On a warm blue-sky September afternoon, with a breeze moving through the shade trees of Portal Park, nearly 70 neighbors sat down together to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day at Hey Neighbor’s annual Community Luncheon. This yearly event has one purpose: to celebrate and thank the people who make their neighborhoods places where people love to live. Each year, we highlight a neighborhood doing extraordinary work connecting their community, and this year we chose the Papeton neighborhood. In addition to our Hey Neighbor team and celebrated neighbors from Papeton, guests included Neighborhood University students and graduates, Neighborhood Leaders, participants in our 150 Tables Across COS initiative, city staff and elected officials, and community partners.

The lunch also counted towards our goal of inspiring neighbors to host 150 Tables Across COS, our initiative to celebrate Colorado’s 150th birthday by bringing neighbors together over a shared meal. We wanted to show what hosting can look like: a long table, good food, and no agenda beyond getting to know each other.

Hey Neighbor’s Executive Director, Kelly Bull, opened with two simple instructions: dig in, and no work talk. Guests took that seriously. Paper fortune tellers full of conversation starters made the rounds, paper footballs flew across the tables, and nametags revealing the one food each person would eat for the rest of their life started more than a few lively conversations. The laughter was abundant and the connections were real.

Papeton neighbors soon took the floor, telling stories of a neighborhood that doesn’t wait for things to happen. It makes them happen.

Matt Jones, president of the Papeton Neighborhood Association, told us he used to feel nostalgic about all the neighborhood activities the adults organized when he was growing up. Then it hit him: “Wait, now we’re the adults!” He started knocking on doors and bringing neighbors together. The result is a team of community catalysts who have revamped Flanagan Park, revived a longtime community yard sale, planted a native garden right there at Portal Park, and started a school garden at Edison Elementary. (Read more about their projects here)

Councilmember Nancy Henjum of District 5 reminded us why this matters. She has helped Papeton residents find the people and resources to turn ideas into projects, and she invited every Colorado Springs resident to join Neighborhood University and learn how to connect with city leaders and resources.

Guests were treated to a humorous yet heartfelt reading, by Thomas Thompson on behalf of Mayor Yemi, of a proclamation declaring September 28, 2026, National Good Neighbor Day. Neighbors cheered, and we celebrated the way it should be done, together.

Read the full proclamation here!

With fun and joyful vibes flowing, we had one more thing to celebrate. Hey Neighbor turns 50 this year! We sang, blew out the candles, and enjoyed a delicious cake.

To top off the day, guests gathered around a piñata strung high in the trees. It spun wildly, emptying its guts of candy and prizes, and previously relaxed, mature grown-ups went scurrying on their hands and knees for sweets. One guest reported an adrenaline rush. We are still giggling.

Guests went home with the homegrown flower bouquets from the tables to give to a neighbor and keep the celebration going.

This day happens because of partners who believe in neighbors. Thank you to Thrivent, El Pomar Foundation, The Colorado Trust, Nunn Construction, MTSI, and Pikes Peak Lemonade. Thank you to Derien Latimer of Latimer’s Kitchen for feeding us so well, and to Sarah Hernandez for the piñata.

We can’t wait for next year!