Our innate need for connection has been a casualty of recent years. Global events have stripped away our social nature. It's no surprise, then, that the role of community—whether birdwatching, beach cleanups, or grabbing a bite to eat with neighbors—has become all-important as we attempt to recover from prolonged isolation. The following 33 perspectives, from community founders, participants, and academic experts, show how coming together can help us feel better while also effecting broader social change.
01. Run to connect
Charlie Dark founded the Run Dem Crew running community in London in 2007, but he believes its purpose resonates more than ever. “The more people can encourage community, especially now when the world seems unstable, the better,” he says. “We’re surrounded by different communities that I hope will now remind us how to become comfortable with people again after long periods of isolation.”
02. Turn things around
The need for community has never been greater. Mr. Charles Vogl , author of The Art Of Community (in English), asserts that we are living in the loneliest period in human history. "More than half of Americans report feeling lonely, while 15% of men have no close friends," he says. "Community is the opposite of this loneliness epidemic."
03. Find a goal to achieve
“Without wanting to sound cliché, I’ve found the reason I was put on this earth,” says Kevin Maguire , founder of The New Fatherhood newsletter and online community. “I’m not driven by the numbers as much as I am by the impact I know it’s having, and the honest feedback I receive inspires me to do more.”
04. Expect to be supported and inspired
“For couples who have become very dependent on each other, separation can feel awkward for a while, but with communication, this can be adjusted and managed,” says Dr. Firstein , who advises similar patience if the lockdown has caused relationship tensions that have not eased. “Therapy is always a good idea if the couple can’t get out of the rut.”
05. Take care of each other
"We are not consumers, we are citizens," says Peter Block , an author and expert on community building. He adds that we should not outsource a child's education, safety and health, elderly care, or the well-being of the planet to the private sector. "We have the capacity to produce our own well-being," he says. "That's why community is important."
06. Celebrate shared spaces
“In the UK, just over 4,000 shared public spaces are taken away from communities each year due to development or loss of funding,” says Hannah Philp , founder of ARC Club , a co-working space concept in London that aims to connect neighborhoods. “It’s so important that we have IRL (in real life) places to gather,” she says. “Even if our members come by once a month, it’s a place they know they can go and be among people.”
07. Develop passion
Communities are more likely to succeed if they are led by passion, says Sara Venn , founder of community garden facilitator Edible Bristol. “Rather than going in and doing all the work, we wait for people to come to us with an idea before we provide support and consultation,” she says. “We make sure that when we work with communities, by the time the garden is up and running, they are ready to manage it themselves.”
08. Determine your “why”
For those starting their own community, Dark advises being honest about your goal. “People start with big ideas and think it will work immediately, but times are different,” he says. “Start small and incubate before you bring it to the world. It takes time for people to trust you enough to give their time and energy.”
09. Give something back
Charlie Bethel is the UK lead for Men's Sheds , a global movement that creates community spaces where often elderly men can connect, converse, and create. "It may be a stereotype, but men often need to do something," he says. "Making something with your hands or helping someone else with a task can be very rewarding and a great motivator. It's about increasing self-esteem while helping the community."
10. Address an unmet need
“There are an abundance of resources for moms, yet I struggled to find a place online that reflected my experiences as a dad,” Maguire says of launching The New Fatherhood , adding that the newsletter has acted as a beacon of light, bringing people together and helping them open up.
11. Counter trends
According to Vogl , we've seen an erosion of social connection. Research in the United States identifies three major trends: a population that's moving more than ever, reducing the connections we make; a decline in religious traditions; and the rise of social media. "The latter is very effective at connecting us with people who don't care about us and less effective at developing intimate, meaningful relationships," he explains.
12. Take back control
Having a voice in a community can have a positive impact on individuals who may feel marginalized in daily life, according to Bethel . "As you get older, you often feel out of control and isolated," he says. "The cabins allow you to regain some control, make decisions, and participate in the direction of the community."
13. All ages are welcome
Leading Run Dem Crew has allowed Dark to see the benefits of intergenerational mixing. “What’s starting to happen is a two-way conversation that provides a mechanism for support and information exchange,” he says. “People are learning from it that helps them understand their family members a little better.”
14. Start small
Vogl says having even one friend at work can be a magic bullet for reducing disengagement and accidents. "If you have a friend at work and you want to know how to do something safely, you'll ask that friend, and then you'll be much less likely to get burned or run over."
15. Boost your creativity
According to Sam Furness , who founded the creative studio and community Channel Twelve in 2016, playing a role in a group can help you elevate your own game. “It shifts the focus from ‘I’ to ‘we,’” he says. “When you see your peers excel, it’s motivating. It can also be anxiety-inducing, but mostly I find it helps you move forward.”
16. Occupy your mind
“If people feel like they can go and be a part of something, it can really help mental health,” Venn says. “Getting your hands in the dirt and focusing on something that’s not all that’s going on in your head is really important—not just for people who might be struggling with their mental health, but for everyone.”
