Heart lifts, hope, and block parties
- Sep 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Dear Friends,
The last two weeks have been tough ones in America and both kids’ and adults’ nervous systems have all been suffering as a result. We all desperately need more outside time and real life connections and less technology and news.
Sharing a few key forces that have made things lighter for me and given me hope. I urge you to tune out the attention grabbing, toxic news and social media and instead tune into these:
Feedback from block party organizers and participants of Block Party USA helps my heart mend. Three specific quotes of the impact being “life changing – my life changed today” and “now I have the neighborhood I always wanted” and the joy children feel with “being able to walk over to a new neighborhood playmate.”
Organizations like Braver Angels and More in Common
When they invited me to come to Memphis to be on their podcast, I had never heard of Bill Courtney or the Army of Normal Folks. Since then, I have listened to inspiring story after story of everyday American heroes giving in many different ways — making an impact in their communities and all across America. The story telling kind of feels like a bedtime story – and it is soothing for the mind and body.
Not a big football fan (gasp), no one was more surprised than me when I also immersed myself in the story in Oscar winning documentary “Undefeated” featuring Courtney. It was full of hope and the power of one person changing lives for the better.
“No matter what nonsense happens in DC or is pounded into us by all forms of the media, most of our problems can be solved by an Army of Normal Folks. And together we can fix ‘it.’” – Bill Courtney
Tired as we all are, taking action, witnessing the human impact is where we will find our strength.
With National Good Neighbor Day coming up on this Sunday, September 28th, there is no better time to reach out to your neighbors. Block Party USA is pleased to be a partner of National Good Neighbor Day! If you aren’t ready to organize a block party, you can find a ton of other simple and actionable ideas on their website. The time is now, more than ever.
This is your official invite for Block Party USA's last September Zoom/Office Hours:
Thursday, September 25 at 12:00pm-12:30pm ET.
Zoom Meeting ID: 820 0975 1912
Come with any questions or find some ideas for what you can do in honor of Sunday's National Good Neighbor Day!
No need to sign up, just show up!
PS: A quick reminder for my last September Zoom/Office Hours on Thursday, September 25 at 12:00pm-12:30pm ET. Zoom link to join. Meeting ID: 820 0975 1912 – just in time for National Good Neighbor Day!
PPS: Reminder: Final Days for the 2025 Block Party USA Back-to-School Challenge
It’s not too late to submit your block party for the nationwide 2025 Block Party USA Back-to-School Challenge! Massachusetts and Michigan are currently tied for the lead. Will your submission change this?
