May's Good Neighbor Skill

Good Neighbor Skill 5: Start the Conversation

We're excited to present the fifth edition of Good Neighbor Skills! As May arrives and the warmer spring days encourage people to spend more time outdoors, SERVE Village has selected Starting the Conversation as our core skill for this month.

It seems almost too simple, and truly, that's the charm of it. Shouldn't being a good neighbor be straightforward?! At SERVE Village, we believe it should be. Some of the strongest connections in our community start with just a casual "good morning" from the end of a driveway. Initiating a conversation is the most crucial first step in creating a neighborhood where people truly know and care about each other. No special event is necessary, no specific reason required, just the willingness to be present and greet one another.

Spring temperatures and being outdoors makes that easier than ever. The warmer weather has a way of pulling people out of their homes and into their yards, onto their porches, and down their sidewalks. Use that to your advantage! A remark about the nice weather, a friendly nod to someone walking by, or a quick exchange over the garden fence can be all it takes to turn a passing face into a genuine neighbor. Let the season open the door, all you have to do is walk through it.

Starting the conversation can take many forms. It might mean finally introducing yourself to the family down the street, checking in on a neighbor you have not seen in a while, or simply making yourself visible and approachable in your own front yard. However it looks for you, every small exchange builds something bigger, a neighborhood that feels like home.

COME Together Week — Memorial Day Weekend

In May, we aim to assist you in advancing that first conversation or introduction! COME Together Week is a community-wide initiative happening over Memorial Day Weekend here in Hamilton County. It centers on the belief that connection, belonging, and respect flourish when neighbors intentionally gather. Consider hosting block parties, cookouts, "longest table" dinners, or something as relaxed as placing a cooler filled with drinks at the end of your driveway with an open invitation to passersby. Keep it simple! 

Host your own event and inform us about it! Our goal is to see 100 community events that foster connections across the county and bring neighbors together!

You can learn more at by going HERE.

Participating is easy—organize an event that unites people. Next, register it using our straightforward online form, host the event, and send us your photos. We offer $200 in reimbursement for up to four of the most imaginative and heartfelt events hosted by neighbors! Our SERVE leadership team will also visit to encourage you, take some photos, and perhaps leave a little surprise!

Good Neighbor Skill Invitation: This May, we encourage you to initiate a conversation with a neighbor you haven't spoken to yet. It doesn't have to be lengthy or profound — it simply needs to occur. Step outside, lift your eyes from your phone, and greet them. One conversation can transform the atmosphere of your entire street.