Defining Community with its Various Perspectives

Community Engagement

1. Defining Community with its Various Perspectives

2. Systems Perspective Virtual Perspective Social Perspective Individual Perspective

3. Systems Perspective From a systems perspective , a community is similar to a living creature, comprising different parts that represent specialized functions, activities, or interests, each operating within specific boundaries to meet community needs. For example, schools focus on education , the transportation sector focuses on moving people and products , economic entities focus on enterprise and employment, faith organizations focus on the spiritual and physical well-being of people, and health care agencies focus on the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries (Henry, 2011). For the community to function well, each part has to effectively carry out its role in relation to the whole organism. From a systems perspective, then, collaboration is a logical approach to health improvement .

4. Social Perspective A community can also be defined by describing the social and political networks that link individuals, community organizations, and leaders. Understanding these networks is critical to planning efforts in engagement. For example, tracing social ties among individuals may help engagement leaders to identify a community’s leadership, understand its behavioural patterns, identify its high-risk groups, and strengthen its networks ( Minkler et al., 1997).

5. Virtual Perspective Some communities map onto geographically defined areas, but today, individuals rely more and more on computer-mediated communications to access information, meet people, and make decisions that affect their lives ( Kozinets , 2002). Examples of computer mediated forms of communication include email, instant or text messaging, e-chat rooms, and social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (Flavian et al., 2005). Social groups or groups with a common interest that interact in an organized fashion on the Internet are considered “virtual communities” (Rheingold, 2000; Ridings et al., 2002). Without question, these virtual communities are potential partners for community-engaged health promotion and research

6. Individual Perspective Individuals have their own sense of community membership . Moreover, they may have a sense of belonging to more than one community. In addition, their sense of membership can change over time and may affect their participation in community activities ( Minkler et al., 2004).

7. Individual Perspective The philosopher and psychologist William James shed light on this issue in his writings. James thought it important to consider two perspectives on identity: the “I,” or how a person thinks about himself or herself, and the “me,” or how others see and think about that person. Sometimes these two views agree and result in a shared sense of an identity, but other times they do not. People should not make assumptions about identity based on appearance , language , or cultural origin; nor should they make assumptions about an individual’s perspective based on his or her identity (James, 1890). Today, the multiple communities that might be relevant for any individual — including families, workplace, and social, religious, and political associations — suggest that individuals are thinking about themselves in more complex ways than was the norm in years past.

8. Individual Perspective The eligibility criteria that scientists, policy makers, and others develop for social programs and research projects reflect one way that people perceive a group of proposed participants, but how much those criteria reflect the participants’ actual view of themselves is uncertain. Practitioners of community engagement need to learn how individuals understand their identity and connections, enter into relationships, and form communities.

9. Instructions: Identify the type of community perspective showed in every number. Write A for Systems Perspective, B for Social Perspective, C for Virtual perspective and D for Individual Perspective. Make use of your activity notebook. ____1. The “I” view how a community views itself ____2. Computer mediated forms of communication ____3. Social links of people ____4. Community as a living creature ____5. Political networks ____6. Social media communities ____7. Understanding personal identity ____8. Roles of different organizations ____9. Tracing social ties ____10. Netizens in Facebook and YouTube

10. Analyze functions of communities in terms of Structure, Dynamics, and Processes

11. This Learning Module is crafted with the hope that you will be able to maximize your full potentials and improve your social skills . This course introduces social network in micro level, looking at individuals and their local community . We will also understand how an individual plays a significant role in the society. you shall be able to demonstrate competencies in interacting and relating with other individuals, groups, and communities apply practices, and tools to real life situations. prepare you so that you could offer help, support, understanding, and possible alternatives for the problems in your community.

12. COOPERATION

13. Cooperation is important because it allows people and various groups to work together in achieving a common goal or derive mutual benefits. Cooperation allows participants to exchange valuable information that helps both sides improve their knowledge bases and work in a time- and resource-efficient manner . Cooperation between and among parties is often referred to as a cooperative relationship. Participants in these relationships often share vital resources and knowledge as well as staff and personnel to accomplish a specific task. Ex. of cooperation is demonstrated through the coordination of a local school and a community soup kitchen to provide basic services to area residents in need .

14. Cooperation between and among parties is often referred to as a cooperative relationship. Participants in these relationships often share vital resources and knowledge as well as staff and personnel to accomplish a specific task. Ex. of cooperation is demonstrated through the coordination of a local school and a community soup kitchen to provide basic services to area residents in need . The school might provide basic supplies, such as student volunteers and food , while the soup kitchen provides a facility and furniture. The two parties work together to set up tables with food, staffed by student volunteers, who greet and serve clients as they walk in the door. This act of cooperation benefits the students with experience, the soup kitchen with a day of business and the clients with food. Cooperative relationships can result in a one-time collaboration between parties to achieve a goal or can involve recurring meetings and events to allow the parties to continue working with each other.

15. Community is a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

16. WHAT COMPRISES THE COMMUNITY?

17. Early Joiners Information Specialists Conversationalists Persuaders Connectors Laggards Temporary Members

18. Early Joiners are frontrunners that lay down the norms for what can be deemed as acceptable behavior in the community and ensure that it is adhered to.

19. Information Specialists are the ones who members look to for getting connected new information.

20. Conversationalists are the ones who mainly contribute to discussions that have been initiated by other members but normally don’t initiate discussions on their own.

21. Persuaders are the ones who are powerful advocates of the community message and spread the word.

22. Connectors are the people who have a big network of friends and acquaintances they can introduce to the community .

23. Laggards are the late joiners.

24. Temporary Members are the members that might be there in the community only for the achievement of a specific objective.

25. THANK YOU!