Overview:
Keith Meyer leads Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (AKA Denver INC), which is dedicated to bringing his community together.
What makes a neighborhood more than just a collection of houses? For Keith Meyer, it’s the connections between people. As the president of the local Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (Denver INC), Meyer has seen firsthand how neighbor-to-neighbor collaboration can strengthen communities and safeguard democracy itself.
With civic engagement on the decline and social isolation on the rise, INC is hoping to spark a new conversation—and maybe even a movement—around what it means to belong. That’s why INC is partnering with the Denver Community Film Festival to present a special screening of “Join or Die” on June 12 at the Holiday Theater.
The documentary, which follows the work of political scientist Robert Putnam, and his book “Bowling Alone,” explores the ways that social capital shapes the health of our neighborhoods and our nation. A panel discussion will follow “Join or Die,” hosted by our publisher, Vicky Collins, and diving into what these ideas mean for Denver and how we can rebuild those essential bonds in our own backyards.
Ahead of the screening, we caught up with Meyer for our latest 5 Questions to talk about the importance of getting to know your neighbors, what we’re losing when we don’t and why he believes now is the time to reinvest in community. Whether you’re already active in a neighborhood group or just wondering how to get more involved, this one’s for you.
Why are residential neighborhood associations like Denver INC important, and why should neighbors get involved in them?
Neighborhood groups are at the heart of what makes our communities feel like home. They give us a voice, help us build real connections with our neighbors and make sure our needs are heard. More than that, they are one of the last places where people from all walks of life can come together, roll up their sleeves and make real change happen.
As the urbanist Jane Jacobs put it, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
Whether you are in Westwood, Chaffee Park, University Hills or Elyria-Swansea, getting involved in your neighborhood means being part of something bigger—helping to create a community that is stronger, more connected and truly built by the people who live there.
Why should we get to know our neighbors and be active in our neighborhoods?
Great communities are not just about streets and buildings—they are about the people who live there. When we take the time to get to know our neighbors, we create a sense of belonging and support that makes our neighborhoods feel like home.
And on a larger scale, that sense of community is also what helps keep our democracy healthy. Engaging in our community extends far beyond the ballot box to the way we show up for each other every day. It is in the respect we share, the help we offer and the connections we build.
By being active in our neighborhoods, we make them stronger, more resilient, and more welcoming for everyone.
Denver INC is showing a film on June 12 called “Join Or Die” to inspire conversation around community engagement. What do you hope to accomplish?
Denver INC is committed to highlighting how essential neighborhood and community groups are to the social fabric of our city. With “Join or Die,” we hope to spark conversations that help people see the vital role they play in their communities and why these organizations need more support than they’re currently getting.
The film follows the life’s work of social scientist Robert Putnam, who emphasizes that “social capital” is what holds communities together—the idea that the more we connect with one another, the stronger and better off we all are. At a time when divisions feel deep, it is those connections—built on trust, care and shared purpose—that create real community, resilience and hope for moving forward.
People want to connect, but data show that we are becoming lonelier. Why do you think it’s important to be a part of something bigger than ourselves?
We all need connection—it is just part of being human. But over the last couple of decades, a lot of our real-world interactions have been replaced with online ones, and for many people, that’s led to feeling more disconnected than ever.
Sure, social media helps us stay in touch, but it does not give us the deep, meaningful relationships that come from actually being part of something. That is why joining a neighborhood or community group isn’t just about helping your community—it is about finding your people, building real connections and remembering that you are not alone.
What are your favorite and least favorite things about your neighborhood?
I live in Sloan’s Lake now, but Northwest Denver has been home to me for nearly 20 years. During that time, I’ve gotten to experience this community in so many ways— whether chatting with gardeners at a Denver Urban Garden plot, watching families cheer on their little ones at a Saturday morning basketball game at Rude Rec Center or taking in the Harkness Heights’ annual holiday luminary night.
The challenges I see are with prioritizing and valuing spaces and opportunities for people to come together and connect. It can be hard to put an economic value on social connections, and because of this, we are losing a lot of traditional areas where these interactions happen.
