Neighbors converse with one another while maintaining a 6-foot distance Thursday evening on West Arch Street as part of “Marquette Moment,” a new community initiative approved by the Marquette City Commission where each evening at 6:30 p.m., residents and families check in with their neighbors and practice social distancing measures. (Journal photo by Jackie Jahfetson)

MARQUETTE — A system of communication and checking up on fellow neighbors has been approved as a new city initiative to encourage people to maintain personal connections while practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a recent Marquette City Commission meeting, the Marquette Moment proclamation was unanimously approved.

Marquette Moment is a community initiative that takes place every evening at 6:30 p.m. Residents and families are encouraged to come out of their homes, wave to neighbors, visually check in with each other and generally provide comfort and safely interact with one another, maintaining a six-foot distance.

Marquette resident Lauren Luce had the idea for this event, as she saw this was happening in two cities near Troy in the Lower Peninsula. Luce brought the idea up to Marquette City Commissioner Evan Bonsall for consideration prior to the meeting. Bonsall said it was a great idea to “promote neighborliness” and proposed it to the commission.

“(This proclamation) promote(s) a little bit of socialization within the confines of social distancing and help with some of the loneliness that a lot of people I’m sure are feeling in isolation right now,” Bonsall said. “I’m excited to see this happening. I think it will be a cool thing for our community and who knows? Maybe it will turn into a little tradition here in Marquette.”

As soon as Bonsall brought this to Marquette Mayor Jenna Smith’s attention, she was immediately on board.

“I think it’s an important opportunity for neighbors to check in on one another and provide a sense of community while still maintaining social distancing at a minimum of 6 feet apart,” Smith said. “We all are feeling isolated, it’s only natural. We are social beings. This event has changed so many aspects of our lives. While you may be coping just fine, your neighbor may really need that five-minute chat about nothing at all … the weather, the glass patio table that broke on your back deck with the high winds — yes, that happened to me — the positive efforts going on in our community. That sense of normalcy is so important to take our minds off the stressful situation we’re all experiencing.”

Though this is a new daily community initiative, Smith hopes that it will gain popularity as more and more residents become aware of it. With some reports of Marquette neighborhoods already taking part, the Marquette Moment is a way to get people outside and support mental health during this challenging time, Smith said.

Smith urges people to recognize it’s extremely important to maintain a six-foot distance from other people and it’s OK to remind neighbors of that guideline to limit physical contact. Marquette residents should feel free to simply stand in their driveways and wave to fellow folks and say hello, she added.

“What we want to avoid is (a) congregation of groups of people in the streets, even if you are six feet apart. It’s all too easy for that six-foot gap to become smaller if you’re not paying attention, especially with kids. Thanks for being extra careful during the Marquette Moment,” Smith said.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.