Abel Fonseca is a San Benito native, boxer, boxing coach, and a longtime Site Coordinator for the San Benito CISD ACE Program at Miller Jordan Middle School and Collegiate Academy. He can be reached at afonseca@sbcisd.net.
There was a time in San Benito when you didn’t need an invitation to see your neighbor. You just had to look toward the street.
In the 70s and 80s, the “social network” wasn’t an app on your phone; it was the front porch. Whether you lived in a historic home near Sam Houston Boulevard or in a quiet neighborhood near the Resaca, the evening ritual was the same.
As the South Texas heat began to dip, families gathered in their driveways and on their porches. You’d hear the rhythmic creak of a porch swing, the distant sound of a radio playing Conjunto or the latest Freddy Fender hit, and the occasional wave from a neighbor walking his or her dog.
Back then, the front porch was the gateway to the community. It was where we shared news, and parents watched their kids ride their bikes until the streetlights flickered on, and we felt a true sense of belonging.
I remember how simple it was to make friends back then. I’d ask my parents if I could sleep over at a friend’s house—or sometimes they’d come over to mine—and just like that, plans were set. What started as kids spending time together often led to our parents forming their own friendships, sitting outside and talking for hours.
It all felt so natural. There was no scheduling, no group chats, just a sense of openness and trust that made connections easy.
The Great Retreat
Somewhere along the way, we began to retreat. We built taller fences, upgraded our air conditioning, and replaced the “wave and hello” with high-speed internet.
Today, we often drive straight into our garages, the door closing behind us before we’ve even unbuckled our seat belts. We know what our “friends” are doing across the country from their status updates, but we might not know the name of the person living 20 feet away.
The Challenge: Friday Night Front Porch
I want to propose something simple for our San Benito community. I call it The Front Porch Project.
The goal is low-cost yet high-impact. On one specific evening—let’s say this Friday at 7 p.m.—I challenge you to simply exist in your front yard.
- Don’t stay behind the door.
- Bring a lawn chair out to the driveway.
- Sit on the porch steps with a glass of sweet tea.
- If you see a neighbor, wave. If they’re outside too, walk over and say hello.
Why It Matters
San Benito is a town built on heritage—from the “Spiderweb Railroad” that connected us to the world to the music that defines our soul. But the strongest part of our heritage has always been our people.
By moving from the backyard to the front yard, we break down the “digital fences” we’ve built around ourselves.
It’s an experiment in presence. It’s a chance to rediscover the small-town feel that makes “Resaca City” special. You might find that the person next door has a story you’ve never heard, or that the simple act of waving to a passing car makes you feel a little more connected to the place we call home.
This Friday, let’s turn off the AC for an hour, leave the phones on the kitchen counter, and head out front. The porch light is on—let’s see who’s out there.
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