Your fellow tenants in your apartment can become a powerful force for good if you learn about the needs in your community and explore ways you and your neighbors can make a difference. There are many national nonprofit groups that tenants can join make a huge difference in their communities.

Big Brother, Big Sister

This popular, nationwide mentoring program pairs adults with children who need an additional adult influence in their lives. Oftentimes the Little Brothers and Sisters in this program come from single parent homes.

A study from 1994 through 1995 found that after children were paired with their mentors for 18 months, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters, compared to those children not in the program, were:

• 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
• 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
• 52% less likely to skip school
• 37% less likely to skip a class
• 33% less likely to hit someone

Those results show a significant return on investment for only three or four meetings per month. Share your favorite activities with your Little Brother or Sister and plan an event at your apartment building with everyone’s Little Brothers and Sisters.

Race for the Cure

If you know someone in your apartment building who loves to run or who has battled cancer, the Race for the Cure is a wonderful event to share together.

Living in an apartment with a roommate is the perfect option for many renters, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for you. Before you jump on the roommate bandwagon, make sure it's what you want.

Renting is all about enjoying the relationships you build with your neighbors on a daily basis and interacting with the people who live nearby. You'll learn how to live around and to appreciate all kinds of people, which is a great way to hone your people skills for a career. Whether you work in retail, in an office, or in a shop, your success will be directly linked to your ability to respectfully interact with all kinds of people.

Tenants who live among their neighbors on a daily basis are no strangers to this, and they will be more adept than others at successfully building relationships. The very act of living among a diverse group of people will pay off down the line in the business world.

Tenants Have Larger Networks

Neighbors provide another strong advantage for your career by providing a wider network of contacts. Your neighbor could provide the key connection you need in order to find a better job or your neighbors can connect you with new potential clients.