Building Community

For those people who know me, I think they would agree that I’m a fan of ‘community’ and the building of it wherever it is needed. It could be in a neighborhood, a housing complex, apartment or condominium building, or a complete town. Or in an organization, church or institution.  

A definition from Dictionary.com: a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.  

There are other related definitions that would apply here, but let’s keep it general for now. Obviously a shared government might apply to home owners association, or church polity, or any other organizational governance structure. We don’t have to talk about a town, city, county or state, or even a nation when we refer to community.

Community is also present in a more complex and personal context. It is our sense of belonging, of sharing like thinking, of finding a commonality among us. In the end I think we build a sense of community so we feel we belong. We have a place to be ourselves and explore life with fewer restrictions. A sense of possibility yet in a place of safety. 

I came across the following item and felt it was worth sharing with you. It is anonymous again, but if anyone can identify the author, I’d appreciate you sharing that with me.  Here’s the quote: 

                                                How To Build Community 

Turn off your TV, leave your house and know your neighbors;

Greet people, look up when you’re walking, sit on your stoop;

Plant flowers, use your library;

Play together, buy from local merchants, share what you have;

Help a lost dog, take children to the park;

Honor elders, support neighborhood schools, fix it even if you didn’t break it;

Have pot lucks, garden together, pick up litter;

Read stories aloud, dance in the street, talk to the mail carrier, listen to the birds;

Put up a swing, help carry something heavy, barter for your goods, start a tradition;

Ask a question, hire young people for odd jobs, organize a block party;

Bake extra and share, ask for help when you need it, open your shades;

Sing together, share your skills, take back the night;

Turn up the music, turn down the music;

Listen before you react to anger, mediate a conflict;

Seek to understand, learn from new and uncomfortable angles;

Know that no one is silent though many are not heard; work to change this

Go back over this material. Do it slowly. Think about each phrase. 

Have you done any of these things? Have you watched others do them? How did you feel if you observed this in someone else? How did you feel when you did one of these items?

The knitting of community bonds is ever so simple, but also complex.

I think it comes down to this: A community is richest when its people feel a part of it and are allowed to be who they are freely and simply; valuing each other is both the way and the reward. 

How can you and I make this happen today?

April 19, 2012