It takes a village: The importance of a sense of community and how to find it during COVID.
What is community?
Community Scientist Dr. Chavis and Dr. Lee says community is all about people. It is relationships with people to work towards needs, such as influencing an environment, raising a child, or providing a service. There are two major forms of community: geographical (e.g., neighbors, Michiganders) and relational (e.g., professional, spiritual). They can range from a religious community to Black twitter to a group chat with friends.
Research typically measures people’s sense of community belonging and social support. Community belonging generally includes how welcomed or connected one feels to their community. When measuring social support, researchers ask people about who they go to for help (e.g., family, friends, neighbors, co-workers) and how satisfied they are with that help.
Certain aspects of life impact your sense of community. For example, transitioning from middle school to high school may be challenging for some students. In 8th grade, students have spent three years developing friendships; however, in 9th grade, they may need to make new friends.
What are the benefits of community?
Community benefits everyone. There are many positive aspects to having a good sense of community belonging and social supports, such as:
More positive relationship quality
Better Mental Health (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD)
Better Physical health
Higher Academic Aspirations
Higher Grades
Parenting Satisfaction
Engagement in the Political Process (e.g., voting)
Barriers to community
While there are many benefits, people often face obstacles when trying to find their community as well. For example, Black men have several barriers to seeking help from their community, such as fear of judgment, perceived ineffectiveness, and masculine social norms. For LGBTQ+ youth, lack of support visibility is a barrier, causing them to use an online community to cope, feel stronger, and find community. Other barriers can include perceived hostile environment, how you look (phenotype), different identities you hold, and colonization history.
How do I find or build community (in COVID)?
You have to take the initiative! You can only get what you give. Before COVID, someone could come up to you and start a conversation at a college campus. Now, you may have to put yourself out there to find your community.
In School. There are many things you can do in the school setting to build or foster community. You can join a student organization or take an online class in something you like (e.g., art and play an instrument). In the classroom, you can message other students online, attend office hours, or even ask a teacher or leader to connect you with others with similar interests.
Go Outside. Being outdoors is a great way to practice healthy habits and build community. Go for a walk and bike ride. You may get a wave and or smile from your neighbors. You can also have socially distanced fun with friends. Planning a picnic, going sightseeing, or planning an outdoor scavenger hunt is a great way to get active, have fun, and get fresh air.
Join an organization. Finding a common interest group can help you build skills and community. Book clubs, workout groups, student organizations, and painting parties are great examples of skill-based group activities. Using social media is another way to join a group that can span across the country and beyond, such as Facebook groups. The more specific the organization, the better. For example, there are several Black Animal Crossing Facebook groups. These groups are for Black people who play that particular game. In the group, they share culturally-relevant memes, tips, and help each other progress.
Use of Technology. Technology is a fantastic tool to maintain a community. You can keep a sense of community by periodically checking in on friends and family through text, phone call, or video chat. There are also many ways to build a community with technology. Apps, like MeetUp, encourage people to connect based on interest, such as riding bikes. You can start your own community by sharing what you are doing or what you like on social media. For example, if you like working out, you can create a workout challenge. In this challenge, you can encourage your social media friends to join and use hashtags or record themselves. You can also join already established online communities. Video game streamers often have discords and use live-chat to connect with their community. They may even play live with the other members of their community.
With COVID bringing feelings of isolation, finding a community to feel connected has never been more critical. Everyone benefits from being in a community. What next steps will you take to maintain or find your own?