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67. The Milford Method: How To Create Meaningful Connections Where You Live with Matt and Katie Milford
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What if the secret to building deep community in our disconnected world was hidden in plain sight? Matt and Katie Milford—known as the "connectors" of their Arlington Heights neighborhood—reveal their formula for transforming neighbors into friends and acquaintances into family.
The Milfords share how their strategic decision to live near downtown, despite the higher cost, put them in proximity to like-minded, socially-oriented people. "When you rapidly surround yourselves with people who are in the same location, roughly the same age, popping out kids at the same time, and have similar interests, you naturally create friendships," Matt explains. This intentional choice creates the repeated interactions—approximately 10-30 needed to form a friendship—that happen organically when you regularly cross paths at parks, downtown areas, or while doing yard work.
Their annual gatherings have become neighborhood legends. Their Fourth of July party invites over 100 people to watch the parade from their yard—complete with a refrigerator rolled into the driveway and 200 hot dogs. The Christmas party they rescued from cancellation brings 150 neighbors together during winter months when community connections typically hibernate. Their block parties transform their street into day-long celebrations ending with neighbors sharing whiskey and cigars until 2am.
Beyond parties, the Milfords share their unique parenting philosophy, balancing personal growth with family time, and insights from Matt's former motorcycle garage business. They candidly discuss the challenges of building community while maintaining individual identity—something they've mastered through color-coded family schedules and designated alone time for each parent.
Whether you're new to a neighborhood or looking to deepen existing connections, the Milfords offer a refreshingly simple roadmap: be visible, be curious, and be willing to initiate. In a world increasingly dominated by digital connection, they remind us of the irreplaceable value of face-to-face community.
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By Jason & Rachel Wagner
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Send us a text
What if the secret to building deep community in our disconnected world was hidden in plain sight? Matt and Katie Milford—known as the "connectors" of their Arlington Heights neighborhood—reveal their formula for transforming neighbors into friends and acquaintances into family.
The Milfords share how their strategic decision to live near downtown, despite the higher cost, put them in proximity to like-minded, socially-oriented people. "When you rapidly surround yourselves with people who are in the same location, roughly the same age, popping out kids at the same time, and have similar interests, you naturally create friendships," Matt explains. This intentional choice creates the repeated interactions—approximately 10-30 needed to form a friendship—that happen organically when you regularly cross paths at parks, downtown areas, or while doing yard work.
Their annual gatherings have become neighborhood legends. Their Fourth of July party invites over 100 people to watch the parade from their yard—complete with a refrigerator rolled into the driveway and 200 hot dogs. The Christmas party they rescued from cancellation brings 150 neighbors together during winter months when community connections typically hibernate. Their block parties transform their street into day-long celebrations ending with neighbors sharing whiskey and cigars until 2am.
Beyond parties, the Milfords share their unique parenting philosophy, balancing personal growth with family time, and insights from Matt's former motorcycle garage business. They candidly discuss the challenges of building community while maintaining individual identity—something they've mastered through color-coded family schedules and designated alone time for each parent.
Whether you're new to a neighborhood or looking to deepen existing connections, the Milfords offer a refreshingly simple roadmap: be visible, be curious, and be willing to initiate. In a world increasingly dominated by digital connection, they remind us of the irreplaceable value of face-to-face community.