So for the "Digitally Dependant" what makes it possible to connect online? My best guess would be that is that the "you" can be controlled. The "you" does not depend on your approach, looks, vocabulary, coolness, confidence etc. Most importantly social networking sites inherently make it "ok" to connect and permission to say "whats up" is assumed.   more »

This weekend we took the Nametag Project to the 136th Annual Tunbridge Vermont World's Fair. Before I share our experiences, I like to thank the warm and accommodating staff at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds including Mr. Euclid Farham, Ms. Rebecca  Beguin, the Tunbridge VT Volunteer Fire Department, all the volunteers, Ambassadors, the USMC, Norwich University Student, vendors, fair goers and the Nametag Project volunteers including Mike, Phoebe, Cloe Landon, Cloe's friends Eduardo and Charlie, my mother Dorie Porcelli, Ernie “All I want to do is play with my chainsaw” LaBombard, Priscilla Geoghegan, James Geoghegan, Jen Waters and Frank Jen’s Man. You guys rock!

Nametagging the Tunbridge Worlds Fair was a different experience from other Nametag Projects initiatives. Instead of focusing on getting as many people as we could to wear nametags (my original plan which btw is exhausting - been there done that - see the National Night Out Nametag Day Fenway Park) we found that folks were less likely to wear nametags unless we engaged them in conversation about the purpose of the project. A result of these conversations we noticed the following:

Initially folks who were born and live in small towns like Tunbridge Vermont felt like they know almost all of their neighbors.

When the folks who were born and live in small towns like Tunbridge Vermont were asked if they knew the folks who had recently moved in most said they did not know who they are. If they had had a chance to meet their "new" neighbors more often then not because of a fire or an illness that brought neighbors together.

We did note that younger and newer the Vermonter the more likely they were to accept a nametag and vocalize their enthusiasm for the project.

The older and longer a person has lived in Vermont the more they expressed an appreciation for and seemed to be satisfied with their community.

Note: The above observations are we not conducted scientifically. They were reported back by the Nametag Project volunteers and documented on video. Coming soon!

I also wanted to compare and contrast the experience of distributing nametags at the Tunbrige Worlds fair compared to distributing them at the JP World's Fair (last weekend) and the socio and cultural differences and similarities.

A striking moment last night was when I approached "Rusty" a locally famous character about wearing a nametag who replied, "no way.” An older local gentleman asked me what I was doing, I explained, and then answered his next question where I was from, with "Boston," he half jokingly replied, "go back to Boston we don't need your nametags here". True, most of the folks in Tunbridge did seem to know each other. But what about the new folks who have moved into town?

In Jamaica Plain, MA where I live know, people in my neighborhood did not know each other until we organized Neighbors for Neighbors (which I founded in 2004 and led to my position as an organizer at BPD). Like Jamaica Plain, Tunbridge has many new residents in like Jared and Vika who recently moved from the South so Vika can attend the Vermont Law School nearby. Jared said he plans on joining the Volunteer Fire Department to get to know his neighbors. I did the same thing in 1992 when my family moved to Canaan NH from New Jersey and it was a good way for me to meet some of my peers. And for the record, I went to high school in Meridan, NH at Kimball Union Academy, and then to College in Winoski, VT at Saint Michaels College. Before the fair, I had a photo shoot at the Sharon Trading Post. There I met Rob, Cathy, Jim, Jennifer and handful of other folks (click here to see the pictures). But what if you don’t want to join the fire department and hanging out at the trading post in not for you? I'd be interested to know how folks in Tunbridge and Sharon meet their neighbors. I’d also be interested in seeing who would attend a Neighborhood/Town Social like we do with Neighbors for Neighbors? I also encourage Casandra, Gladys, Bev, and Brittany get to meet their new neighbors Jared and Vika. They may not know it yet but they all value community, connection, and compassion, and besides, their neighbors!

Funny thing is that never before have I seen as many people wearing their names on their clothing. Check out the picture of Randall and Amy who were hanging out next to one of the barns. I guess if you have your name written on your cloths in Vt, that’s cool. Maybe I should move back. I also love the picture of Haley and her cows Puss and Boots. 

As Mike and I discussed they day’s nametagging, we both agreed that “born and bred Vermonters” are not likely going to be the ones to reach out and meet their new neighbors or wear a nametag. They will however, as we said yesterday, when approached, “break bread,” share a warm and authentic conversation  about their lives, and in the case of some of the folks at the fair, their livestock, and the people they love in their communities who they’ve known their entire lives. Dig a little deeper as we did you also uncover some anxiety, like people all over America, about wanting to but not being sure how to approach or connect with their neighbors. Nametag anyone?

To date the nametag project's mission has been about encouraging people to get to know their neighbors to build community. Recently I’ve found myself asking what does this really mean and what does it look like? It means and looks like changing our behavior as individuals and a as society. It means looking up, saying hello, walking up to our neighbor’s porches and introducing ourselves for the sake of building community. Yes, taking action and stepping outside of our comfort zones, joining the volunteer fire department, gardening with your neighbors, taking care of elders, volunteering as mentor, playing community pick up (frisbee) celebrating life out loud inclusively with each other, and yes, maybe even wearing nametags.

Where you at the fair?
How do you meet your neighbors?
What do you think about nametags?
Do you know your neighbors to your left and right?
If not, why not?

Let us know what you think. Leave a comment below.

Click here to download high-res photos.

Note: More pictures to be added in coming days. If you don't seen you please check again shortly. Got a picture and want to share email me a joseph ( a:t ) neighborsforneighbors.org.

Thanks to NECN, host Jim Braude, and producer Elizabeth Hayden for having me as a guest on Wired today. Jim has been a great supporter of the nametag project and truly gets it.

Thanks for helping us encourage people to step into community.

Nametag Project to Distribute Nametag at Tunbridge Worlds Fair, Tunbridge Vermont, Saturday September 15, 6 to 8 PM   more »

The Nametag Project's most recent initiative was to Nametag the Jamaica Plain World's Fair.

Special thanks to the Landon Crew from VT for coming down to JP. Be sure to catch us on Saturday, September 15, at the Tunbridge VT World's Fair. Press Release coming soon. Click on any of the pictures to be taken to the photo album where you can see them in larger versions and download them if you like.