Ideas for building community
DOWN THE hall from a classroom where I am teaching this semester is a poster which lists 100 ideas under the heading "How to build community." Seeing that poster has gotten me thinking about additional ways to sustain and renew the communities in which we live. I came up with seven ideas:
1. Walk around your block.
A long time ago, I had a neighbor who would walk around the block almost every
evening around 10 pm. She and her husband -- and their two dogs -- would circle
the block. That's how they got to know the comings and goings of everyone. We
called her "the mayor" of the block because of this accumulated knowledge. Now,
as the weather starts to warm up, is a great time to start doing this on your
block.
2. Shop at locally-owned stores. These are the businesses which add stability and personality to our community. All over town there are delightful businesses waiting to be discovered. Take an afternoon to explore what's out there.
3. Do something with your block. It could be as simple as planning a similar seasonal decoration for every door. Or it could be as elaborate as organizing a progressive dinner.
4. Introduce yourself to a new neighbor. Invite them over to see you or take them out for coffee. You might even
consider reviving the almost lost art of welcoming them with a hot dish or dessert.
5. Ride the bus. If you drive your car all the time, you're missing a slice of our town. A bus ride -- even on a free downtown shuttle -- will introduce you to people you would otherwise never meet. Don't have bus service in your community? Consider taking on the assignment to change that.
6. Acknowledge young people. When I talk with young people, they often ask me why adults move away from them at street corners and bus stops. There's a gap there which you can help bridge. Young people want to be recognized, so take a moment to say hi the next time you pass a teenager.
7. Go to the park. There's nothing like a stroll through one of the city parks to restore one's sanity. Every community has at least one. Many have several -- one for whatever mood you might be in.
I'm sure you have many other ideas for building community. Send them along.
posted by Tom Gilsenan @ 4:37 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
I think building a community starts with your will to become connected with those around you. Those connections are easy to make, but you have to do it. Some else is not and can not going to do it for you.
I think we as a community need to come together and help each other in every way possible. I know my children and I go to the park every summer because it is right across the street from my house, and we always meet new people and talk with them. Of course my children will still ask me permission to talk to the strangers but in my mind it is the best way to get to know your neighbors. I like to have a picnic at the park nd if other kids are there without parents we ask them if they would like to join us. We as a family also have served food at the banquet to the less fortunate than us. It helps my kids to understand how good it feels to help others in thier time of need.
Cara
Building community is certainly something that has fallen by the wayside in the last several decades. I for one feel this has a very major, major impact on everything that happens in our society whether it has to do with community specifically or not. Every single thing we encounter as humans, good or bad, can be directly attributed to how our communities treat us and how we treat our communities. Finding any ideas we can to make our communities flourish is vital to our survival!
-Leslie S.
I love these ideas for building community. My favorite two are shopping at locally owned stores and riding the bus. What great ways to contribute to your area of town. Riding the bus not only gets people more familiar with their community and neighborhood but also the people that live in that neighborhood and actually gets you talking with new people. Shopping at locally owned stores help neighborhoods and the people that live in them also. In Chapter 14 of “Promoting Community Change”, it discusses ways to enhance the quality of neighborhoods. One of the most effective ways to enhance neighborhoods is through organizations where members of that area are staying in contact with one another. Close neighborhoods that get along will always be healthier neighborhoods to live in. Tom’s ideas to building community are great ways to getting healthier neighborhoods.
-Lisa Assid
I have posted to this article in the past and I thought I had some great ideas for building community. One of them was to get together with your neighbors and have a block party. I am pretty sure that is something that has been done in the past and it worked well to get everyone together and get to know one another. Your neighborhood is its very own community and it is terribly sad when you ask someone about their neighborhood and they don't have any communication with others who are living there. I always think too that we could be closer to those we work with. There are a number of employees that have children whom they love and care so much about but I have never the pleasure of meeting them and seeing them in person. Their pictures are cute but I feel it is a shame to work day in and day out with someone and not have a chance to see the family that they hold so dear to them. I like the idea of a summer picnic or get together where everyone is invited and games will be played and food will be eaten. Think about the relationships that will be built throughout the office. And wouldn't it be something if the people you work with you could truly call friends. Just some thoughts.
Angie Bares
I think that a community is what you make it. If you get to know the people living around you you can have a feeling of togetherness. A neighborhood can be any size it is in the eyes of the people living there. Whether it it just a few houses to a small city. We just moved into our house in July and we know our neighbors to the south, north, and north east two houses next to each other. We wave at the other ones around us as do they to us but I'm sure will get to know them this summer. It makes the transition of moving to a new area or home a lot easier if you are at least on a name basis instead of hey how are you? A neighborhood can be a very strong thing they will look out for one another and include one another in their lives.
I agree with Leslie, community has fallen by the wayside. It is a terrible thing. The ideas that Tom has offered sure point us in the right direction. However, to many these are very intimidating ideas/experiences. The idea of walking around the block and the park are simple ways of being non intrusive, but getting yourself out there and discovering others in your community. Also, locally ran businesses are a great, but often forgotten way of building community.
I live in the Terrace Park area of town and have for a few years. When we first moved here from St.Paul, we were enchanted with the friendliness of this neighborhood. We played sports, had picnics and such at the park on Sundays spontaneously. The entire neighborhood. The residents have changed throughout the years. It's a shame, most of the new neighbors don't know any of the old ones. People have given in to fear and paranoia as the city grows and inner-city suspicion overtakes us. I agree we need to think of ways to get that feeling back. Darlos
I think that this true. By being involved in your community, you meet new people. Where I live there is no need for buses, but there are many who go on walks around town or use the bike path. I live in a small town where it seems that everyone knows everyone and what they having been doing. Being in a small community almost feels like having a huge family.
Callie P.
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