Understanding the Types of Community.pptx

The purpose of community

1. Understanding the Community

2. What is a Community? Humans tend to come together in social units to network, share experiences, share resources, or achieve power in numbers. Community, in its traditional term, could be defined as a group of people with a common culture, living in a defined geographical area and boundary. A particular type of social interaction characterized by a sense of belonging, sense of purpose and common goals.

3. Functions of a Community Production, distribution, consumption- means of living (agriculture, industry, services) Socialization (norms and values) Social control Social participation- church, business, …. Mutual support (for the common good)

4. Characteristics of a Community Distinctiveness- defined (geographical) boundaries Homogeneity- similar psycho-social characteristics (language, lifestyle, custom) Closeness- interaction (especially smaller communities) Self-sufficiency- basic needs (space, education, security) Solidarity- unity and cohesiveness

5. Exercise Can you make any distinctions between leadership in geographical communities and that in old school unions/ professional associations/ church groups?

6. Types of Community

7. 1. Communities of Place Urban community – densely-populated and often rely upon peripheral communities to provide food and materials, while they offer services to other communities in return. Peri-urban community –less dense, often have high numbers of families and children, interests may be focused on family planning, education, and cost of living pressures. Rural community – often oriented around agrarian lifestyles, unique concerns such as access to healthcare and services.

8. Communities of Place ctd . Neighborhood –a small group of people who live in very close proximity and may share local services such as shops or a local elementary school, may be a small subset of any of the above communities of place. National community- ‘imagined communities’, groups of people who will never see all of their compatriots face-to-face but have a shared sense of identity and purpose built up by mass media and governmental institutions. Global community- encompasses everyone in the world

9. 2. Communities Of Interest Subcultures –cohere around common beliefs and interest that are distinct from the beliefs and interests of the dominant culture in which they live Countercultures – Like subcultures, countercultures sit within a dominant culture but are oppositional to the dominant culture .e.g. cult groups, antivaxers Sporting communities –cohere around a common interest in a shared sport, often develop their own practices, events, and phrases.

10. 3. Identity-Based Communities Religious communities –cohere around spiritual beliefs and practices, may come together to worship, but also act as networks of support groups locally and globally Virtual communities –online, people increasingly form identities and support networks online based upon common interests rather than through nationalistic and regional identity features. Ethnic group –have common history, practices, cultures, and beliefs.

11. 4. Communities Of Need Disabled community –come together to share their common experiences, advocate for their shared needs, and support one another. Deaf community – a subset of the disabled community who come together out of shared need and interest. e.g. a shared language – sign language Elderly community –share a common experience of aging, allows for shared medical resources and a joyous sense of active community-building in the final quarter of life. Migrant and expat communities – Migrants often come together in new countries to support one another, may have shared language and culture, but also shared experiences.

12. 5. Communities Of Practice Professional community –share a profession or expertise, often advocate for their profession, set minimum standards and engage in shared professional development and ongoing learning. Guilds and associations –may not necessarily be connected to a profession but to a hobby/ pastime Business communities –advocate for businesspeople and entrepreneurs, share experiences running businesses and advocate for legal changes that make running a business easier, less bureaucratic, or more efficient. Economic communities –larger-scale than business communities and linked to nation-state economies. e.g ….

13. 6. Community of Convenience Temporarily based on external factors that momentarily connect people together. e.g …

14. Lastly… A complex network of relationships and interactions can go on in communities. Individuals can belong to different types of community at the same time. Ex.: Identify some that you belong to…