What’s a typical response to a question posted on Front Porch Forum? Well… it’s hard to say. Some people respond on-forum, but most do so directly to the author via email, while still others phone or chat on the sidewalk… or even on the literal front porch.
FPF member Greg Fanslow recently documented one such exchange (of the thousands that occur each year on FPF in our pilot region). He asked his neighbors via FPF for recommendations about replacement windows. Check out the results here. And keep in mind that each of the responses are labeled with the first and last name of the respondant and his/her street name and email address.
With these kind of direct results from clearly identified nearby neighbors, it’s no wonder more and more people keep joining FPF… people want to be able to connect with those who live around them.
The urge to build community with those nearby is a strong impule for many people… and lots of folks seem to realize that neighbor connection has declined. Friend Nik just shared this blog post from Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert. He calls it Cheapatopia.
A national TV news show asked for a thumbnail sketch of FPF recently, so here’s what we sent…
Neighbors turn the Internet on its head to build vibrant community
Mention the internet, and most people think of the WORLD wide web… reaching out across the globe for news, long-lost friends, or low-price bargains. But in Burlington, VT, residents are using the web to connect with… their backfence neighbors. In an era where national and global information is broadly available online, it seems that few of us know our neighbors and what’s going on down the street. Husband and wife Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis saw an opportunity three years ago and created FrontPorchForum.com to serve their city. Amazingly, 40% of the state’s largest city subscribes and the sense of community there is thriving and winning national awards (see below).
“It’s astounding what a couple minutes a day of neighborhood news and chatter in my inbox has done,” says co-founder Michael Wood-Lewis. “People tell me that they lived on their street for ten years not knowing a soul. Now, since Front Porch Forum (FPF) kicked in, those familiar strangers have become real neighbors.”
Each neighborhood has its own online forum and the whole region is blanketed with a network of 130 neighborhood forums. People post about lost pets, block parties, car break-ins, plumber recommendations, helping ailing neighbors, local politics, school plays and much more. All ages partake… from seniors in their 80s seeking community support to stay in their homes… to teenagers looking for summer jobs.
In one rural neighborhood, people used FPF to find a pair of lost horses, then pitched in to build a better enclosure for the owners. In an urban neighborhood, the residents rallied around a mother who was assaulted in their park, and eventually got the city to improve safety conditions there. And in a different community, a young family asked for a couple helpers to move their household into new digs across the street… 36 people showed up! Not only was the job done quickly, but now this family knows three dozen neighbors.
“This small family business turns the internet on its head,” says FPF member and University of Vermont Assoc. Dean Susan A. Comerford. “The web offers countless ways to waste time, but Front Porch Forum actually pushes people offline and onto the sidewalks to chat with neighbors, face to face.” And that leads people to get more involved in their communities. An incredible 93% of FPF members report becoming more civically engaged due to this free service.
“Front Porch Forum is a postmodern return to citizen democracy,” opines Comerford. “This may well be the most important advance in community development strategies in decades.”
Accolades for Front Porch Forum
Links
Contact
Michael Wood-Lewis
Front Porch Forum
Kevin Harris blogs today that Jon Fitzmaurice of Self-help-housing.org wrote on the Guardian’s Joe Public:
Self-help housing enables people to be active citizens, and it fights the culture of “someone should do something about that”. It was once more common, but over the last two decades community development and regeneration has fallen into the hands of professionals preoccupied with management and measurement.
Kevin concludes with…
Community development will be reinvented from the bottom-up by people like Jon Fitzmaurice. Let’s hope the others just get out of the way.
Reminds me of a recent Front Porch Forum story…
Lauren wondered if her small rural Vermont town had a food shelf. So she posted a note to her neighbors on Front Porch Forum (FPF). When she learned that none existed currently, she reached out again via FPF for a steering committee. Then it was through FPF yet again that they found food, space, volunteers, and, eventually, recipients — her neighbors delivered on every count! Now, one year later, the food shelf is critical in the lives of many town residents affected by the recession. And no government, foundation, or corporate money or leadership has been needed.
FPF hosts a network of 130 online neighborhood forums that blankets all of Chittenden County, VT. More than 14,000 households subscribe, including 40% of the state’s largest city. Members use FPF to communicate with clearly identified nearby neighbors about issues of their choosing. Thousands of topics have been discussed and acted upon. All of this online exchange draws peoples’ attention to their local community, and increases social capital and civic engagement, as witnessed by Lauren’s example:
“Thanks to FPF, having a community-wide conversation about how to address our local hunger problem was a cinch. With the help of rallying neighbors, we got our food shelf up and running in no time. Not a community meeting — or practically any public-oriented conversation — goes by without FPF being tossed into the mix. What a wonderful gift.”
FPF is eager to bring its successful model to more communities. Some traditional community development professionals and funding programs have a hard time understanding this decentralized, citizen-centered approach. When we tell them that FPF helps create an environment where folks like Lauren emerge from the crowd to do wonderful acts of public good, I hear things like “well, but we don’t fund food selves.” Aargh.
