Would You Notice If Your Neighbor Disappeared?

In many neighborhoods, people live side by side without really knowing one another. At the same time, events in recent years — from natural disasters to public safety concerns to immigration enforcement — have left us wondering if that is a good idea and raised questions about how connected we really are to the people nearest to us.

At this Crossing Party Lines conversation, we’ll explore what community means at the neighborhood level: how well we know one another, what we notice, and how local relationships shape our sense of safety, belonging, and responsibility.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• How well do you know the people who live near you? What do you actually know about their lives?
• What makes someone feel like “just a person nearby” versus “my neighbor”?
• Have you ever been surprised by something happening in your neighborhood? What did that show you?
• If someone on your block suddenly stopped being around, how likely is it that you would notice? What would that mean to you?
• What helps people feel safe and connected in a neighborhood with diverse experiences and legal statuses?
• What kind of neighborhood do you want, even if it’s not what you currently have?