Allison Finch’s home (7512 Orrick, 78749) from 4 - 5:30 pm on Sunday, July 10.
Block Leaders make it a practice to regularly reach out to their neighbors in caring ways and host group neighbor gatherings.
Block Leader Gatherings are a friendly and casual way to share good neighboring ideas and support one another in serving as a Block Leader.
Please invite your friends who want to learn more about Community Renewal Austin’s Block Leader program!
Can’t attend on July 10? Mark your calendars for our Block Leader Gatherings on September 11 and November 13 from 4-5:30 pm.
At Community Renewal Austin, our mission is to grow and support a network of caring people who are dedicated to renewing positive neighbor relationships in our community.
Join us in remaking our city by making friends on your street!
“THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS”
June 2022
FIREFIGHTER APPRECIATION ON MAY 4
On May 4th (International Firefighters Day) our neighbors delivered a large container of snacks and drinks to our local fire station along with a card of appreciation.
The firefighters were very thankful to receive the gift and even came to our neighborhood a few days later to let the children sit in the fire truck and use the fire hose!
Want to thank your neighborhood’s helpers?
Waste and Recycling Workers Week is June 17th
Thank a Police Officer Day is the 3rd Saturday in September
National Mail Carrier Appreciation Day is February 4
International Firefighters’ Day is May 4
All it takes is a card and some cookies to make your neighborhood’s helpers feel appreciated for their service!
PATRIOTIC PIZZA PARTY
A fun neighbor gathering idea for the upcoming 4th of July weekend is to host a patriotic pizza party.
Cook or order some pizzas and invite your neighbors to bring a salad, fruit or dessert. (Or make your own patriotic dessert with this American Flag Cookie Cake recipe.)
Use red, white and blue plates, napkins and cups and make a big pitcher of lemonade or tea for everyone.
Enjoy celebrating our nation’s founding with your neighbors!
(Note: Another simple 4th of July weekend neighbor gathering idea is to invite everyone to bring their favorite pint of ice cream to a Patriotic Pint Party!)
SUMMER GOOD NEIGHBOR IDEAS
Some ways to build community with your neighbors this summer:
DOMINOES OR CARD GAME GATHERING: Invite your neighbors over to play dominoes or a card game like Spades, Poker, or Uno.
SUMMER SPLASH GATHERING: Have kids? Invite your neighbors over who have children and turn on the sprinkler! Ask them to bring a chair and a towel and serve popsicles or watermelon to everyone.
BINGO NIGHT: Host a bingo gathering with these Summer Bingo Cards. Ask one or two of your neighbors to bring small prizes for the winners and enjoy playing bingo!
NEED MORE IDEAS? Additional good neighbor ideas are listed below in the May 2022 “The Good Neighbor News.”
SIMPLE HOMEMADE LEMONADE RECIPE
Lemonade is so refreshing on a hot summer day!
Homemade Lemonade
Ingredients:
¾ cup fresh lemon juice
2 quarts water
½ cup white sugar
Instructions:
In a large pan, combine water and sugar. Heat until the sugar just melts. Remove from heat and pour in lemon juice. Mix well and chill in refrigerator before serving. Garnish with lemon, lime or orange slices.
Serves 8
Another refreshing summer recipe to share with your neighbors is this Lemon Ice Box pie.
SOCIAL SATURDAYS
Consider designating the first Saturday of the month as a day that you spend time with one or more of your neighbors!
On that Saturday, you could invite your neighbors to join you for…
a morning walk or a coffee chat with muffins
an afternoon visit with tea or lemonade
lunch or dinner at a nearby restaurant
a potluck supper
After a year of first Saturday neighbor time, you will have a much closer relationship with your neighbors!
GOOD NEIGHBOR INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
“Weaving and strengthening the fabric of community is a collective effort and starts with a shift in our mindset about our connectedness,” writes author and expert on civic engagement Peter Block in his book “Community.”
“It is the everyday moments of togetherness that keep us together as a society,” Block writes. “The social fabric of community is formed from an expanding shared sense of belonging. It is shaped by the idea that only when we are connected and care for the well-being of the whole that a civil and democratic society is created.”
BLOCK LEADER GATHERING ON SUNDAY, JULY 10
All are welcome to join us for the next Block Leader Gathering at Allison Finch’s home (7512 Orrick, 78749) from 4 - 5:30 pm on Sunday, July 10.
