In a world where it can seem like all we do is go to work then come home again, it is incredibly vital that we time in our local communities properly.
Community ties are some of the most special that we have, and they can help you get in touch with people from all walks of life. Here are some of the best ways that you can work to get more in touch with your local community.
Use Social Media
A significant criticism the human race faces nowadays is that everyone is spending more time online than interacting with real people. If you feel like no-one gets out and speaks to each other as we once did, have a look online for some opportunities you could grab. You can’t expect people to move backward and go back to some of the methods that might have worked in the past. Innovation is going to be critical here. Part of this will be to look at how we can use modern tools like social media to bring the community correctly.
The best way to do this is to create social media groups or pages for the local area. For example, a Facebook group that focuses on a specific neighborhood allows those who live there to chat about certain issues they might face, even if they rarely see each other in person. It is a simple yet effective way to promote communication.
Groups could also be used to have a little fun or highlight the local area’s beauty. For example, you could start an Instagram page where people share the photos they have taken of some of the sights around town. It can create an exciting snapshot of your local city and the people who live there, and it can be organized easily through the use of hashtags.
Create a Hub
It might feel like there is no community in your local area because there is no hub for people to gather in. Every community needs some hubs where people can gather together for a purpose. While town halls serve this need to some extent, they are more often associated with admin and bureaucracy than as places where the community can get together to spend time. As a result, it might feel like the community is without a place to come together as one.
Several things can be done to fix this. Firstly, a community might decide to repurpose an existing building and create events and other fixtures to make it a new hub. For example, a library is a perfect location for this. It frequently has many people coming and going and might already have a space large enough to host events. Other potential community meeting spots could include the hall of a religious building or the local high school. Wherever there is a large space where people can come together, there is the opportunity to create a hub.
The other option you have is to create one from scratch. This might be the best option to take if there is nowhere in the local community that might suit the populace’s needs. There are plenty of options to select here, but it is often a good idea to think about outdoor space. For example, you could create a community garden. It would be a bright and safe space for people to come and spend time and that a team of volunteers can maintain. You could even create a play park and a barbeque area. Whatever you think will work best with the people of your community is going to be essential.
Engage with Local Events
Think nothing ever happens in your area? You could not be more wrong! Whether you live in a tiny city in the middle of the countryside or a vibrant and bustling metropolis, there will always be something going on nearby that you can get involved with, even during these challenging times. Anyone wishing to promote the perfect community atmosphere must take the time to engage with these local events to get as much out of them as possible.
Take a look at some of the initiatives happening in your local area now, and see if they are searching for volunteers. You could find some fantastic charity projects that help change the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in your local area. There might even be the potential for you to start your own little event.
Make sure you adequately promote any events, too, so everyone knows that they are happening. You could make posts about it on social media and encourage locals to share, or you could do it the old-fashioned way with posters, flyers, and maybe an announcement on local radio. Get the word out, and you will undoubtedly find that people are only too willing to get involved.
Bring Your Community Together Now
In this day and age, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone. Though technology allows us to speak to friends and family all over the world, there is a chance that we might end up not speaking to many people one-on-one in our daily lives. This is why community support is so important and why we must still build these close ties even in the modern world.
Take a look at some of the significant community events that are happening in your local area. Then, see if there are opportunities for you to get involved. There is so much good to be done in this world, and it can make all the difference to the lives of the people you live near. Why not look at some of the volunteering opportunities we have here at non profit organization Dorchester Habitat for Humanity to get started?