State Rep. Suzi Wizowaty pointed out a great program today via Front Porch Forum…
A recent car break-in reminded me that many of you might not know of the city’s Parallel Justice Program. (I didn’t till this spring.) It’s run out of the Community Justice Center which in turn is a program of CEDO, the city’s community and economic development office.
And her closing remark summarizes what we hear time and again…
I’m grateful once again for the Front Porch Forum’s role in helping us all overcome that potential isolation when something bad happens–whether it’s vandalism, excessive noise, or even skunks.
The people of Richmond, VT, rallied to pull together through a very tough bridge closure right in the heart of Richmond Village. Good news… the bridge is now fixed up and open. Amy Klinger, one of the many people who jumped in over these past many months just posted the following on Front Porch Forum…
Hello, friends and neighbors. There are (at least) three organizations that have played critical roles in helping Richmond and its neighbors get through the last challenging 10 months: Richmond Area Business Association (RABA), Local Motion (the ferry service provider), and Front Porch Forum. All three organizations survive because of community support and I want to encourage folks to consider getting to know them a little better and supporting them in any way you can…
Front Porch Forum: If you are reading this message, you know what a valuable resource we have in Front Porch Forum. Here we can find a good firewood resource, keep apprised of criminal activity in our neighborhoods, discuss wildlife sightings, and vent frustrations. Over the last several months, we were also kept apprised of business-related news, bridge updates, and special events. Not bad for a free service. While I don’t know the stats for Huntington or Bolton, I’ve heard that 40% of Richmond residents are currently FPF subscribers–a good number, but it could be even better. If you know folks who are not currently subscribers, may I suggest you start saying things like, “You know what I read on Front Porch Forum?”or “You should post a message to Front Porch Forum about that.”or go the direct route, “Hey, you should sign up for the Front Porch Forum.”Here’s the website: http://frontporchforum.com
Thanks to these organizations and thanks to all of you who keep our communities vibrant and strong.
Congratulations to the eight winners of the Front Porch Forum raffle to celebrate Lake Champlain’s Quadracentennial. Here are their entries and the event to which they won a pair of tickets…
Thanks to our sponsors: Higher Ground, Burlington International Waterfront Festival and Burlington City Arts! Learn more about the Quadricentennial at http://www.celebratechamplain.org
And here are many of the other entries. Thanks to all who participated.
I just came across this great quote from former Oregon Governor Tom McCall…
Heroes are not statues framed against a red sky; they are people who say: “this is my community and it’s my responsibility to make it better.”
Amen. And that’s why I love my job running Front Porch Forum… I get to witness dozens of heroes everyday gladly stepping up to that responsibility… organizing clean-ups, neighborhood watches and block parties… identifying problems and offering solutions… welcoming newcomers and helping neighbors in need… watch-dogging politicians and businesses… on and on.
Tim in Burlington’s South End just posted this gem to his nearby neighbors on Front Porch Forum…
Hey neighbors! – Our front yard garden is now producing some wonderful sugar snap and snow peas. Come eat some as you stroll by [address redacted]! It’s a free garden for anyone who wants to partake.
And what makes this even more special, we’ve been seeing plenty of property crime postings lately in this area… what a refreshing departure!
Kristine loves her neighborhood! Here’s her pronouncement in her own words (via Front Porch Forum this evening)…
I just wanted to say how moved I was this weekend by the kindness and friendliness of neighbors on my street. I feel so fortunate to live on my street as I am surrounded by many amazing people. It was great to see so many people out this weekend doing yardwork and home improvement projects. I had a couple neighbors lend me their push mower so I could mow my lawn. A neighbor was gifted 2 bags of mulch from another neighbor. Another neighbor while driving by stopped and asked my next door neighbor if she needed anything from the grocery store. A few neighbors did morning yoga together at the Archibald garden. I brought a couple of neighbors out for lunch and retail therapy. Another neighbor shared veggies from his garden with a few neighbors. A neighbor gave me a plant from her yard. A few neighbors went out for creamies together. I am sure there were plenty of other amazing things that happened between neighbors this weekend. Let’s keep it going! This is what it is all about.
And, from someone else in a different part of town, a concern posted on FPF…
Yesterday afternoon, Eugene stopped Paddy and me to use our phone because his telephone was not working. He was concerned about being without a phone in case of emergency, as he is elderly and has some health issues. It seemed like Carol, his next door neighbor, had everything under control by the evening, but I’m just checking in to make sure that he is ok. I tried calling him this morning and either his phone line is still down, or he is not answering.
UPDATE: Jean responded today…
Cheers Kristine – I have to second her thoughts and feelings about our neighborhood! It is truly a testament to how kind and generous people can be to one another. This is one of the greatest streets in the ONE and I am so grateful to be a part of it…I say this at least once every week. How many people can say they feel this way about their neighborhood? I hope quite a few. It’s a great feeling to know that people care enough about their neighbors to extend a friendly helping hand, advice, or just a moment to sit and visit. Thanks St. Louis St (and beyond)!! Keep it up!
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