The Science of CommunityThere is a lot to C

David M. ChavisVirtual Community Summit 2014

20 February 2014

Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls

as well as a

quantitative change in our lives.

~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Peter Kropotkin Charles Darwin

Mutual AidSurvival of the Gene

Social Darwinism Survival of the

Fittest

Just because you call it a “community” doesn’t

make it one.

We Live in Multiple Real World and Virtual Communities:

FamilyNeighborhoodNationFaithCultural/EthnicInterest

Profession or vocation

Workplace or school

Political and social causes

Community Development is Very Important

A sense of Community;Individual and collective Control and efficacy;

andCash-adequate economic and other resources.

Factors that have the most effect on human psychological, social, and physical well-being include:

Research shows that developing a sense of community:

Develops a sense of individual and collective efficacy and Control, and

Increases access to resources including Cash.

Elements of a Sense of Community(McMillan & Chavis, 1983)

Meeting needs based on common values;Membership;Influence; andA shared emotional connection.

Identify common priorities and needs;Support collective action on priorities

and needs (e.g. ,small grants, community organizing);

Improve systems of care and other services; and

Improve community environment.

Meeting Needs

Tactics for Strengthening a Sense of Community Framework

MembershipIncrease community identification and

identifying other members;Increase sense of safety and trust;Clear, but inclusive, boundaries; andRecognize and reward member

success.

InfluenceProvide and support opportunities for

collective action on priority issues and needs;

Communicate power or influence of similar people or communities;

Develop leaders who are responsive and accountable to members; and

Build collective leadership capacity.

Shared Emotional ConnectionPromote sense of common history and

experiences;Conduct social events to promote interaction;Support small wins, nothing builds

community like success;Communicate successes; andBuild pride.

The Basic Questions for Evaluating Community Development

Are you meeting the priority needs of members?

Do members have a sense of membership?Do your members influence each other, the

community itself and larger systems?Is there a shared emotional connection?What are you doing to promote each of these

elements?

Connections

Bonding (within community, such as neighborhood)

Bridging (across communities)Linking (with larger systems)

Community Science

Collective Action

Leads to collective power, resources, and hope

through organized citizen lead efforts.Community leaders are people who

represent their constituency and are accountable to their constituency.

Influencing larger systems.

Five C’s Strategy ForCommunity Development

CommunityConnections Control Cash Collective Action

The greatest challenge and opportunity for community development is to create caring within and among communities.

When there is caring within and among communities , there is more equity and justice.

Community Science

The greatest challenge we face on this planet is to

develop the sense of community and therefore

caring for all other communities.

I am, and always will be, the optimist. The hoper of far-flung

hopes, and the dreamer of improbable dreams.

~Eleventh Doctor