Topic Index

A practical mapping from common questions to specific recipes in this book. Use this when you have a clear situation but aren't sure which recipe fits.

"I want to get to know my neighbors"

The most common and most important question.

• [Block Party](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/block-party.md) — Close your street, bring food, meet people
• [Story-Sharing Potluck](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/story-sharing-potluck.md) — Structured meal with meaningful prompts
• [Porch Conversations](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/porch-conversations.md) — Low-energy practice you can keep up
• [Welcome Wagon](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/welcome-wagon.md) — Greet new neighbors meaningfully
• [Block Stewards](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/block-stewards.md) — Be the connector for your block

"I want to start a small group for mutual support"

• [Microsolidarity Crew](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/microsolidarity-crew.md) — 3 to 6 people, regular peer support
• [Mutual Aid Pod](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/mutual-aid-pod.md) — Small network pooling resources
• [Babysitting Co-op](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/babysitting-coop.md) — Parents sharing childcare
• [Dinner Party Grief](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/dinner-party-grief.md) — Peer grief support
• [Men's Council](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/mens-council.md) — Structured emotional depth

"I want to organize mutual aid"

• [Mutual Aid Pod](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/mutual-aid-pod.md) — Start small
• [Little Free Pantry](../recipes/03-mutual-aid/little-free-pantry.md) — Food sharing infrastructure
• [Community Fridge](../recipes/03-mutual-aid/community-fridge.md) — Fresh food too
• [Repair Cafe](../recipes/03-mutual-aid/repair-cafe.md) — Community repair events
• [Buy Nothing](../recipes/03-mutual-aid/buy-nothing.md) — Hyperlocal gift economy
• [Tool Library](../recipes/03-mutual-aid/tool-library.md) — Shared tools and equipment
• [Meal Train](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/meal-train.md) — Meals during hardship

"How do I facilitate a good gathering?"

• [Participation Tactics](../recipes/04-gathering-design/participation-tactics.md) — 29 specific tactics
• [World Cafe](../recipes/04-gathering-design/world-cafe.md) — Structured large-group conversation
• [Talking Circle](../recipes/04-gathering-design/talking-circle.md) — Circle process for equal voice
• [Open Space Technology](../recipes/04-gathering-design/open-space.md) — Participant-driven unconference
• [Art of Hosting](../recipes/04-gathering-design/art-of-hosting.md) — Hosting meaningful conversations
• [Community Agreements](../recipes/04-gathering-design/community-agreements.md) — Establish group norms

"I want to bridge across differences"

• [Civic Saturday](../recipes/05-bridging-difference/civic-saturday.md) — Secular civic gathering
• [Deep Canvassing](../recipes/05-bridging-difference/deep-canvassing.md) — Listen at the doorstep
• [Relational Organizing](../recipes/05-bridging-difference/relational-organizing.md) — Organize through trust
• [Interfaith Bridge](../recipes/05-bridging-difference/interfaith-bridge.md) — Across religious traditions
• [Circles USA](../recipes/05-bridging-difference/circles-usa.md) — Across class lines

"How do we transform our public spaces?"

• [Placemaking (PPS)](../recipes/06-placemaking/placemaking.md) — Community-led space transformation
• [Intersection Repair](../recipes/06-placemaking/intersection-repair.md) — Reclaim intersections
• [Community-Built Playspace](../recipes/06-placemaking/community-built-playspace.md) — Build playgrounds together
• [Community Garden](../recipes/06-placemaking/community-garden.md) — Shared growing
• [Barbershop Anchor](../recipes/06-placemaking/barbershop-anchor.md) — Recognize existing third places

"How do we prepare for emergencies?"

• [Map Your Neighborhood](../recipes/07-resilience/map-your-neighborhood.md) — Systematic neighbor-knowing
• [Resilience Hub](../recipes/07-resilience/resilience-hub.md) — Year-round and emergency anchor
• [Warming/Cooling Center](../recipes/07-resilience/warming-cooling-center.md) — Climate extremes
• [Community Safety Response](../recipes/07-resilience/community-safety.md) — Non-police crisis response

"I'm dealing with conflict in my community"

• [Good Neighbor Agreement](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/good-neighbor-agreement.md) — Formal agreements
• [Peacemaking Circles](../recipes/08-healing-and-conflict/peacemaking-circles.md) — Restorative justice process
• [Creative Interventions](../recipes/08-healing-and-conflict/creative-interventions.md) — Community accountability
• [Trauma-Informed Community Building](../recipes/08-healing-and-conflict/trauma-informed.md) — Tend wounds while building

"I want to support intergenerational connection"

• [Village Movement](../recipes/09-intergenerational/village-movement.md) — Elders aging in community
• [Bridge Meadows](../recipes/09-intergenerational/bridge-meadows.md) — Intergenerational housing
• [Babysitting Co-op](../recipes/02-small-groups-for-support/babysitting-coop.md) — Kids embedded in adult networks
• [Story-Sharing Potluck](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/story-sharing-potluck.md) — Stories across ages

"I want to bring more play and joy"

• [Come Out & Play](../recipes/10-play-and-joy/come-out-and-play.md) — Festival of street games
• [Improv Games](../recipes/10-play-and-joy/improv-games.md) — Fast trust-building
• [Playworks](../recipes/10-play-and-joy/playworks.md) — Intentional recess

"I want a regular civic rhythm"

• [Sunday Assembly](../recipes/11-civic-rhythms/sunday-assembly.md) — Secular weekly or monthly gathering
• [Civic Saturday](../recipes/05-bridging-difference/civic-saturday.md) — Civic ritual gathering
• [Neighborhood Association](../recipes/11-civic-rhythms/neighborhood-associations.md) — Formal civic voice
• [Microgrant Gathering](../recipes/11-civic-rhythms/microgrant-gathering.md) — Lower the cost of hosting

"I want to influence how public money is spent"

• [Participatory Budgeting](../recipes/11-civic-rhythms/participatory-budgeting.md) — Direct community spending decisions
• [Microgrant Gathering](../recipes/11-civic-rhythms/microgrant-gathering.md) — Small grants for hosts
• [Good Neighbor Agreement](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/good-neighbor-agreement.md) — Community benefit framing

"I want to connect community building to housing"

• [Cohousing](../recipes/12-shared-land-and-home/cohousing.md) — Designed neighborhoods
• [Community Land Trust](../recipes/12-shared-land-and-home/community-land-trusts.md) — Permanent affordability
• [Bridge Meadows](../recipes/09-intergenerational/bridge-meadows.md) — Intergenerational housing

"I want a digital neighborhood space"

• [Front Porch Forum](../recipes/01-knowing-your-neighbors/front-porch-forum.md) — Or how to set up something similar elsewhere

Details

• file path: frameworks/topic-index.md