What does community mean to you? That’s an excellent question to consider at any stage of our lives. The word has a different meaning based on our priorities and when the question is asked. You would have received two different answers if you asked the 28-year-old me versus the 38-year-old me.
Community can be explored in different lenses, here are a few to observe:
- Geography (city, state, region)
- Identity (how you identify yourself)
- Gender
- Race
- Sexuality
- Marital status
- Parents/caregiver
- Age/time in life
- Health
- Ability
- Culture
- Occupation
- Business owner
- Religion/spirituality
- Politics
- Affinity (shared interest)
- Support groups
- Sports/Recreation
- Hobbies
- Animal lover
My definition of a community is just that, ALL of them. Wherever I find that human connection, I feel like THAT is community. If you look at the word community, the latin root is the word “common” and then “unity.” So community is people coming together because they have something in common.
What makes me curious about the term community is the power of that unity. There was a video the other day of a group of strangers coming together to help flip a car that was upside down after a car accident. Fifteen people cooperated to flip the car and get the person out of the vehicle. That’s just one example of when there is a shared intent and action taken together.
The community can bring many unexpected people together for something like a movement or a belief. When we deeply identify and root ourselves in a society, we can make beautiful things happen that bring people together in a real positive way.
How can business/nonprofits stand by community?
Businesses are uniquely positioned to lean into the community. Money is an excellent way for a company to say, “hey, I care about this thing” however businesses can also:
- Host a fundraiser event to house a cause they care about.
- A special campaign with a certain percentage of their earnings go towards an organization.
- Sponsor an events, causes, and/or organizations to show their support.
- Sell swag and/or share info to build awareness of a shared interest or cause.
Nonprofit organizations already serve community and many of them team together with others to further deepen their work and their reach. It’s a natural thing to want nonprofits to link arms and make an impact together.
Old Bill’s Fun Run – 25th Year of this Philanthropic Event
This rather anticipated event every September in Jackson Hole, Wyoming has now raised $208 million philanthropic dollars for nonprofit organizations. Each donation is then matched, deepening the impact of those serving the Jackson Hole community. This right here is a philanthropic event I care about with 200+ participating nonprofits that are all well deserving of gifts of support for the work they provide the community.
When community is top of mind..
One client, Figgie’s named their Deli & Market after their beloved dog. The main logo is not the dog however. They decided to use it as their secondary logo, a portrait of Figgie (the dog) has been logged away to be used when they decide to show their outward support of animal adoption and rescue efforts. They are already looking ahead into how they want to show their support for community even prior to officially opening their doors.
However you decide to define community in your own life as a business owner or nonprofit, keep an open-mind to possibilities of that community expanding and changing as your priorities and likes change.
