December 18, 2019

Celebrating a Year of Great Neighbors

2019 has been a year full of excitement here at Nextdoor! We are incredibly inspired by all of the neighbors who have have turned to Nextdoor to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Throughout this year, we were able to show our appreciation by awarding a few of the many great neighbors around the world who have made a positive impact in their local communities.

Olga J. & Wayne L. – Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom

Olga’s husband and Wayne’s father was a producer and film enthusiast who shared his passion of the big screen with the community by converting their garage into a 16-seat cinema. When he passed away a few years ago, Olga and Wayne decided to carry on the tradition by offering weekly screenings and free refreshments for all of the neighborhood to enjoy. Olga promotes the film screenings on Nextdoor to ensure everyone everyone in the neighborhood knows they are welcome to attend. By providing a place for multiple generations to come together to enjoy the magic of movies, Olga and Wayne have become an important pillar in their community.

Erika R. – Denver, CO

Erika is an all around super neighbor known for her local business that sells handmade products by local artists who give a portion of their sales to charity. Additionally, Erika created the HomeSlinger Guide, a free, open-source directory for the community with the goal of encouraging neighbors to intentionally spend their money at the small local businesses that need support. Particularly, Erika wanted to make it easy to discover businesses owned by women, people of color, LGBTQ, and indigenous communities.

Björn M. – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Björn is always committed to the neighborhood and his neighbors. With great difficulty, he managed to create a communal courtyard for his building so neighbors could meet one another and organize activities. He is always ready to help his neighbors and takes constant initiative to better his neighborhood. For those who strive to be a great neighbor, Björn shares, “Do it from your heart and do not expect too much from others!”

Faydene G. – Birmingham, United Kingdom

Originally from Jamaica, Faydene moved to the UK and made Birmingham her home in 1996, instantly embedding herself in the community by working as the local librarian. Faydene spearheads neighborhood clean-ups, offers advice on the benefits system, runs the local food bank, and even provides free music lessons to local children in hopes of bringing the spirit of solidarity back to her community!

Karen R. – Atlanta, GA

Long-term Atlanta resident Karen revived and reformed the Grove Park Neighborhood Organization after recognizing the need for a united community voice. As a response to the lack of healthy food in their area, neighbors began the Grove Park Community Garden to provide access to freshly grown food to anyone who picks at the garden. Karen also participates with a community revitalization nonprofit focused on issues like education, wellness, and affordable local housing.

Cheryl B. – New South Wales, Australia

As a recent empty nester entering a new chapter of life, Cheryl turned to Nextdoor for a simple and comfortable way to build new relationships. She shared a post inviting neighbors to share a “cuppa” and a chat and the response was overwhelming – hundreds of comments and thanks later, Cheryl had dozens of neighbors eager to meet at a local park for their first gathering, and the group now meets regularly! Cheryl shares, “I love a chat, but making friends can take a while to see if you share similar character and values. Nextdoor can get the ball rolling with neighbors whether it’s selling a chair, needing a lightbulb changed, or just asking if anyone wants to have a cup of tea or coffee.”