The Joy of Community is a growing global network of neighbors sharing stories, resources, and support to help build community at the neighborhood level for the common good. It exists to encourage and equip people to take simple, meaningful steps toward knowing their neighbors, creating spaces for connection, and cultivating trust, care, and belonging. The Joy of Community is where community-building stories are told, practical resources are shared, and neighborhood connectors are supported. We are The Joy of Community because real community is not just practical, it is joyful. It brings laughter, belonging, care, surprise, and shared life. We are not designed to live alone. We are made for community, to know and be known by the people around us. We invite you to join us as we work together to make our neighborhoods safer, healthier, and more connected.

In March of 2008, Scotty Jones and his sister Robin nervously hosted their first neighborhood breakfast in front of their house in Belmont Shore. They made a simple flyer, knocked on doors, and invited their neighbors over for coffee and pancakes. Nearly fifty people came. That morning changed everything.

Not at all. One neighbor choosing to go first is all it takes. You don't need a program, a budget, or a team. A simple flyer, a pot of coffee, and a willingness to knock on doors is enough to get started.

A hallway, common area, or courtyard works just as well as a front yard or driveway. Neighbors are not coming for your space — they are coming for connection.

Even two or three neighbors is a beginning. Community does not start with a crowd. It starts with courage. Most neighbors are quietly waiting to be invited — they just don't know it yet.

One to two hours is usually perfect. A come-and-go-as-you-please approach works best. There is no need to keep a strict schedule.

No. There is no program. Conversation is the activity. Your role as a host is to welcome, introduce, and gently connect people — then let the gathering breathe.

That is completely normal at first. A few simple questions can open the room: How long have you lived here? What do you do for fun? What do you care about? Once neighbors begin sharing stories, momentum builds naturally.

Withness is simply being with our neighbors. It is the secret sauce of relationships and one of the foundations of building community at the block and neighborhood level. Withness happens face to face, like sharing a cup of coffee with a neighbor. It also happens side by side, like taking a walk together.

Through withness, trust, honor, and belonging are formed, deepened, and sustained. Why does withness matter today? Withness matters today because we live in a time of isolation, distraction, and shallow connection. Many people are near others but rarely truly with them.

Withness invites us to slow down, be present, and share life together. At the neighborhood level, it helps turn strangers into neighbors and makes community possible. It also offers an alternative to doing things for people without relationship. Without withness, even helpful actions can diminish dignity or cause harm. Withness offers a better way, grounded in presence, mutuality, and shared life.

No. It is simply neighbors choosing to know one another. The Joy of Community is grounded in shared humanity and shared place — open and welcoming to everyone regardless of background, belief, or politics.

The common good is what grows when neighbors know each other and care for their shared place together. When we know our neighbors and are known by them, we notice when someone needs help, we look out for children, we support local schools and businesses, and we celebrate each other's lives. The neighborhood becomes safer, healthier, and more connected.

This is not a program. It is a practice. We are not looking for heroes or organizers — just neighbors who are willing to go first. The goal is not to launch something. It is to discover what is already bubbling beneath the surface of your block.

Before everyone leaves, plan the next gathering and put a date on the calendar while the energy is still warm. A simple next step keeps the spark alive and turns a good morning into a growing rhythm.

Consider forming a small planning team of two to five neighbors to share the joy and responsibility of future gatherings. When many neighbors carry the rhythm, it becomes everyone's. The long term hope is that neighbors take turns being host and guest.

Start simple. At the breakfast, ask if anyone wants to be added to a group text or email list for future gatherings. Keep it low pressure and high warmth — think of it as a digital front porch. Over time you can grow it into a neighborhood social media group or even a short monthly newsletter.

Come Eat With Us, Booklet #1 in The Joy of Community series, is available for $5.99. It includes real neighbor stories, the philosophy of withness, hosting tips, and a full FAQ for first-time hosts.

Yes! More Joy of Community booklets are in the works. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when new resources are available.

We would love to hear what unfolded on your block. Reach out to us at info@welovelb.org or use the Share Your Story form on our website. Every neighborhood has a story worth telling.

There are many ways to be part of this work — volunteering, sharing your story, spreading the word, or supporting the mission financially. Reach out at info@welovelb.org and let us know how you'd like to contribute.