A little over a year ago, we shared that One-Eighty in Lodi, California, was trying something new – a house that could serve as a hands-on, neighborhood engagement training center – which is why we are happy to share a follow up to that story that comes straight from the NorCal NAB newsletter, The Beet. (Thank you to Kent Carlson, Lisa Schmidt, and Sarah Sciarini.)
This fall, our One-Eighty Lodi Central Street residents, Mikaela, Alejandra, and Andres, pulled off something pretty special together. They hosted a neighborhood Halloween Carnival right on their block, and even though the weather kept raining on them all evening, the community showed up anyway and stayed.
The event was coordinated primarily by Mikaela, who planned the details, gathered supplies, and made sure everything happened on time. But it truly took all three residents working together to bring it to life. Each of them played a different and important role throughout the night, and the event would not have been the same without the full team.
Mikaela spent most of the evening at the front of the event, greeting families and handing out candy. Her heart behind the carnival was to create a place where everyone in the neighborhood felt welcome and safe. And it worked. Days later, her Homework Club students were still talking about it. One parent even called One-Eighty afterward, asking how to get their family connected.
Alejandra guided families around the event, helped with cotton candy and popcorn, and answered questions about who they are and why they are in the neighborhood. She connected with parents she normally only waves to in passing and even had the joy of giving someone cotton candy for the very first time. Those simple, personal interactions mattered deeply. When neighbors asked why they were doing all of this, she loved being able to answer, “We are here because of you.” She told families, “We are here to listen and to build real relationships.”
Meanwhile, Andres ran the grill with halal hot dogs, which he intentionally chose because of the large Pakistani community on their street. That thoughtful decision opened many doors. Families who do not normally attend events like this came right in, and Andres got to connect with neighbors who felt seen and cared for in a meaningful way.
All evening, kids ran between games, parents lined up for cotton candy, and neighbors gathered under the tents to stay dry and talk. Even the police officers who attended ended up in meaningful conversations with families. Parents asked them to talk with their kids about the choices and challenges they were facing, and the officers stayed to listen and support.
Like any good residency team, the residents are already thinking about what they want to improve for next time. They want more tents gathered ahead of time, a photo booth since everyone wanted pictures, Spanish flyers, clearer volunteer instructions, and all the little details that only come from experience.
But here is the real story. This event worked. It created real connection. It helped neighbors learn names, share stories, and feel seen. It reminded all three residents why they are planted in that neighborhood in the first place.
As Mikaela said, they were able to tap into “the friendly side of the community, the side that wants to celebrate even in the middle of rain and the heaviness of life.”
It was fun, yes, but it was more than fun.
It was presence.
It was hospitality.
It was hope taking root right on Central Street.
And honestly, it is exactly the kind of thing we pray for in these residency houses, moments where our residents and their neighbors get to see and experience the best in each other, even on a rainy October night.
If you’d like to find out more about One-Eighty, you can check out their website: 180lodi.org. If you are interested in learning more about what this residency house is all about, we encourage you to contact NorCal Regional Minister Kent Carlson at kent@norcalnab.org.