Host an Unplugging Block/Neighborhood Party

Bring your community together by hosting a party with games, food, beverages and more. It doesn’t need to be complicated and is best if you make it a true collaborative effort.

To encourage leaving phones behind, you can give party-goers an activity to do with their hands.  Consider having chalk for sidewalk art, have everyone add an item to a time capsule or create a memory book with stories contributed by neighbors (old and new).  It’s fun for younger families to hear how the older generations used to spend their time. Let people decorate something like paper lanterns which can be used for decoration that night and then taken home afterwards.  To engage youth and teens to come out of the house ask for their help in preparation and consider adding an element of competition. A BBQ or desert competition (with awards specifically for the under 18 category) may increase your odds of getting otherwise reluctant teens to participate.