What makes a community? How do we come together and share ideas? How do we make a difference?

If we look to theories of engagement, change, motivation …. (and many more) there are similar elements, which seem simple enough:

• commitment – to each other and our community
• influence – sharing knowledge and skills, and having equal influence on decision making
• contribution – finding ways we can all contribute to the community in our own way whilst achieving self fulfilment 
• common goals – opportunities or goals that connect us to walk the path together (or make a new path)

So why do we find it so difficult to find our sense of community?  

I think it takes courage.  Courage to introduce yourself to a neighbour, courage to join a new group, courage to get involved in a local activity, courage to get behind a cause you believe in through volunteering or collective giving.

A sense of community starts with you, the people you meet and the goals you set together.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead

So are you ready to combine your commitment and influence to contribute to a common goal?  Here are some links you might find interesting

• Global Citizen – Global Citizen is a movement of engaged citizens who are using their collective voice to end extreme poverty by 2030.
• Systems Innovation Network – online collaborative platform for systems thinking and systems change
• Global Goals Jam – a two day event where creative teams work together on local challenges related to the Global Goals. Using a tailored toolkit
• TEDx events – In the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program helps communities, organizations and individuals produce TED-style events at the local level
• AusTTA – The Australian Transformation and Turnaround Association is the peak body for transformation professionals and transformational senior executives across business, government, and not-for-profit sectors in Australia
• ABCD Unconference – A unique and transformative gathering, bringing together like-minded people around large-scale conversations that matter to support the emergence of social innovation and transformation!
• IDEOU – Design Thinking online learning 

Interesting resources:

• Psychological Sense of Community,
  Research, Applications, and Implications
  Adrian T. Fisher, Christopher C. Sonn, Brian J. Bishop, 2002
• Sense of Community Index
  https://www.senseofcommunity.com/soc-index/
• Deepening Community
  Finding joy together in chaotic times
  Paul Born
• more resources will be listed…