Block Leaders make it a practice to regularly reach out to their neighbors in caring ways and host group neighbor gatherings.
Block Leader Gatherings are a friendly and casual way to share good neighboring ideas and support one another in serving as a Block Leader.
Please invite your friends who want to learn more about Community Renewal Austin’s Block Leader program!
Can’t attend on July 10? Mark your calendars for our Block Leader Gatherings on September 11 and November 13 from 4-5:30 pm.
At Community Renewal Austin, our mission is to grow and support a network of caring people who are dedicated to renewing positive neighbor relationships in our community.
Join us in remaking our city by making friends on your street!
“THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS”
May 2022
SUMMERTIME GOOD NEIGHBOR IDEAS
Below are a few ideas for building community with your neighbors this summer:
SUMMER MEMORIES: Invite a neighbor over for cookies and lemonade and ask them to tell you about their favorite childhood summer memories
COOL TREAT GATHERING: Invite your neighbors to grab a chair and a beverage and join you outside for a summer treat of ice cream sandwiches or popsicles. Set out sidewalk chalk for the children and encourage them to decorate your driveway with pictures of flowers and sunshine!
DRIVEWAY DONUTS: Enjoy the cooler morning weather by asking your neighbors to bring out their coffee and join you for donuts in your driveway or yard
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Host a neighbor board game night at your home
SUMMER BOOK CLUB: Invite your neighbors to join you in reading the same book this summer and then host an end of summer book club discussion
ICE CREAM PARTY: Ask neighbors to each bring over a pint of ice cream for a potluck ice cream sampling party!
NEIGHBOR TACO NIGHT
The neighbors on my street in southwest Austin recently enjoyed an outdoor neighbor taco night!
I cooked a few pounds of ground beef with taco seasoning and put it outside on a table in a crockpot. I sent out a group text and asked the rest of my neighbors to bring out the taco fixings, salad, margaritas, and cookies to share.
It was a fun and yummy evening of neighbor fellowship!
A GOOD NEIGHBOR COOKIE RECIPE
This is an easy and quick recipe that is delicious and gluten free.
Consider making a couple of batches this summer to share with your neighbors!
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Mix
-one cup of peanut butter
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Drop rounded spoonfuls on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
FRIENDLY FIRST FRIDAYS
Consider designating the first Friday of the month as a day that you show a different neighbor that you care!
This can be as simple as calling them to say hello, or more involved like inviting them over for coffee or dinner.
At the end of the year, you will have a closer relationship with 12 of your neighbors!
“I am convinced that living in close community with our neighbors is the best way to live. The command to love our neighbors lies at the core of God’s plan for our lives, and when we follow this mandate, it changes everything. The journey begins when we choose a lifestyle of conversation and community over a lifestyle of busyness and accumulation. It is about making room for life and choosing to befriend those God has placed around us.”
- “The Art of Neighboring” by Dave Runyon and Jay Pathak
THE SIMPLE YET POWERFUL BLOCK LEADER PLAN
Society is made up of a system of relationships and today we face a great challenge of relational disconnection and division. A healthy community is a group of people living together in caring relationships. These caring relationships are not sentimental dreams, they are a city's necessity and our most valuable resource. As our system of caring relationships crumbles, communities become more isolated and less safe places to live.
The Community Renewal Austin Block Leader Plan is a strategy to equip and support a dedicated group of people who are committed to the process of renewing "community" by making friends with the people who live nearby.
The Block Leader Plan is simple…
We invite you to join us in learning simple methods for making closer friendships with the people on their street. By this method of intentionally making friends with our neighbors, we will systematically rebuild caring relationships all across Austin and create a safer, happier and more vibrant community.
BLOCK LEADER GATHERING ON SUNDAY, JULY 10
All are welcome to join us for the next Block Leader Gathering at Allison Finch’s home (7512 Orrick, 78749) from 4 - 5:30 pm on Sunday, July 10.
Block Leaders make it a practice to regularly reach out to their neighbors in caring ways and host group neighbor gatherings.
Block Leader Gatherings are a friendly and casual way to share good neighboring ideas and support one another in serving as a Block Leader.
Please invite your friends who want to learn more about Community Renewal Austin’s Block Leader program!
Can’t attend on July 10? Mark your calendars for our Block Leader Gatherings on September 11 and November 13 from 4-5:30 pm.