Host a Porch Party. Build community.

Register any time between August 1 & September 30. Host your party before October 15.

UA Porch Parties is a partnership between Equal UA, the Center for HumanKindness, UA Community Foundation, City of UA and Community Relations Committee.

Register

*Supplies are limited,
so sign up soon!

Host a porch party.
It’s easy!

Step 1 – Register to host a party

  • Registration opens on August 1 and closes on September 30, 2024.

  • We encourage you to host your parties before October 15. *Supplies are limited, so sign up soon!

  • The party can be anywhere – keep it easy!

  • Ask neighbors to bring their own fold-out chairs and favorite drinks.

  • Or, if you are an entertaining extraordinaire, don’t let us limit your creativity and imagination!

Step 2 – Receive your party pack

  • Equal UA will deliver your party pack to your door.

  • Party packs include:

    • UA bear canvas bag

    • Yard sign

    • UA bear window cling (party favors for you and guests)

    • Welcome-bear door hanger and ribbon

    • Invitations

    • UA Trivia (courtesy of the UA Historical Society)

    • Snacks to share and lemonade packets

    • Napkins, name tags, markers, chalk and bubbles (if your party includes children) and ideas for throwing a successful party and for building community.

Step 3 – Plan your party

  • Pick a date before October 15

  • Drop off door-hanger invitations, email and/or text your guests two weeks prior to your party (we’ll send you the template!)

  • Email equalupperarlington@gmail.com to share your date, time and whether or not we can help!

Step 4 – Party! 

  • Welcome in new and old friends from the neighborhood

  • Collect contact information from your attendees, including cell phone, home phone and email.

  • Snap some photos along the way!

Step 5– Let us know how it went

We will send you a quick survey for you to complete and to share with your attendees so that we can learn more about the impact of close-to-home efforts to build community and belonging.

Share your photos with us via email or by tagging #UAPorchParties  and #KindnessCloseToHome!

UA Porch Parties is an extension of the Center for HumanKindness’s Kindness Close to Home program, which seeks to help more people feel that they belong by encouraging, supporting, and celebrating small neighborhood gatherings that can:

This is an opportunity to build closer relationships.

While the big events take place in our community, it’s often difficult for people to make meaningful and lasting connections in big crowds. This is an opportunity for smaller and more intimate gatherings with the people who live right down the street.

Porch Parties make connecting accessible.

With the party packs and Equal UA’s support, UA residents can facilitate meaningful, accessible, low-stakes, easy-to-throw gatherings that promote continued connection.  This can have a cascade effect that will leads to an increased sense of belonging, safety, empathy, and compassion. 

Engage vulnerable populations.

Some groups in our community are at greater risk for isolation, including the 20 percent of residents in UA who rent, adults without children, older adults, and new residents. With this initiative, we hope to infuse a culture of intentionality encouraging participants to reach out to new people who have moved in and those they’ve never met.

Porch Parties
create connection.

Socially connected communities are more prepared for and resilient in the face of disaster or divisive situations; they also experience greater economic prosperity and reduced levels of crime and violence. (Office of the U.S. Surgeon General)

Only 54% of UA residents feel like they belong.

Half of U.S. adults have experienced loneliness recently.

  • Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

  • Only 3 in 10 Americans know the names of most or all of their neighbors.

Social connection makes communities healthier.

  • Higher levels of connection can influence health-related behaviors; educational and economic achievement are even impacted by connection. (Office of the U.S. Surgeon General)

  • Socially connected communities are healthier, more trusting, safer, and more prosperous. Exploring deeper connections with the people who live and work in your neighborhood can have surprising benefits for you, your neighbors, and the community.

     

Connected communities are stronger.