A strong argument for building social networks among neighbors — more important than ever — is made by Daniel P. Aldrich in The Atlantic this week. He opens with…
Standard advice about preparing for disasters focuses on building shelters and stockpiling things like food, water, and batteries. But resilience the ability to recover from shocks, including natural disasters comes from our connections to others, and not from physical infrastructure or disaster kits.
Almost six years ago, Japan faced a paralyzing triple disaster: a massive earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdowns that forced 470,000 people to evacuate from more than 80 towns, villages, and cities. My colleagues and I investigated how communities in the hardest-hit areas reacted to these shocks, and found that social networks the horizontal and vertical ties that connect us to others are our most important defense against disasters.
We saw this play out in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene in Vermont. Communities with pre-existing vibrant use of Front Porch Forum rebounded more quickly after the flooding than those without.
Sebastian Junger’s recent book, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, strikes a chord familiar to Front Porch Forum fans. Jennifer Senior writes in her New York Times review of the book…
Modern civilization may be swell, giving us unimaginable autonomy and material bounty. But it has also deprived us of the psychologically invaluable sense of community and interdependence that we hominids enjoyed for millions of years. It is only during moments of great adversity that we come together and enjoy that kind of fellowship which may explain why, paradoxically, we thrive during those moments. (In the six months after Sept. 11, Mr. Junger writes, the murder rate in New York dropped by 40 percent, and the suicide rate by 20 percent.)
War, too, for all of its brutality and ugliness, satisfies some of our deepest evolutionary yearnings for connectedness. Platoons are like tribes. They give soldiers a chance to demonstrate their valor and loyalty, to work cooperatively, to show utter selflessness. Is it any wonder that so many of them say they miss the action when they come home?
As a former anthropology major, Mr. Junger takes a special interest in tribal life. He notes that a striking number of American colonists ran off to join Native American societies, but the reverse was almost never true. He describes the structure and values of hunter-gatherer groups, including the ones that lasted well into the 20th century, like the !Kung in the Kalahari.
FPF’s mission is to help neighbors connect and build community. We work toward that mission by hosting a Vermont-wide network of online neighborhood / town forums where people find lost pets, sell cars, give away couches, seek rides to the airport, ask for plumber recommendations, borrow ladders, find part-time jobs, organize block parties, attract crowds for community meetings and events, debate school budgets, and more. And all of this occurs daily among clearly identified nearby neighbors, building connections. Counter to our national trend toward individual isolation, for an increasing number of Vermonters, their neighbors form a healthy part of their tribe.
“I stand with all of my neighbors, no matter what country they came from or what religion they follow. Who will stand with me?“
“A couple of months ago, a community member in my town posted on our Front Porch Forum an invitation for neighbors to gather in questioning how we can become more organized, informed and better able to rapidly respond to current social issues. From that one post, about 40 people showed up. We squeezed into the old South Newfane School House and began an important conversation. Out of this gathering, we are now defining the contours of what we want to do as a group and how to effectively connect with other grassroots efforts in our state. At the last meeting we invited our local legislators and many showed up. FPF has been instrumental by creating the infrastructure that has allowed such a level of individual activism and organization to occur.”
• Heidi, Newfane Townshend FPF
When it’s time to get organized in your community, start with FPF.
“WOW thanks you for all of the replies!!!! So glad to know there are many helping hands in our community. The bed has moved to it’s new home at the Lareau Farm Inn. Thank you all!”
Lisabeth, Innkeeper, Mad River Valley Front Porch Forum
Moving? Need help? Ask your neighbors on FPF.
“I have a crack in our kitchen sink drain pipe. So now I can’t use the sink and I’m doing dishes in the bathroom. I have an 8 mo old and the dishes are piling up!!! I haven’t been able to get in touch with any plumbing services and I fear I won’t hear from anyone until Monday at this point. I tried plumbing tape, but it didn’t work. HELP would be so appreciated! Whether a number for another plumber, a suggestion for how to fix, or better yet, someone who can come help since DIY plumbing while watching a squirming baby is really hard!!!”
• Karyn, Mad River Valley Front Porch Forum
“Thank you everyone who responded to my call for plumbing help. I’m all set and have a fix underway.”
• Karyn, Mad River Valley FPF, next day
Need help in a hurry? Vermonters turn to neighbors every day on FPF.
“We read of acts of spontaneous kindness. Those instances leave me thinking how thankful they made the recipient. Well, a beautiful, kind soul with the most wonderful smile turned to me on the checkout line at the grocery store in Williston this afternoon and handed me a bouquet of flowers.
“Me? Who me? ‘Yes.’ I confess to tears bubbling just short of overflow, for so many reasons. I offered my thanks and hurried to my car.
“Those were the most wonderful few minutes of my day, of many days. Please know I hope and pray to be able to come close to mirroring this act of kindness one day.
“Many, many thanks, they are truly the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen!”
• Lisa, Richmond Front Porch Forum
“The United Way of Lamoille County has firewood available for a family in need in Belvidere, Vermont. We unfortunately do not have a truck, and are looking for anyone willing to donate their time and vehicle to deliver some. Please call if you can help. Thank you!”
• Jim, Morrisville Front Porch Forum
“Thank you for the help. We were able to get a cord of firewood out on Saturday morning! Thank you for all the suggestions and new connections for help with delivery in the future. We are truly lucky to have such a generous community!”
• Jim, Morrisville FPF, a few days later
Need volunteers? Ask neighbors on your Front Porch Forum.
“I am wondering if other people are having this problem at home with their Xfinity WiFi. I choose my secure, private, password-encrypted non-Xfinity WiFi signal to work on my laptop and I am constantly thrown off my secure signal by Xfinity’s unsecured WiFi signal, which usually never allows me any connectivity.”
• Stephen, Montpelier FPF
“How wonderful is Front Porch Forum anyway!!?? I had seven great neighbors reply with all the information I needed to fix the problem!! Thanks to you all!”
• Stephen, Montpelier FPF, later same day
And a postscript from Stephen…
“Thanks again to so many who helped me. And to so many who are having the same problem, I offer what worked for me in my home in Montpelier. Be aware this worked for my MacBookPro (and I did the same thing on my iMac at my office just in case). I don’t know how this process works on PCs but maybe someone else does.
“I would like to start a Farmers Market catering to Belvidere and the surrounding area this summer. I am looking for volunteers to help. Those who volunteer would have a free space for the season. I am also, of course, looking for a space. So if you have a field or large parking lot that could be used, please contact me. I’m looking to start in June. If you can help, please contact me.”
• Jill, Cambridge Front Porch Forum
Many farmers markets have used FPF to get organized and launched in Vermont. How about one in your town?
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more