How readers are building community with neighbors
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Americans are talking with their neighbors far less than they used to, but Axios Columbus readers are finding ways to buck that trend and build community here.
Why it matters: Casual neighborhood ties are quietly disappearing in our digital world, and the health consequences run deeper than most people realize.
Threat level: Research from Vanderbilt University found social isolation is "a potent predictor of poor health, mortality, and dementia risk." It is as strongly linked to mortality risk as smoking or obesity.
- Research also found that lower-income Americans are disproportionately likely to be isolated.
Here's how our readers are expanding their social circles:
🚶 Get out there. "It's hard not to see people as, well, people when you are on foot," says Clintonville resident Michael N., who walks and bikes.
👋 Lend a helping hand. Trevin F. shoveled snow after Winter storm Fern.
- "I ended up getting everyone's number and even made a new friend."
🍪 Bring food. "So many came over when we moved in, with baked goods or offering tools for projects," Worthington resident Julie C. says.
- "We try to pay [it] forward when new people come to the street."
- You can also drop off a note with your contact information.
💌 Send invites. Lisa M.'s neighbors organized meetups during the pandemic, with guests bringing their own food, drinks and chairs.
- Janet C.'s tip: The Columbus Foundation offers free "neighborliness kits" to cover costs and get you started.
🐕 Let dogs do the work. Sydney C.'s three-legged rescue pup Chewy is a neighborhood celebrity, with one house stocking treats just for her.
- "She'll intentionally pause outside certain houses, hoping her friends will come out to say hello — and sometimes they do, just to see her."
- Joan L. also recommends getting a dog to meet your neighbors — "unless they are barkers (the dog, not the neighbors)."
🤔 Don't overthink it. "Everyone has something in common, and a shared activity or goal can help make things feel less awkward," says Stuart H., who bonded with a neighbor through caring for an abandoned cat and kittens.
- "We talk all the time and their kids are now a cat-sitter option."
The bottom line: You don't need a block party budget. Just a friendly wave or greeting can go a long way.
- Robert L. summed it up well: "We're all people and maybe we're just hoping you'll say 'hi' first. So just say 'hi.'"