Lexington Observer speaks with Rikke Bitsch-Norhave, President of Lexington Neighbors and Newcomers.
LO: What’s Lexington Neighbors and Newcomers?
RBN: Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers (LNN) was founded several decades ago as a way for newcomers to settle into the community and meet people. Over time, we’ve grown into a vibrant social organization for all adult residents of Lexington looking to make new connections. While we still love helping new folks feel at home, we’re equally committed to keeping long-time Lexingtonians engaged and connected. Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers is all about connection!
LO: What are the services that LNN provides to support connection?
RBN: We bring together long-time neighbors and newcomers to foster friendships, share local knowledge, bring fresh perspectives and build community. Whether you’ve just moved in or have called Lexington home for years, LNN offers fun, welcoming ways to meet people and get involved.
We host a variety of social gatherings each month, including a book club, coffee meet-ups, game nights, men’s and ladies’ nights, movie nights, lunch bunch, dog walks, nature walks, golf outings, bike rides and more.
Whether you’re into trying new restaurants, exploring the outdoors or enjoying a laid-back coffee chat, there’s something for everyone. Our social events and interest groups help our members enjoy everything Lexington has to offer—while making meaningful connections along the way.
LO: What makes LNN so important? Why does it matter?
RBN: Making friends as an adult isn’t always easy, but LNN makes this simple and fun. We create a welcoming space where neighbors become friends—whether you’re looking for a tight-knit circle or just want to expand your social calendar.
LO: How does LNN operate?
RBN: LNN is a nonprofit civic organization run entirely by volunteers. Our dedicated board supports over 100 household memberships, with a core board of 10-15 members and an extended board of 10+ members, who leads subcommittees and organizes events.
We proudly serve the wonderful adult residents of Lexington, Massachusetts (though we occasionally get interest from Lexington, Kentucky and South Carolina, too).
Each month’s events are listed in our monthly newsletter, with event details and how to sign up. Some events and reminders are also posted in our members-only Facebook group. Our official season runs from September through June, but our Facebook group stays active year-round with casual meetups, local happenings and summer fun.
Membership is just $50 per household annually, designed to be affordable for all neighbors who wish to join.
New members who join between April 15 and September 1 will enjoy coverage through the 2026 season. Existing members renew each September for the upcoming season.
LO: How can Lexingtonians help LNN?
RBN: Right now, we’re focused on growing our membership and adding even more events to our calendar. Join us and share with friends and neighbors! Attend an event, bring a friend or start a new group. We love fresh ideas and new faces. The more people get involved, the more vibrant and fun our community becomes!
Long-term, we want to keep evolving based on what our members love—whether that’s expanding our activity offerings, introducing new interest groups or just making sure LNN continues to be the go-to social club in Lexington. Got an idea for a new activity? We’d love to hear it—or better yet, join our extended board and help make it happen!
Read more about LNN and sign up here: https://www.lexington-newcomers.org/