The Business of Community
The Business of Community
A group of like-minded individuals working together for a common goal. I think the common goal is more easily agreed upon than the road map to get there. As humanity, we all have basic needs. As Black people most have the same desire for Diversity, Equity, and maybe Inclusion or a least the right to be included if so desired. We want safe communities, fair wages, clean water and food, and affordable housing.
?We answer the rallying call to education, entrepreneurship, and creating generational wealth. Yet, in the last 12 months, I have been discouraged and saddened by those who would agree with the above mandates.
A lot of stereotypical cliches have played out in my life in real time. “We can’t work together.” “We are crabs in a barrow.” “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” I learned some very hard lessons, yet I remain hopeful. What I have come to realize is that you can change your financial situation and still be mentally enslaved.
?Moving past the mindset of scarcity is necessary. There is more than enough for everyone. How do we as a collective raise our vibration?
What does community look like? Here are some of the concepts of community.
Building a strong community can be achieved by focusing on key pillars:
?
Shared Purpose and Values:
·???????? Establishing a clear and compelling purpose that resonates with community members.
·???????? Defining and promoting core values that guide the community's interactions and decisions.
?
Engagement and Participation:
·???????? Encouraging active involvement and contributions from all members.
·???????? Providing opportunities for members to connect, collaborate, and share their experiences.
?
Trust and Safety:
·???????? Creating a safe and inclusive environment where members feel respected and valued.
·???????? Ensuring transparent communication and fair conflict resolution processes.
?
Support and Empowerment:
·???????? Offering resources, tools, and support to help members achieve their goals.
·???????? Empowering members by recognizing their contributions and providing opportunities for leadership and growth.
Sustainability and Growth:
·???????? Continuously assessing and adapting to the community's needs and challenges.
·???????? Implementing strategies to attract new members and retain existing ones, ensuring long-term viability and relevance.
These pillars can help create a robust and thriving community that fosters connection, collaboration, and mutual support.
Director at ReboundTAG Global
4 个月Fantastic read
Chief Executive Officer at DreamSpire TV #blackOURstreet
4 个月I'm not a good person to ask because I do not have an average following and I am in media. I have a total social media presence of over 100k so of course I'm going to know way more people that are involved in community building than the average person.
Founder / Chief Technology Officer at Blackfacts.com
4 个月I keep things real simple. Here's a real simple question I encourage everyone to ask themselves. How long has it been since you last made an UNSOLICITED OFFER to connect a entrepreneur (or non-entrepreneur) to a person you know personally who might be able to help them advance towards achieving their goals? If you have to think about it for more than 5 seconds, then it wasn't within the past week, and if it wasn't within the past week, then IMNSHO you are failing at the most basic, 101, Kindergarten-level action that if we do not start making a habit, we will NEVER move forward collectively, and all the talk about working together is nothing more than empty rhetoric, lip service BS. Periodt. My most recent offer was yesterday, to connect a brother working on getting Black Americans connected to projects on the Continent with a sister in Zimbabwe who has a business working to help connect Africans with jobs. I am guilty of forgetting to follow through and making the 3-way LinkedIn message, which I will do RIGHT NOW, but if we are not each personally willing to TAKE ACTION connecting each other, then as far as I am concerned, we are just being another part of the problem.