Want to Change the World (and Not Get Burnt Out)? Start with Your Neighborhood
Children from the Dudley Street neighborhood in Boston. Photo by .
Why you can trust us
This article originally appeared in the author’s book, .
The neighborhood is the basic building block of human society, and successful efforts to make the world a better place usually start right there.
Neighborhoods offer hope that we can still make a difference.
Neighborhoods—whether in cities, suburbs, or small towns—are the level of social organization at which people interact most regularly and naturally, providing a ready-made forum for tackling serious issues together. Even if the neighbors abhor our political views or artistic tastes, we nonetheless share a bond. When a crisis occurs (a rash of burglaries) or opportunities arise (plans to revitalize the park), these are the people who stand beside us to make improvements for the future.
This article is adapted from Jay Walljasper’s book, . Download the full pdf for free!
In an era when what’s wrong in the world can seem complicated and daunting, neighborhoods offer hope that we can still make a difference. What’s overwhelming at the international, national, or even municipal level often can be fixed closer to home, without large sums of money or political connections. And in an era of instantaneous global communications, no great idea stays in one place for long.
The Dudley Street neighborhood in Boston was once dogged by all the usual urban ills: poverty, crime, drugs, unemployment, racial discrimination, inadequate public services, deteriorating housing, and poor schools. These problems—inextricably linked with global economics and national policies—felt insurmountable.
But the residents of Dudley Street, assisted by a small grant from a local foundation, forged a vision for their future and went to work. Organized under the banner of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, they created a town common, built a community center, started youth programs, launched a farmers market, and promoted locally owned businesses.
These efforts sparked a new sense of possibility for the community and brought genuine improvements to the lives of Dudley Street residents.
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Jay Walljasper
writes, speaks, edits, and consults about creating stronger, more vital communities. He is a Senior Fellow at Project of Public Spaces, editor of the Blue Mountain Center Commons, and author of The Great Neighborhood Book and All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons. Walljasper is a YES! contributing editor.
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