🏁 Axios Finish Line: Know thy neighbor

Plus: America's uncle | Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Open in app View in browser     Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Jul 27, 2022 Jul 27, 2022 Welcome back. Continue the conversation at FinishLine@axios.com. Smart Brevity™ count: 422 words ... 2 mins     1 big thing: The power of neighbors Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios   A majority of Americans don't know most of their neighbors — and they barely talk to the ones they do know. Why it matters: Strong neighborhoods boost the health, happiness, and longevity of their residents. But over the last several decades, our connections with our neighbors have been fraying. What's happening: We're leaving our homes with our screens in our hands. The pandemic made us even less likely than we were before to stop and chat with new folks. As a result, most of the people living around us are strangers. By the numbers: 57% of Americans say they know only some or none of their neighbors, according to a Pew Research Center survey. That share climbs up to 72% among 30- to 49-year olds and 78% among 18- to 29-year-olds. 58% say they know their neighbors but don't spend time chatting or hanging out with them. The stakes: The benefits of knowing thy neighbor abound. Lives saved: In well-connected neighborhoods, fewer lives are lost in tragedies, including natural disasters and mass shootings. Happier aging: Older adults who know their neighbors report a far higher sense of psychological wellbeing. Safer streets: Tight-knit neighborhoods have lower rates of gun violence. Boosted wellbeing: People who know their neighbors are generally cheerier, healthier, and spend more time outside. 💡 Between the lines: Even in the age of dating apps, texting, and social media, most people get to know their neighbors in person. We're twice as likely to chat with neighbors in person than online, per Pew. The bottom line: Step outside and start a conversation — in the garden or in the mailroom. Befriending your neighbors is good for you. Share this story.     A message from Axios NEW: Subscribe to Axios Communicators     Get the latest topics and trends impacting the way leaders, organizations and employers communicate. Why it matters: Axios Communicators will help inform your strategy and offer insight into the rapidly evolving world of sharing and receiving information. Subscribe for free     Mister Rogers' neighborhood "Saint Fred." Photo: Ned Oliver/Axios   A shrine to the ultimate neighbor — Mister Rogers — has risen in an abandoned pay phone in Richmond, writes Axios Richmond's Ned Oliver. A drawing of a saintly Fred Rogers, holding a shoe and glowing trolley, is surrounded by candles and offerings of troll dolls. The artist behind the installation is unknown, according to an in-depth report by CBS affiliate WTVR. Why it matters: The intersection of Patterson Avenue and Sheppard Street, once known as the Devil's Triangle, is undergoing a cleansing. "I think he protects the neighborhood in some way," Abu Kahn, who lives a few doors down, tells WTVR. ⚡ Flashback: In March, Jim VandeHei wrote about life lessons from Mister Rogers: Authentic humility ... Intense interest in others ... Unusual optimist ... Minimalist living ... Deep faith. Go deeper: "What I've learned from Mike Allen and Mister Rogers."   Thanks for reading. Invite your friends to sign up here. Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: