"I’ve lived here for years, yet most people around me don’t even know my name. "
Your Invisible Neighbor is my chance — and yours — to be seen, heard, and remembered. Through letters, stories, and connection, we can step out of the shadows together.
Every Story Matters
Write a Letter
Everyone has a story worth telling. Use one of these prompts to guide your letter, or write freely from your heart.
What is something you wish you had said but didn’t?
Write a letter to your future self. What do you want them to remember?
Write about a time when you felt unseen or overlooked. How did you move through that experience?
Recall a time when you experienced a random act of kindness from a stranger.
Tell your life story in the form of a letter to a child you will never meet.
Free Write: Share any story, reflection, or message that matters to you.
Send a Physical Letter
P.O. Box [Insert Number]
Bend, OR [ZIP]
About Your Invisible Neighbor
Your Invisible Neighbor is a love letter to the people of Bend — especially those whose stories have gone unheard. Hosted by Bola Films and Community Based Consulting, this multi-phase community project invites neighbors to step out of the shadows and into the light, transforming isolation into belonging.
It begins with a citywide letter-writing campaign where every resident is invited to share their truth — a memory, a hope, a moment of kindness, or a time they felt unseen. These letters, whether submitted online or mailed in, will become part of a living archive of our city’s heart.
On September 18, 2025, the community will gather at Spiceland in Bend for an evening that celebrates these voices and invites us to see each other more fully. The night will include:
Live Music to open the evening and set a warm, welcoming tone.
The premiere of a short documentary by Bola Films, capturing the lives of everyday community-builders whose quiet efforts keep Bend connected.
A panel discussion with those featured in the film, sharing how connection is created in unseen ways.
Letter readings by local artists, poets, and storytellers, bringing powerful words to life.
An interactive letter exhibit, where guests can read community letters and write response letters in the moment.
Delicious Indian food available for purchase, creating space for shared meals and conversation.
The story doesn’t end when the night is over. For an entire month after the event, the Your Invisible Neighbor exhibit will remain open in a public space, featuring thematic letter displays, the documentary on loop, and new contributions from visitors. The conversation will continue to grow, one letter — and one connection — at a time.
This project is for anyone who has ever felt invisible, and for everyone ready to see their neighbors with new eyes. It’s an invitation to listen deeply, speak honestly, and weave a stronger Bend together.
