Transform your community from “where I live” to “where I belong”. In a safe and lasting way.
Bring your municipality together through the power of neighbours with the Good Neighbour Method.
Municipalities can’t build long-term
well-being with short-term solutions.
Citizens want to feel connected in their community, but there’s an elephant in the room: getting to know your neighbour feels inappropriate. Even uncomfortable.
So even traditional community outreach programs don’t solve the root issue of dysfunction: people are reluctant to connect outside of friends and families.
For belonging to stick, there needs to be a cultural mindset shift.
Citizens benefit from your community goals
As community decision-makers, you know the benefits that come with citizens having a sense of well-being.
Your Citizens:
- Are physically and mentally healthier.
- Live longer and thrive.
Your Community:
- Citizens are more likely to engage in volunteerism and civic engagement.
- Attracts greater economic activity.
- Enjoys lower crime rates
- Has fewer nuisance calls and greater respect for councillors
- Attracts newcomers
Essentially, happy people become happy communities. Your community’s reputation as a happy community will attract more citizens and more economic activity.
But is it possible?
Short-term fixes can’t solve the reluctance to care about each other in a meaningful way. So how do you “normalize” citizens caring for and supporting each other?
Introducing the Good Neighbour Method: transforming communities into thriving spaces of belonging.
We have a team of community development experts and scientists that collaborate with municipalities. Our goal is to integrate a process of connecting neighbours through ordinary citizens so there is a permanent part of community culture.
You bring your community development officer or recreational director to be part of our team. We provide the expertise, training, coaching, tools, and support necessary to ensure the success of transforming your community into a Good Neighbour Community.
We also addressed the 3 most common obstacles communities face in order to turn strangers into connected neighbours:
“We don’t have the budget”
We will leverage your investment up to 10 times. For every dollar you spend, we find up to another $10.00. You won’t find a better return on tax dollar investments.
“We can’t spare the people power”
The primary duties of most recreational directors and community developers is to create a greater sense of belonging in your community. Unless the culture changes, that is very hard to do. We make it easy and it works because its based on the science of people.
“Where else has it worked”
It has worked in several communities like Windsor NS, Ellershouse NS, and even in Kolkata India. It will work in your community as well.
Psychology-driven community building at your fingertips
The Good Neighbour Method is the brainchild of Barry Braun and Dr. Bruce Dienes. Together, their insights empower the community with a method that not only enhances neighbour relationships but also builds a sustainable, vibrant community ethos. The process is founded in science and experience.
Dr. Bruce Dienes, an adjunct professor of psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University, has dedicated his career to enhancing community dynamics and resilience. His work includes pioneering strategies to shift cultural norms. His deep understanding of community interaction is pivotal to the framework of the Good Neighbour Method.
Barry Braun brings over three decades of experience in coaching leaders across entrepreneurial and governmental spheres to shift and enrich organizational cultures.
Cultural shift made possible through accessible training… and a special little app.
1. Support your staff and a core group of citizens to plant the seeds of change.
Together, they will have what they need to do the things that cause people to come together as a supportive community. They will have the tools and understanding of how to shift culture, how to develop meaningful community, how to motivate people to want to belong, and how to move people out of fear and into action.
2. Connect citizens to each other safely via the Good Neighbour App
The Good Neighbour App is the new doorbell! Citizens can communicate without having to divulge phone numbers, email addresses or social media accounts. Now they can safely ask for help, create or attend social events that bring them together, and share news and ideas that helps them thrive.
3. Build momentum; watch happiness bloom; let citizens shape their community.
Once the Good Neighbour Method hits the milestone you have set, we safely ease ourselves out of the process. Now your community is operating on its own positive flywheel. Citizens are empowered to address what matters to them, as their connected and aligned community grows and expands for generations to come.
What does it cost?
We understand the pressure to keep tax rates low. Our funding model includes co-applying for grants that leverage your investment up to 10 times.
What is the time commitment?
We form a partnership with members of your community administration. We train your delegates to manage the process over the long term so that the shift to a belonging, caring and supportive culture becomes stronger and more entrenched over time. This doesn’t involve more work, it involves doing things differently.
How will we know it’s working?
Together, we identify the more important and correlate it to our “Connectedness Matrix”. This is based on how connected citizens are, and how frequently they communicate with each other. We track this while remaining compliant to each individual’s privacy.
The power of unity: thoughts and experiences on bringing large groups of people together
Thoughts from community leaders around the world on the state of neighbours.
The Canadian community of Ellershouse talk about building a community park during Covid.
Warden Zebian shares how West Hants, a Canadian municipality, was transformed.
Have we piqued your curiosity?
Connectedness and belonging are fundamental to happy communities. It is the greatest gift you can give to your community. Start a conversation with us now. Contact Barry Braun by calling +1-902-830-6569 or filling out the form below..