As part of Dr. Vivek H. Murthy’s "Recipes for Connection" initiative, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General features Block Party USA as a resource that supports building social connection through gathering.
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Block parties aren’t therapy, however, they can be therapeutic. For the organizer and for the participants!
Block parties encourage free play for children. I’m one of the parents that created the Free Play Matters Task Force inspired by the work of Peter Gray, Ph.D., and Lenore Skenazy, co-founders of Let Grow. It’s well documented that there’s been an alarming increase in the mental health challenges of today’s children. An abundance of free play can make children happier, better problem-solvers, and more energized to pursue learning and develop deep interests. Less time with tech means less anxious kids. Block parties also introduce children to teenagers and adults in their neighborhoods, an opportunity to develop social skills with a mix of ages.
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The United States is lonely. Block parties offer social connectedness. Researchers with the Harvard Graduate School of Education conducted a national survey and found that 21% of adults reported that they had serious feelings of loneliness. The study shows that people between 30-44 years of age were the loneliest group – 29% of people in this age range said they were “frequently” or “always” lonely. To address our nation’s epidemic of loneliness, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, released The Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. I have moved a total of 28 times in my life, both nationally and internationally. I know all too well how it feels to be lonely and isolated. I also know how one smile, one person, one conversation can make a difference. A neighborhood is an easily accessible community beyond the home. Block parties jump start connection, relationships, and mattering (being valued and adding value), and help neighbors feel grounded, supported, a sense of belonging, and joy.
After block parties, you may see an uptick in teenagers being hired by their neighbors – a win-win! Babysitting, pet sitting, watering plants, mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snow. Part-time paid work helps teenagers build agency and confidence.
Block parties can cultivate a culture of showing up for one another in countless ways. Help in a pinch by borrowing sugar, offering to carpool, or running an errand. Meal trains for new parents or those in need. Share street-specific info, such as construction updates, being a pet locator, and resources during power outages. Get advice and recommendations. Knowing who lives on your block makes your neighborhood safer. By becoming familiar with neighbors, kids develop a network of trusted adults.
When we get together face-to-face, we realize that we have more in common than we are different. Block parties across the country are proof that neighbors may vote differently and they may disagree on many issues, but you can still laugh together and offer a helping hand. Sharing food at block parties, and oftentimes beloved family dishes and traditions, is a beautiful and generous gesture that bridges divides.