Building Community: A Collective Effort

A shared responsibility...

We all know a community to be a group with a shared interest or identity. Inasmuch as one is born into a family, goes to school, lives in a neighborhood, frequents a place of worship, or works, that person belongs to a community.

In the abundance of these groups where we are members by default, comes the passiveness and lack of intentionality that counteract building a strong community.

A strong community is one that enriches and empowers its members. A proper community gives support, guidance, and counsel to all its members. A community characterized by safety, trust, and connection is one we all aspire to belong to.

But a community is not an entity separate from the individual. It does not operate like a self-driven car. A strong community is a sum total of the strengths of its members. Where when we say, "this community nourishes and provides for its young people", we mean the members of the community contribute directly to nurture the youth, who are in critical need of this support.

It is our collective efforts, like drops of water, that accumulate to form the sea of support and care requisite for a strong community. It takes an individual to clear, another to till, and many more to sow and nurture, for the whole community to relish in the harvest.

We cannot enjoy the fruits of support and true social connection without the efforts required to reap these benefits. In our passiveness; isolation, loneliness, and hardship abound. However, in our small efforts, we collectively make great strides to achieve a truly strong community.

There is a call to action now more than ever. In a world where over 40% of the population is young and in dire need of strong communities, we cannot afford to be passive. The future of the world rests in our capable hands, so, "no pressure at all, guys".

In summary, the community and future we want are ones we must build. Every little effort placed in magnifies and drives others to contribute similarly. We have to become active members of our communities. Every little effort counts!

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To learn more about how you can contribute to building a strong community wherever you are, check out our other post on Ways to Contribute in Building Community.