Disconnected by Design: Why We Need to Reimagine Our Neighborhoods

In today’s America, our politics feel disconnected, our communities fragmented, and our sense of collective purpose frayed. We’ve grown accustomed to living in a sprawling suburbia that has left us isolated from one another. This isolation, I believe, is at the heart of why so many feel disillusioned with the current political and social landscape. We are encouraged to engage with local politics and take responsibility for our communities, yet most of us don’t know who represents us on the city council, much less who serves as our precinct chair. Why? Because our environments make meaningful engagement a challenge, if not an impossibility.

When was the last time you saw your neighbor while running errands? Chances are, you left your home, closed your garage door, drove to a store miles away, and returned without interacting with a single person in your neighborhood. Studies have shown that Americans now spend 90% of their time indoors¹, often isolated by car-centric designs that prioritize convenience over community.

Political engagement, much like community engagement, thrives on local interaction. Yet our car-centric design erodes opportunities for casual, everyday encounters. People from walkable neighborhoods report a greater sense of community and trust in their local governments than those living in car-dependent areas. We’ve grown disconnected because we no longer have to rely on each other; the essential social web that binds communities has given way to our overwhelming sense of pride in self-sufficiency and independence, leaving us to wonder why we feel so alone.

Isolation isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s a silent threat to our health and well-being. Research shows that loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26%², highlighting just how vital community is for both body and mind. In car-dependent neighborhoods, we’re cut off from the everyday connections that build belonging and understanding. In contrast, walkable communities naturally foster these interactions and encourage physical activity, reducing risks of cardiovascular disease and obesity. It’s not just about where we live; it’s about how our environment shapes our health and our sense of community.

Our forebears found support and camaraderie in knowing their neighbors, and every generation since has felt the effects of its slow disappearance. The fading tradition of neighborliness in America may be best addressed not just by encouraging civic participation, but by redesigning our communities to encourage real connections.

Perhaps the solution isn’t to “be the change” alone, but to restore unity by reconnecting with those around us. It’s time we start looking closer to home, not only for political engagement but also for the shared understanding and support that once defined our communities.

Check out A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village to learn how you can put the "unity" back in community.

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (1989). Report to Congress on Indoor Air Quality, Volume 2: Assessment and Control of Indoor Air Pollution. EPA/400/1-89/001C. https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality

2. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227-237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352