All of us are members of different communities. When we think of the word community, we probably think of a physical space, such as the place you live or the places you go like a place of worship. However, community can mean so much more than that! Community can also be found from a shared sense of identity you have with people like yourself. Sometimes, the different communities we are a part of can feel “stuck,” and our feeling of belonging can diminish as a result. Thankfully, there are practices we can all do to transform our stuck communities, according to Peter Block, a community and organizational development specialist from the Cincinnati area.
Block says, “that in order to create something new, we must come to terms with our current reality.” The current reality often elevates fear and fault, romanticizes leadership, and reinforces self-interest and isolation. If we wish to transform this current state of being, we must be willing to prioritize different principles, like focusing on our different communities’ gifts, choosing as a community to care for others, and working in groups of people with diverse identities and experiences. You may think, “this is great, but how will we get there?”
The foundational piece of transformation is in the questions we ask each other. More specifically, these questions should challenge our attachments to the stuck community, while inviting others to create an alternative future where belonging is prioritized. As you think about what questions you might ask, consider the following practices:
- Create questions that prioritize building community over being right. Many of us have been strongly influenced to seek the “right” answers over everything else. In community building however, Block says that “the right question has a sacredness all its own.”
- Give permission for unpopular answers. We are conditioned to say what is “popular” or will cause the least conflict, so create space for people to share their dissent openly. Dissent often, although not always, comes from a place of caring.
- Avoid advice and replace it with curiosity. We need to stop being so helpful. Encourage people to ask questions rather than providing answers.
You can contact your local Community Development Educator, Noah Reif to learn more community building practices, nonprofit skills development training, and professional development topics by emailing her at noah.reif@wisc.edu.
