When Neighbors Show Up—and the Platform Needs to Catch Up

Late January’s winter storms left millions dealing with dangerous cold, power outages, and impassable roads. On Nextdoor, something genuinely good happened.

Through #StayWarm and #StormHelp, neighbors turned toward each other. A church group in North Carolina mobilized four-wheel drives. A contractor in Massachusetts offered his equipment—free—to help elderly and disabled neighbors. A woman in Florida opened her guest rooms to seniors who needed a warm, safe place. One post—a simple offer to shovel, give rides, or pick up groceries for seniors—earned 147 reactions. Fourteen neighbors stepped up to help someone in a wheelchair attach faucet covers before the freeze. These weren’t extraordinary people. They were neighbors who saw a need and acted.

Read their stories here: https://lnkd.in/ga2drEjz.

And this is where the conversation has to get more honest. Yes, the platform can be used for good. But there’s a strict line that must be followed—and it matters who gets excluded when that line is enforced. What happens to the seniors who were suspended and can’t reach out via Nextdoor? What happens when the very people who need help the most can’t use the platform to ask for it?

Now add the market context from the same day:

- Dow: up 0.53%

- NASDAQ: down 1.51%

- Nextdoor: down ~5%, landing at $1.81/share

I don’t believe in coincidences.

Today, I received an email that included a thread from John T. Williams, Head of Investor Relations. The thread included a note saying, “we’ve never heard from this guy before,” and was then forwarded, along with a response to Noah Johnson, Lead Corporate Counsel, along with a recommendation from Fenwick, perhaps via a consulting firm representing Nextdoor.

Two things:

Forwarding the entire email chain is a rookie mistake. (You’ll probably get a “happy gram” from #NiravTolia.)

I’ve been emailing Nextdoor for months. This wasn’t first contact. It took over a month—from January 2, 2026—to receive a response. That’s… fast neighborly action.

Platforms love to showcase the best of the community when it’s convenient. But community isn’t a marketing moment—it’s a responsibility. If we celebrate neighbors helping neighbors, we also have to protect access for those who rely on it most.

Be better.

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#Community #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #Leadership #PlatformResponsibility #Inclusion #Seniors #Accessibility #CorporateGovernance #Nextdoor