17. Address your emotions
"If you put 12 older men in a room and say, 'Let's talk about our feelings,' at least half of them might leave," Bethel says of the alternative therapy Men's Sheds offers. "But if you put a lawnmower in the room and say, 'Can you fix it?' they'll know each other intimately, they'll know all about each other's grandchildren—and you'll get a fixed lawnmower."
18. Let others guide your vision
Maguire 's background in marketing helped him find the best way to distribute The New Fatherhood in a newsletter. "It created a nice feedback loop, sending something out, seeing what people thought, and building something with others," he says, emphasizing the importance of co-creation.
19. Celebrate our differences
“The best communities have a lot in common with the best dance floors, in that they bring together different people from all walks of life,” says Dark , using a metaphor inspired by his background as a DJ. “That dance floor then becomes a way to explore similarities and champion our differences. I want my community to be a reflection of all the people who live in the city.”
20. Not all "communities" are what they seem.
Vogl has seen a lot of change since publishing his first book on community in 2016. “Today, I can’t go on LinkedIn without finding a new ‘community’ expert in my feed,” he says, emphasizing the need to distinguish between a true community and those created solely for the extraction, manipulation, or sale of things. “Many marketers have accurately discerned that we are solitary people hungry for more connection. They use the language of community—‘members,’ ‘engagement’—but that’s just marketing.”
21. Believe in those who are silent
Whether it's birdwatchers, bridge enthusiasts, or gardeners, Venn advises seeking out community champions. "They're usually the quiet ones at the back, but they have all the knowledge people need to help them succeed," she says. "Finding that person is critical to the community and the success of the project."
22. Two plus two equals five
“It can be difficult for the vast majority of people to self-motivate when working from home,” says Philp . “Being around other people can be a motivator in terms of productivity, and we’ve seen a number of professional collaborations between people who didn’t know each other but lived in the same neighborhood.”
23. Small gestures, big differences
“We don’t need to wait for big events to feel community,” says Vogl . “Understand that you’re surrounded by others who are lonely and want to connect more than you think. If that’s the case, start extending invitations to spend more time with them. Even just walking in a park or eating a sandwich on a bench together counts.”
24. Be authentic
“Being open about what you think and admitting your mistakes is really important,” Maguire says of serving his growing community. “Go into it with the best intentions and allow the community to evolve according to its needs, rather than dictating what you think they should be.”
25. Find a common goal
“People think that unless you have super similar ideas, you can’t have a community,” Vogl says. “But for me, all communities come together around a common value or a common goal—and one is enough. Contributing to the safety of your neighborhood can be enough to get neighbors to share scones together, even if you think they’re terrible in every other way.”
26. Give meaning to life
“When I first saw the Creative Quests signups, I’d never seen such a diverse and diverse group of people, and I thought it might be a disaster,” Furness says of the early days. “But it ended up being the best thing about this community. A perfect reminder that we’re all human beings trying to make sense of this thing called life.”
27. A sense of perspective
According to Furness , the community gives people a chance to remember how big the world is. “When we were confined to our homes, our creative pursuits offered escape, inspiration, and the opportunity to collaborate creatively with someone on the other side of the world,” he explains. “Now that the world has opened up again, it’s been really great to see how people are taking their knowledge and applying it to a more ‘normal’ way of life.”
28. Be healthy
According to Block , one of the biggest determinants of our health is social connection. "If I join an organization and have some kind of social connection, I'll live two years longer, just because I joined and spent four hours a month engaging," he says. "The best way to get people out of doctor's offices is to join a group and talk about how their life is going."
29. A place for common ground
“No one comes to a community garden dressed to the nines, which is a great leveler,” Venn says of the spectrum of society that frequents his community gardens. “We deliberately don’t ask what people do, which can alienate some people, and instead focus on what they want to get out of the community.”
30. Be open source
The best communities can also become incubators for other opportunities. “So many other organizations have sprung up as part of Run Dem Crew ,” Dark says. “It’s important to be open about your accomplishments. When communities are open source, so that everything you do internally ripples outward and doesn’t just benefit those on the inside, they empower you in ways you can’t imagine.”
31. Foster community through intimacy
According to Vogl , people rarely feel a sense of belonging at large events, whether they're giant gatherings, concerts, or actions. "Most people discover connection through intimate experiences," he says. "We call them campfire experiences. When we bring people together around a common goal, we need to be able to offer those experiences to help them feel connected to a much larger community."
32. Take your chance
Some of the best advice Venn received came from a subdivision manager at an early meeting. "He stood up and said it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission," she says. "That's the advice I give everyone. Just do it. Don't necessarily ask for permission. If a piece of land has been left and isn't loved, there's nothing wrong with someone improving it."
33. Semantics matters
Vogl makes a key distinction between invitations and announcements. “‘Hey, guys, pizza on Friday night at 6:00’ is an announcement, but a personal request emphasizing ‘I’d love for you to come’ is a different thing and lets someone know that someone else cares if someone shows up and spends time with us,” he says. “People like to skip the invitation and put out announcements and then are surprised when they get very few responses and people don’t want to commit.”
Illustration by Mr. Harry Haysom
Text by Mr. Ben Olsen
