Home > Events > Community Conversations

Creating a Sense of Belonging

On February 2nd and February 6th, 2010 Community Outreach hosted Community Conversations entitled “Creating a Sense of Belonging” in the conference room of Our United Villages.  Folks brainstormed a vision for a connected community and what neighbors can do to create that vision.

A sense of belonging was defined in a variety of ways.  Some people expressed it as:

  • Having shared values
  • Being invested and seeing yourself as part of a place for a long time
  • Being known deeply and knowing others deeply
  • Feeling appreciated in a place
  • Feeling like family
  • Interdependence
  • Taking pride in belonging to the place and people

Small groups of 12 people and 17 people engaged in a lively discussion about what hinders a sense of belonging and how to overcome those barriers.  Miscommunication, inclement weather, isolation, judgment, and fear were identified as barriers that get in the way of connecting with community.  Suggestions to overcome these barriers included: don’t give up, have patience while communicating, find gathering spaces in the winter, intentionally turn off our cell or IPODS to engage with each other, look for the good in people, and recognize that trust is established over time.  At both conversations someone offered the tip of bringing over a plate of cookies to a neighbor “on a real plate”; Returning the plate builds trust and helps the relationship continue to grow. 

A sense of community is created when people “spend time together”, “work together towards a common goal”, “share their passions and struggles”, “work towards financial, food, and relational sustainability” and “welcome diversity”.  Action ideas brainstormed by the group to help create a sense of community included:

  • Starting a community garden
  • Hosting weekly dinners
  • Spending time in the front yard
  • Doing a foot patrol
  • Talking to everyone in the neighborhood
  • Caring for each other’s children and pets
  • Hosting block parties
  • Coordinating an emergency phone tree
  • Hanging a tire swing at a gathering space
  • Organizing a clean-up day
  • Having the courage to introduce myself to neighbors
  • Joining the neighborhood association
  • Taking off my head phones intentionally
  • Shopping at neighborhood businesses
  • Sharing grocery shopping trips
  • Keeping my front door open when I’m available for connection
  • Starting a welcoming committee for new neighbors
  • Hosting a pet parade
  • Planting flowers

< < Back