C19.

Concept of Community

By: Raquel B. Evaristo

 COMMUNITIES
• Group of people who know each other, and who
have common objectives and aspirations
• People who are willing to give their time, talent
and other material resources for the
advancement of the group (participatory)
• They value people’s involvement in the
community (Inclusive)
• They respond to people’s need, be it short term
or long term (demand driven)
 Community
Systems Perspective
From a systems perspective, a community is similar to a
living creature, comprising different parts that represent
specialized functions, activities, or interests, each operating
within specific boundaries to meet community needs. For
example, schools focus on education, the transportation
sector focuses on moving people and products, economic
entities focus on enterprise and employment, faith
organizations focus on the spiritual and physical well-being
of people, and health care agencies focus on the prevention
and treatment of diseases and injuries (Henry, 2011).
 Community
Social Perspective
A community can also be defined by describing
the social and political networks that link
individuals, community organizations, and
leaders. Understanding these networks is critical
to planning efforts in engagement.
 Community
Virtual Perspective
Some communities map onto geographically defined areas, but
today, individuals rely more and more on computer-mediated
communications to access information, meet people, and make
decisions that affect their lives (Kozinets, 2002). Examples of
computer-mediated forms of communication include email,
instant or text messaging, e-chat rooms, and social networking
sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (Flavian et al,
2005). Social groups or groups with a common interest that
interact in an organized fashion on the Internet are considered
“virtual communities” (Rheingold, 2000; Ridings et al., 2002).
 Community
Individual Perspective
Individuals have their own sense of community
membership that is beyond the definitions of
community applied by researchers and
engagement leaders. Moreover, they may have a
sense of belonging to more than one community.
In addition, their sense of membership can change
over time and may affect their participation in
community activities (Minkler et al., 2004).
 Major Classification of Communities
• Gemeinschaft (rural) - personal relationships are defined
and regulated on the basis of traditional social rules.
People have simple and direct face-to-face relations with
each other that are determined by Wesenwille (natural
will)—i.e., natural and spontaneously arising emotions
and expressions of sentiment.
• Gesellschaft (urban) - human relations are more
impersonal and indirect, being rationally constructed in
the interest of efficiency or other economic and political
considerations.
 Types of Community
• Geographic Community – people in specific
area or location
• Functional or Sectoral Community – people
who hold common values/function/interest
like education, livelihood, health, recreation,
etc.
• Communities of Interest
• Virtual Communities
 Progressive Community
The term “progress” often carries an assumption
of growth and expansion.
Community organizing is based on the
principles of empowerment, community
competence, active participation, and “starting
where the people are” (Nyswander, 1956, as
cited in Minkler, 2005, p 27)
 Community Organization
Primary goal according to Hardina (2004) is
social transformation. Similar to advocacy and
social action, community organizing is action
oriented on a larger scale, intended to effect
social change in which “neighborhood
organizing, associations, faith communities join
together to address social problems in their
community” (Brueggemann, 2006, p.204)
 References
• Principles of Community Engagement (Second
Edition) Clinical and Translational Science Awards Consortium
Community Engagement Key Function Committee Task Force on the
Principles of Community Engagement by NIH Publication No. 11-7782
Printed June 2011