NeighborKeepers is an inclusive community built on meaningful relationships that generate Circles of Support, empowering families to create a sustainable path to adequate resources.

What is Neighborkeepers?


 

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NeighborKeepers is a non-profit, anti-poverty organization in Burlington, Vermont that has adopted the “Circles of Support” national program.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, in 2005 over 10% of Vermont residents were living at the poverty level. The total number of people in poverty in Vermont for that year was 62,748. That puts the number of children living in poverty in 2005 at 16,690. Unfortunately, these numbers are growing.

NeighborKeepers defines poverty as the struggle to exist without adequate resources. The NeighborKeepers Circle of Support Program (CoS) focuses on building community around families to collaboratively address building resources. Volunteer allies coach community members in the program and CoS creates sustainable, supportive friend networks that direct families and individuals toward the resources they need to improve health, get training and education, find jobs, and discover a sense of purpose and belonging.

 

Hal Colston Goes to Chicago for The Oprah Winfrey Show

People magazine recently teamed up with The Oprah Winfrey Show to showcase stories of outstanding Americans who have risen up in the face of hard times – and reached out to help their neighbors. For their ‘Heroes in Hard Times’ feature, People editors mined the past two years of their weekly column, Heroes Among Us, and selected ten stories to be featured on May 19 on Oprah. Originally appearing in People last February, Hal was lauded for his work with the Good News Garage and NeighborKeepers.

Reflecting on Oprah

It was a magical moment, being on the show. I was pampered with deluxe hospitality and service from the moment I landed on Wednesday, April 15. A limousine took me to the studio at 7 a.m. the following day. The staff prepared me for the show, then I waited in the Green Room until shortly after 9, when I was led to the entrance point—the place where I would join Oprah on stage for the interview. It was there where I was able to watch, for the first time, the video that had been shot a week earlier in Burlington. It was the story of the Good News Garage, condensed into a little over two minutes! Then the moment I had been waiting for arrived, and I was told to GO!

Before I could get to my seat, Oprah met me with a hug. She was wiping away tears. It didn’t occur to me until after the interview that she had been so deeply moved by the video. Then, a gentleman in the audience sitting in the front row told me how much of an inspiration I was to him because of the amazing work of Good News Garage. He was Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Automotive Group of Charlotte, North Carloina, owner of large auto dealerships in the south and whose NASCAR team employs Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Ernhardt, Jr. Rick said that because of the work I had done he was donating ten Chevrolet Impalas (with an average value of $17,000 each). Oprah then invited him to the stage where I shook my head and his hand. Next he gave me a check for $10,000 for the Garage. I floated into the commercial break.

I sat next to Rick for the rest of the show and he talked about visiting in the near future when his race team is in Loudon, New Hampshire. We exchanged contact information as he wanted to know more about NeighborKeepers.

When Oprah wrapped up the show, she asked me a question about reciprocity and its importance. It was my opportunity to talk about NeighborKeepers ---what it is and how it works. I explained that allies befriend and support community member families in an effort to “do with” as opposed to “do for.” This really resonated with Oprah and she stressed why doing with is so important.

Mine was the only live interview—the other guests were interviewed remotely via Skype. Throughout the show, before commercial breaks, Oprah showed the audience how to access the Oprah website to find the ten guests featured on the show and the links to their websites. The show concluded with Oprah challenging the audience to be inspired by the heroes they had just seen, urging them to step up and make a difference. This open-mike session went on for about 15 minutes and during that time I had the opportunity to speak further about NeighborKeepers and about the concept of radical hospitality.

Finally, photos were taken on stage before the audience. For the first shot Oprah grabbed my hand and held on. Then she rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. It was a truly magical, unforgettable time.