In a recent LinkedIn post, Jill Avey shares a deeply personal reflection on the importance of local community connections, prompted by a health scare that highlighted her own lack of immediate neighborhood support. Avey details how, despite living on her street for three decades, she knew few of her neighbors until a bout of vertigo left her realizing the critical need for people living “two doors down.”
She recounts the isolation felt during this time, noting the paradox of having friends globally but lacking readily available help locally. “I was lying in bed trying to think of who I could ask to come into my house and help me, and I could only come up with two people I knew well enough to ask,” Avey writes, underscoring a common modern disconnection.
Rekindling Local Connections
Avey attributes the decline in neighborhood interaction to a combination of factors, including population turnover, the isolating effects of the pandemic, and the pervasive use of personal technology. “Plenty of people walk past while I’m out gardening, but I’m listening to a book and they’re listening to something else, and we just don’t talk anymore,” she observes, illustrating how individual digital bubbles can create physical distance.
The catalyst for change, Avey explains, was the realization that having a support system requires proactive effort. This understanding led her to initiate “Girls on the Block,” a grassroots effort to foster these vital local ties. She describes the simple yet effective act of placing invitations in mailboxes, which resulted in an initial gathering of sixteen women.
“You need people two doors down. And, you need a few of them, because not everyone is going to be home the night you need them.”
From Isolation to Community Building
The success of “Girls on the Block” has been remarkable, growing to 28 members and facilitating mutual support through a dedicated WhatsApp group. Avey highlights the practical benefits, such as borrowing items, assisting with dog care, finding reliable tradespeople, and offering support after surgeries. This demonstrates how proximity fosters a unique kind of immediate, actionable support that distant friendships cannot replicate.
Avey draws a poignant parallel to her childhood, explaining a long-held feeling of not fully belonging. “I was born six years after my sister and eight years after my brother, so the family was already a family by the time I showed up. All I wanted was to be in my sister’s room with her and her friends. But, the door kept closing,” she reveals, connecting this past experience to her current drive to create inclusive community spaces.
“So I built the thing I always wished someone had built for me.”
She candidly admits to still grappling with feelings of belonging, even within the community she created. However, Avey concludes with a powerful message about the intentionality of belonging: “I just decided I do. Sometimes that’s all belonging really is.”
The Urgency of Neighborly Support
The article serves as a compelling call to action, urging readers to consider their own neighborhood connections. Avey poses a direct question to her audience: “How many neighbors could you call at 2 am?” This question challenges individuals to assess the strength and reliability of their immediate support networks.
Avey’s experience underscores that while global and even long-distance friendships are valuable, the practicalities of life often necessitate the kind of support that only close neighbors can provide. Her initiative, born from personal vulnerability, offers a replicable model for others seeking to build stronger, more resilient local communities.
“It only takes one asker and one responder.”
For those inspired to foster similar connections, Avey offers her notes, emphasizing that the creation of such supportive networks is an achievable goal for anyone willing to take the first step.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Jill Avey on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on October 3, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →