This fall we closed off the streets in our neighborhood and held an old-fashioned block party. The result was fantastic – with cars banished, we united in community. Kids rode bicycles in the open road. Teens created elaborate chalk drawings. Older ladies sat in lawn chairs and cooed over each new baby.

What was most amazing was to see people pouring out of their houses and simply coming together. Altogether 75 neighbors assembled in the street. Neighbors who’d never met introduced themselves and lingered for hours. When the cars stopped, time seemed to stop. People were taking time simply to be. To meet, to listen and form new bonds to care for each other.

The block party was simple to plan. $25 for a city permit to block off the street for one Sunday afternoon. A neighbor girl delivered the invitations. The west side of the street brought desserts and the east side brought appetizers. We rented a bounce house to make it extra special (not just for the kids!) and stuck out a donation can.

Many of us live without family close by. We need to become family to our neighbors. Find out who needs help snow shoveling and who needs a babysitter. Simply understand who the people are in the neighborhood. Sometimes it takes an event like a block party to revitalize the community we all long for.

At the end of the party, everyone was all smiles and full of thanks. “What a wonderful idea! Why have we never done this before? Let’s do it again every year.” When the barricades were lifted and the street opened back up to regular traffic, it wasn’t the end. We had a new sense of community.

What type of community building do you engage in?  Do you know your neighbors? What ways have you created meaningful connections?