Wanted: Good Neighbor Ambassadors in every Missouri county, applications open now

David Burton

Missouri Good Neighbor Week is looking for people across the state who believe stronger communities begin with stronger relationships between neighbors.

The new Missouri Good Neighbor Week Ambassador Network gives individuals an opportunity to promote neighboring in their communities, report acts of neighboring throughout the year and help encourage others to get involved.

“We are looking for ordinary Missourians who believe knowing and helping their neighbors still matters,” said David Burton, University of Missouri Extension community development specialist and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “You don’t need to be an official, you don’t need to lead an organization, and you don’t need to plan a major event. You simply need a desire to connect with the people around you and encourage others to do the same.”

Missouri Good Neighbor Week is celebrated Sept. 28-Oct. 4 each year, but Burton says the Ambassador Network reflects an important evolution of the statewide effort.

“Our theme this year is ‘A Year of Neighboring Activity. A Week to Celebrate It,’” Burton said. “We don’t want neighboring to be something people think about for seven days and then forget. The real opportunity is to make intentional neighboring part of everyday life.”

What Does an Ambassador Do?

Missouri Good Neighbor Week Ambassadors are asked to practice neighboring throughout the year and report their activities through a new online Ambassador Portal.

Ambassadors are also encouraged to promote Missouri Good Neighbor Week through social media and their personal networks and to share at least one success story per year.

In return, ambassadors receive access to a new online reporting portal, free neighborhood training videos with practical ideas for building connection and belonging, early notice of special events and opportunities, swag for events and access to exclusive activities.

Perhaps most importantly, Burton said, ambassadors become part of a growing statewide movement demonstrating that small acts can make a meaningful difference.

“An ambassador might invite neighbors over for coffee, check on someone who lives alone, welcome a new family, organize a driveway gathering or simply make the effort to learn the names of the people living nearby,” Burton said. “Then they tell us what happened so we can begin showing the collective impact of neighboring across Missouri.”

In 2027, an advisory board for Missouri Good Neighbor Week will be selected from among Ambassadors. When funding becomes available for neighboring mini-grants it is Ambassadors who will have the ability to apply.

Building a Statewide Network

Missouri Good Neighbor Week began in 2022 with a goal of documenting 10,000 acts of neighboring. Missourians reported 12,594 acts that first year. In 2025, residents reported 42,134 acts involving people in 110 cities and 86 counties. The goal for 2026 is 50,000 acts.

“I would love to have ambassadors in every Missouri county, perhaps 365 total across the state,” Burton said. “The Ambassador Network is designed to help that growth continue beyond a single annual celebration.”

Burton says ambassadors can include neighborhood leaders, Extension volunteers, faith community members, educators, business owners, civic club members, elected officials, community volunteers or anyone else interested in strengthening relationships where they live.

But no organizational affiliation is required.

“Neighboring isn’t about doing something extraordinary,” said Burton. “It’s about doing something intentional, like noticing the person next door, checking on someone who may need help, inviting someone to the table, helping with a project or simply taking the time to know the people who live around us. Those small actions add up to stronger communities.”

Become an Ambassador

Applying for the Missouri Good Neighbor Week Ambassador Network is free and open to interested Missourians at https://missourigoodneighborweek.com.

The Ambassador Network is part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, which is supported by University of Missouri Extension, National Good Neighbor Day and ServMo.