K.C. Ledgerwood is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked in community mental health and trauma-informed work since 2011. Her background in mental health, alongside her history in teaching fitness, provided the foundations of a personal practice she developed. The somatic practice was first shared with friends, then formed into classes she began teaching in 2021.

Sharing plants is more than just sharing the organic material. It is sharing a living connection with family, friends, and neighbors. Geoff Ledgerwood’s roots are in rural Washington state. It’s there that he inherited generational wisdom about the neighborly practice of dividing plants. 

Andrea Peters has served on the Littleton City Council for the last two years. She shares her conviction about the essential nature of citizens’ participation in city council meetings. “On our flowchart, citizens are at the very top. If we don't hear from them, the whole system breaks down," she explains. With a mix of optimism and realism, she adds, "I think [local city council meetings] might be the most hopeful part of government right now."

When we think about leadership, we often picture roles “out there”—at work, church, or on a nonprofit board. But leadership starts closer to home—right in our neighborhoods. No matter where you live—condo, apartment, or cul-de-sac—there are simple, powerful ways to lead. Sociologists say we all have five “neighborhoods”: familial (extended family), relational (friends), digital (online presence), psychographic (shared-interest groups), and geographic. Jesus calls us to love all our neighbors, but let’s focus on our literal, geographic ones.

My refrigerator has a feature for families like ours. It beeps when the door is left open over a set amount of time. This is particularly helpful in households with multiple people, especially during lunchtime when leftovers are being brought out and put back in batches. We don’t realize the fridge door is open, so it beeps to alert us. The problem is I often don’t hear the high-pitched chirp. I’m not sure if it’s the tone or the noise of the kitchen, regardless of the cause, I tune it out and keep making sandwiches.

Local holiday traditions create memorable connections with our neighbors and neighborhoods. For citizens in the city of Littleton, the Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting is a beloved holiday tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season. For more than 40 years

Public transportation provides a practical way to know your neighbors and neighborhood. It is a different method of moving around the city. For many it is essential as it eliminates the cost of owning and operating an automobile.

Standing in the awkward is the practice that tells our neighbors they are worth our discomfort. On the other side, we may get more comfortable, or at least get more comfortable with being uncomfortable.

The place you call home has a history. The geography where you live has a story. To know your neighborhood begins with the practice of knowing the history of your neighborhood. Learning the history of the place you and your neighbors live is a spiritual practice.

A book club is a practice that cultivates curiosity and community. Book reading is usually considered a solitary activity. A book club invites a reader into a shared activity. A neighborhood book club is a unique collective experience of hospitality, listening, and learning.

Summer is a season of consistent unplanned interactions with neighbors. It is an ideal season to practice creating a neighborhood map to learn the names, history, and hopes of your neighbors.

Neighborhood associations are organizers of celebrations. They serve as the neutral neighborhood host for block parties, park picnics, and community events.

Curiosity about your place creates a common ground of conversations. Be curious with neighbors and local leaders. The more you practice curiosity, the more you encourage it in those around you.

The first practice is to listen.

To love a person, or a place, we begin by listening. Listening is how we cultivate connection. The invitation is to be generous with our attention. Listen invites us to give honor and focus through our senses. At the root of all formation and transformation is an awareness. Awareness begins with listening.