Article Written By: Ana Mendoza
Andrea (right), with friends (and Neighborhood Leaders!) Renee (left) and Chineta (center)
Andrea Ruby has lived in her Southeast neighborhood for 16 years. Although she has deep roots in the area, she had never taken the leap to organize something for her neighbors. That changed after attending a friend's Table. Seeing friends and neighbors come together and connect inspired Andrea to do the same in her own neighborhood. She said it was the push she needed to finally make it happen, so she decided to plan a Halloween party for her neighbors.
As her district's Community Coordinator, I chatted with Andrea about her plans and shared some tips based on my own experience and what I'd learned from Neighborhood Leaders who had hosted Tables. Andrea went door-to-door distributing flyers and inviting her neighbors, an experience she described as "terrifying because it felt so overdue."
Then came the big day! The amount of work Andrea, her husband, and son put into the party was incredible. Since it was Halloween, they handed out candy and pizza to neighborhood trick-or-treaters. And let me tell you, seeing everyone's excitement over the pizza was pretty great!
The backyard setup was quite impressive. They had a big projector screen where guests could play Jeopardy, spooky decorations throughout the yard, and plenty of Halloween-themed food and drinks. There was hot cider, piña coladas, a table full of small bites and desserts (including candy Petri dishes!), a hot cocoa bar, and even a pickle-tasting game. After Jeopardy, guests were invited to stick around for an outdoor screening of Iron Lung. Andrea didn't hold back for her first neighborhood gathering, that's for sure!
Andrea shared that nine neighbors stopped by, six of whom she hadn't really known before. It was a special gathering, especially as it coincided with the close of our 150 Tables Across COS initiative. Her party even caught the attention of local news station KOAA, which featured Andrea and her son in a segment that included an interview and a behind-the-scenes look at the party preparations. Reporter Michelle Reyes summed it up beautifully: "For Andrea Ruby, this Halloween is about taking a chance, getting out of their comfort zone, and getting to know the people that live right next door."
I love Andrea’s story because it’s a good reminder that it’s never too late to take that first step. Sure, it may feel a little spooky, but don't let that scare you away! No matter how long you’ve lived in your neighborhood, it’s better late than never to say hi, extend an invitation, connect with the people around you, and make your neighborhood better with just a little effort.
