The Foundation for Social Connection 的动态

?Strategy Spotlight? This week, we’re highlighting how increasing access to recreation and socializing by adopting shared-use policies has been found to increase social connectedness and reduce feelings of loneliness. Evidence shows that mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods - as opposed to single-use, car-dependent neighborhoods - allow residents to interact more with one another and encourage them to use community spaces more frequently. Even brief or fleeting interactions can help establish familiarity between community members, which can eventually develop into a quality connection and encourage neighborly acts between residents. In?Hamilton County, Tennesee, residents could not easily access outdoor spaces nor were they allowed on public school grounds. To overcome this barrier, the local health department, school board, and other community organizations agreed to open school grounds up to the public on weekends and holidays. Together, they also created more welcoming signage to replace trespassing signs that were previously posted around schools. The success of this initiative has led these partners to now focus on building more amenities on the school grounds, which will benefit both students and residents. Learn about the research behind this social connection strategy and explore community examples in our Action Guide's catalog of strategies! Click here to dive in: https://lnkd.in/geRqbGBz

?Strategy Spotlight? This week, we’re highlighting how creating routes for residents to safely walk through neighborhoods have been shown to increase levels of social connectedness and reduce feelings of loneliness. Having routes to safely walk around one's neighborhood can increase residents' familiarity and trust in their neighborhood, resulting in greater community cohesion. Similar to the benefits of mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods, the short interactions that take place between residents on walks can eventually develop quality connections and inspire greater support of other residents. Cities across the country have created?Safe Routes to Schools?programs for children and their families to walk to school, safe from traffic, construction, and crime. Some neighborhoods in North Carolina, California, Vermont, and Georgia have implemented?walking school buses, whereby "neighborhood captains" (parents, teachers, or even local business owners) collectively supervise the path children take to get to school. This coordination encourages communication and relationship building among neighbors, offers parents and children quality time to bond, and can provide busy parents with social support. Learn about the research behind this social connection strategy and explore community examples in our Action Guide's catalog of strategies! Click here to dive in: https://lnkd.in/geRqbGBz

Over the years, I’ve come to notice that community building often falters when organizers misunderstand the needs of the people they aim to serve. Too often, hubris leads us to start imposing what we think people need, rather than taking the time to participate, listen, and observe. This article examines how community organizers tend to fall short in understanding the needs of their communities. Quite often, we think we know what people need because we place ourselves outside of the community we are serving. Doing so, not only leads us to make major assumptions about others, but breaks down trust, reciprocity, and relationships. Alternatively, if we start recognizing that our own needs, even as organizers, are deeply connected to those we are serving, then we start adopting a more holistic and regenerative approach to community building. Read my latest. Link in the comments.

Vancouver, WA has a fantastic community vibe about it. Everywhere you look they mention city/community pride and togetherness. When you give a community a voice. When you give them a vehicle to express themselves. When you give them “old world values” and “new world technology”, you build bridges within communities. Bridges between groups of people. Bridges between groups of ideas. Bridges between age groups. Bridges between brilliant ideas. You don’t have to do the work you just need to connect people, companies, visions, dreams. Who’s doing this in your town? Who’s igniting the community? Who’s bringing together associations and groups and ideas into action? Why couldn’t you or your company do this for your community. Your staff. Their families. Your clients and their businesses. Everything to do with why you are in business to start with. You can do this ????

If you're serious about nurturing meaningful communities, you should definitely take a look at the Community Weaving project from Fabian Pfortmüller and his collaborators. Among the elements of the Community Weaving framework that resonate with me are the following: - Community emerges from a shared purpose. - A community has a dynamic set of roles, including stewards (highly committed), members (actively participating), and friends (loosely connected). - Communities have a rhythm punctuated by rituals. - Engagement within a community is fractal. I'm particularly interested in the last point. How can we find ways to catalyze small-group conversations at scale within a larger community to cultivate deeper connections, increased trust, effective learning, and the benefits stemming from cognitive diversity? https://lnkd.in/gUtiHnmi

Reflective journal SCSH 2163: week 14 community solution Community solutions involve collaborative efforts to address local challenges, improve living conditions, and enhance quality of life. These solutions often arise from community members identifying needs, pooling resources, and working together to implement effective strategies. Key elements of successful community solutions include grassroots involvement, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships with local organizations and authorities. By leveraging community assets, such as social networks, expertise, and cultural heritage, these solutions aim to empower residents and build resilience. From small-scale initiatives like neighborhood clean-ups to larger projects like affordable housing development, community solutions foster a sense of ownership, pride, and collective responsibility, leading to sustainable positive change and strengthened social cohesion.

The value of community can be easy to underestimate at times. Find out why building community is so important to your personal life, and some easy ways you can make those essential connections. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/g8gCXZBH? #buildcommunity #community #ecommercebusiness

??Strategy Spotlight ?? This week, we're highlighting the power of neighborhood associations to advance socially connected communities. Associations like block clubs, parent groups, and faith-based communities - led by residents and community members with lived experience - are key catalysts for fostering social bonds and cohesion. Learn about the research behind this social connection strategy and explore community examples in our Action Guide's catalog of strategies! Click here to dive in: https://lnkd.in/geRqbGBz

The value of community can be easy to underestimate at times. Find out why building community is so important to your personal life, and some easy ways you can make those essential connections. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/g8gCXZBH? #buildcommunity #community #ecommercebusiness