Service @ Campbell: Summer Reading: Community

[ To read the what and why of the Summer Reading series, click here. ]

Community is a hot word in the non-profit sector, in political speeches, and sometimes in church pulpits. We find it in so many different jargons because community is essential maintaining and growing, well, the world.

You may think of community as a group of people who share a hobby, form a Facebook group, or go to your church. Technology and the world becoming a much smaller place has morphed community into a diverse and flexible idea, applicable in many settings.

Community can be a neighborhood,
people who live in the same area.

Community can take place online
where people have the same interests.

Community can form around people
who share a set of religious beliefs.

In the world of all things service, "community" generally means people who live/work near each other geographically. For example, "the Campbell community" means people who live in Harnett County, in Buies Creek, or those who work at Campbell. Either way, Campbell's existence affects them all and ties all those people together.

"Looking In, Reaching Out" spends a good bit on the idea of community in the second chapter because understanding a community is so key to serving the community. Or, more precisely, "Thinking about the varieties of communities and the nature of community ties can help you be more precise in understanding what you mean when you plan to work in, with, or for the community." (Page 23)

After all, you wouldn't pack a swim suit for an Alaskan adventure. You would want to understand your environment and prepare accordingly.

The chapter offers a few great activities on community, and the best perhaps is called "Images of Community," a mental exercise designed to teach perspective with your imagination. It sounds abstract but it makes a good point. I would encourage this exercise for any lesson related to understanding another point of view:

So how does all this tie into service? Really, community affects many more aspects of life than service. Understanding your community will help you appreciate its people, traditions, and goals. It will help you see the world differently. But when it comes to service, knowing your community will mean you know its strengths, weaknesses, and then how your talents can weave those together for good.