We hope you’ll take the time to read the story by Brendan Ulmer about Hutch Rec’s Neighborhood Ambassador program, and we really hope that you’ll at least attend one of the upcoming informational sessions about it and consider becoming an ambassador in your neighborhood.
In a world where it seems like everyone spends more time on their phones and laptops arguing on social media than they do actually getting out and talking to each other over a cup of coffee or a beer, programs like this are more important than ever before.
The thought of neighbors gathering for donuts and coffee on a Saturday morning before tackling all their weekend chores and just taking a few minutes to introduce themselves and chat about whatever random topic pops up brings a smile to our collective faces. That’s what neighbors should do, and it doesn’t have to be a big thing like a block party. It just has to be something that brings people together in a relaxed atmosphere where they can just be themselves.
Neighbors taking care of neighbors used to be commonplace, because there was a time when everyone in a neighborhood looked out for each other, even if they didn’t go to the same church, the same school or participate in the same community service organizations. They simply noticed if their neighbor’s mail was piling up or if their grass had become overgrown and went to check on them.
Sometimes, neighbors banded together to cut their neighbor’s grass because that one neighbor had a health issue or other life circumstance that prevented them from being able to do so. If someone was sick and needed meals delivered to help them through, neighbors rallied around them and provided those meals. If your neighbor was out of town, you kept an eye on their house and reported any suspicious activity to the proper authorities. It wasn’t a big deal; it was simply what neighbors did for each other.
All it takes is one neighborhood to take the initiative and build a robust sense of community for other neighborhoods to take notice and then hopefully be inspired to be the next neighborhood to do what the first one did. Then there should be a domino effect until, eventually, every neighborhood in Hutchinson is alive and vibrant, showcasing their unique character. Friendly, healthy neighborhoods are neighborhoods in which everyone wants to live as crime goes down and happiness and an overall sense of community and safety go up. That’s what Hutch Rec’s program stands to offer all city residents, regardless of which part of town they live.
We’re hoping that Hutch Rec’s program is the first step towards making that happen across the city, because strong neighborhoods make strong communities. Real positive change starts at the grassroots level and works its way up the ladder to the city and county government levels before it reaches the state and federal levels. We look forward to reporting on the program as it progresses.
-The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board