As they reached out to other neighbors, they learned that many people didn´t know each other and felt disconnected in their own neighborhood. As neighbors talked more, they discovered many similar hopes and dreams for their neighborhood. Together, they explored ideas for how to overcome these feelings of isolation and the lack of communication. Before long, neighbors were working together—with common goals and visions— to benefit the entire community. Individuals of different ages and social, economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds were able to work side–by–side in the healthy development of their community.

Through this experience, Our United Villages learned that a great deal of the discontent that is at the roots of society´s social problems is caused by a lack of deeper connections between people who share communities.

Our United Villages was founded in 1997 because these neighbors proved that the capacity to make a positive difference and solve problems in our communities exists within us and each other. It begins with people connecting with one another and working together to achieve commonly held hopes and dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

David's Story

It all started when a group of neighbors started talking on the sidewalk.

In 1996, a drive-by shooting took place in a Portland neighborhood. No one called the cops, and a shocked neighborhood came together to ask, "How is it possible that one of us gets shot at while the rest do nothing? How did we get to this place as a community, and what do we do now?" These neighbors were different races, ages, and had different income levels and backgrounds. What they had most in common was they all called the same neighborhood home and they all wanted to make the neighborhood a better place.

Neighbors began meeting informally to share meals, ideas, and to get to know one another better. They talked about poverty, violence, and isolation. They asked themselves, "With all the resources that are available, why do these social problems continue despite society's best efforts to solve them?" When the discussion turned to how to cut down on crime in their neighborhood, David bubbled to the top of the list. Only 13 years old, David (not his real name) and his buddies were responsible for a lot of the vandalism and theft in the neighborhood. One neighbor asked, "Does anyone know David?" Another responded, "Yeah, I've told him to stay away from my house." The neighbor asked again, "But does anyone know David? Does anyone know what is important to him?" In an effort to understand David, this neighbor decided to reach out to him and ask, "If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?" David replied, "A million dollars, a motorcycle, and braces."

At their next gathering, the neighbor shared David's response with the group. The collective wheels started to turn, and though David was out of luck on the million bucks and too young for the motorcycle, the neighbors began to brainstorm about how they could get David a straighter set of teeth. Neighbors met David's mother and learned more about her family. David's mother recognized the need, but couldn't afford the braces. She gave her approval for the neighbors to look into it.

Later, one of the neighbors was getting his haircut and shared the story of David. The stylist was so moved, she not only cut his hair for free, she pulled $50 out of her purse to give towards David's teeth. The hairdresser also knew of an orthodontist who might be able to help. In support of this community effort, the orthodontist offered his services for half the normal cost and began working on David's braces immediately. At the next gathering, neighbors were even more inspired to work towards getting David braces. It took the neighbors six months to raise all the money. Some people matched the $50 from the stylist and others gave a dollar or two.

After David's teeth were straightened, one of the neighbors was working in her garage when David and a few friends passed by. David turned back and came up to the neighbor to say, "If I didn't know you, I would steal those bikes." This neighbor brought the story back to the next gathering. One wise woman said, "You know, we haven't changed David, but we have changed our relationship with him." He's not going to steal from them anymore, and he won't allow his friends to do so either. The neighbors had changed too; instead of complaining about the kid down the street that causes problems, they saw David as an individual and a neighbor they were getting to know. They realized that when you change your way of doing things, you can get a different outcome.

The neighbors continued to work together on dreams for their neighborhood.

They started to realize that collectively they had a wealth of experience, knowledge, and ability. With their combined abilities and shared interests, they could accomplish just about anything. A house-bound elder is given a whistle so her neighbors can come to her aid. A community basketball hoop goes up. A scholarship fund for neighborhood children is proposed. And so began Our United Villages. Our United Villages was founded in 1997 because these neighbors were living proof that there are solutions right under our noses, and all we have to do to discover them is to get to know each other. We can accomplish great things together.

Our United Villages is a non-profit organization founded on the belief that every person has something positive to contribute and that communities are healthier and happier when each person is valued. These neighbors realized that everyday people throughout neighborhoods have an abundance of amazing ideas, but no venue dedicated to getting to know neighbors and sharing ideas. The founders of Our United Villages set out to establish an organization to foster this spirit throughout communities. Our United Villages encourages neighbors to meet and create bonds that inevitably strengthen the social fabric of the entire community.

OUV Outreach Timeline