Moving into a new neighborhood can be challenging in a lot of ways, especially when you feel lonely and different from most of your neighbors! You might think that your neighbors won't want to talk to you because you are new to the neighborhood, you look different than they do, or because you come from a different walk of life than they do.

But don't make these judgments too quickly! Many city dwellers love getting to know the people in their neighborhood and really love getting to know people whose life experiences are different than their own. However, there are times when creating these connections can be difficult and when neighbors see things from different perspectives.

*this Guide was written for MoveSmart.org by Lauren Grossman, executive director and founder of Across the Table

Moving into a new neighborhood can be challenging in a lot of ways, especially when you feel lonely and different from most of your neighbors! You might think that your neighbors won't want to talk to you because you are new to the neighborhood, you look different than they do, or because you come from a different walk of life than they do. But don't make these judgments too quickly! Many city dwellers love getting to know the people in their neighborhood and really love getting to know people whose life experiences are different than their own. However, there are times when creating these connections can be difficult and when neighbors see things from different perspectives.

This guide will help you to connect to people in your community and solve the conflicts that may or may not arise.

• Say hello! This first step is easy and so simple you might think it wouldn't make a difference but remember to say hello to people when you pass them on the street. Some people may stare at you blankly and won't respond (that happens to me sometimes) but many people will love it and will smile and say hello right back to you!
• Chat with the people behind the counter- Getting to know the people who work at and own the shops in your neighborhood can be a great way to get to know and learn about your community. Plus it makes your errands a lot more fun when you get to catch up with friends when you're buying your odds and ends!
• Go to the parties and events- Chicago's neighborhoods, especially in the summer, come alive with music in the streets, block parties, food festivals and more. Sometimes you are tired from a long day at work, taking care of the kids or just tired! But these events are a great and often free way to get to know your neighbors. Plus they are just fun!
• No parties? Create one yourself!- Let's face it, some neighborhoods seem to have one street festival per week and others don't have any so create a block party yourself to get to know those who live the closest to you! You don't have to do this by yourself either, contact your alderman's office for information on how to have a block party and they can walk you through the process.
• Join Community Groups- By participating in the Local School Council and attending CAPS meetings for example, you will have the opportunity to get to know your neighbors while advocating for your needs, a great two in one opportunity. Ask your Alderman's office for more info. on where and when these meetings take place.
• Pet the dogs- Always ask the owners first but dog owners love their dogs and love when other people love their dogs. This gets the conversation rolling and allows you to introduce yourself to your neighbors in an informal way.
• Don't judge too harshly- Thanks to the diversity of Chicago, there are lots of different people living close to one another and we may like different music, different cars, have different kinds of homes and different ways of communicating. But just remember, just because people don't do things the way you do them it doesn't mean they are bad people, just different. 
• Lend a hand and ask for help- Volunteering to pick up your neighbor's mail when they are away may not seem like a big deal and it doesn't take much time but allowing your neighbors to know that you can be counted on can go a long way! At the same time, don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. It feels good to be needed and more often than not, people are happy to help!

But what do you do when there's a problem with a neighbor?

1. Step 1
   Introduce yourself. Most conflicts between neighbors begin because one or both of us never took the time to introduce themselves in the first place. A friendly exchange can go a long way to preventing future disputes.
2. Step 2
   Listen to what your neighbor has to say. Even if you are eager to explain your side of the story, your neighbor will only feel frustrated if you don't demonstrate that you are really listening. Give her or him plenty of time to talk, and your conflict will be resolved more quickly.
3. Step 3
   Take an appropriate level of responsibility. Accountability is crucial to resolving neighbor disputes. If you are solely responsible for a problem, you are solely responsible for fixing it. If several neighbors are responsible, continue the conversation until everyone is clear on expectations and happy with the resolution.
4. Step 4
   Compromise. Don't be so stubborn about a dispute that you can't see the advantage in finding the middle ground. Remember--a compromise means you walk away with at least half of what you were fighting for.
5. Step 5
   Break down the problem, not the neighbor. Many arguments get so heated that people forget about the initial dispute and begin attacking the person. If you go at the problem with the same stubborn relentlessness that you're using to perpetuate conflict with your neighbor, you'll have your issue resolved in no time.

6. Step 6
   Once it's all said and done, let it go. You'll be living in close proximity to this neighbor for some time and it's much easier to have friends than to have enemies. So invite them over for coffee, or just enjoy a casual conversation together. You may have more in common than you realize.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2105625_resolve-disputes-neighbors.html