COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOLIDARITY AND

CITIZENSHIP
First Quarter – Module 3: FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNITY

Have you wondered

what makes your
community
unique? Are you familiar
with the structures of
your community? How
about the people who
build your community?
Have you had the chance
to
get to know the people
who are the keepers of our
community? How about
you as a Filipino youth,
how are you going to
contribute to your
community? To get to
know our community
better, let us know first our
1. Have you wondered what makes your community unique?
2. Are you familiar with the structures of your community?
3. How about the people who build your community?
4. Have you had the chance to get to know the people who are the keepers of our community?
5. How about you as a Filipino youth, how are you going to contribute to your
community?

VOCABULARY LIST

Aspects of Community- these include the structure existing in your community which
includes natural environment to the institutions made by man

Community- group of people in a particular area who are interacting to one another

Community Power- the capacity of the community to exercise control over activities and
seek ways to employ available resources

Influencer- the person with the most influence, who can lead others to achieve a goal or
accomplish a certain task

Leader- the person who has the responsibility of controlling or taking charge of a particular
group

Leadership- the process and qualities of command and decisiveness with regard to the
necessary actions that ensure the welfare of the community

Social change- the changes that occur in the social order of a society. These are related to
nature, social institutions, social behavior or social relations, cultural, religious,
economics, scientific or technological forces.

TOPIC 1: Understanding Community through its Dynamics

 Leaders are important figures that will guide the members to carry out the plans in
pursuit of the group’s objectives. The guidance of a good leader in a group ensures the
coherence of plans and better implementation of programs.
In the Philippines, the government provides several levels of leadership, from the
president and vice-president, including other government officials at the national and in the
local levels such as mayors, congressmen, and governors. They are appointed based on
qualifications, attitude and most often, through the votes of the residents. It is otherwise
known as Formal Power Structure because they are individuals from whose authority is
based on formal rules appointed by the government.
There are also people who are appointed because of their ability to lead, direct or
achieve without an official leadership title. They are known as Informal Power Structure.
They are popular to others as influencers who can lead others with the most influence.
Informal power comes, not from an official position, but from the respect and appreciation
one has earned from the members of a group. This respect and appreciation allow the
individual to influence his or her peers in a way that others within the group cannot.
Examples are managers, supervisors, philanthropists, businessmen, producers and even
employees who lead their group as likable and charismatic leaders.
Legal authoritative decision-makers, on the other hand, are individuals or bodies
whose authority is based on formal rules and institutions. They are appointed because of their
intelligence, reputations, decision-making, dictation from laws and policies and
connections.
Examples are the appointments made by the president of the country through his/her
Powers of Appointment as stated in the constitution or with the consent of the
Commission on Appointments like the heads of the executive departments, board of 5
members and its leaders from any national government-related institutions, ambassadors,
other public ministers and consuls, etc.
The aforementioned (3) power dynamics are part of individual dimensions of
community which could be:
1. Interrelationship- community leaders are with direct relation with you
through familial relations, affinities or feeling of kinship, and social network, and
2. Organization- they could be part of an institution or an association, that has
a particular purpose in our community.

TOPIC 2: Understanding the Community through its Structures

Awareness of the essential aspects of the community is necessary in aiding the

residents to reflect on ways to be positively involved in its improvement. The poet John
Donne famously said, “No man is an island,” referring to humanity’s
interconnectedness and the belief that humans are always social beings.
Being aware of the structure of the community and exploring its aspects will help you
understand the necessary measures that should be undertaken to serve as an active
member of a community and as future leaders of the community. The following are the
aspects of community and the factors to explore.

1. Local Politics
• Structure of government
• Decision-making power and control
• Major issues currently in debate

2. Demographics
 • Population size (total number of people)
• Population density (ratio of people to the space they inhabit)
• Heterogeneity (the extent to which community members have diverse
characteristics) • Ethnic groups
• Names given to various parts of the community
• Areas known for having their own characteristics (ex: industrial area, blue collar
families)
• Isolation from or closeness to other communities
• History of the area
- Changes and development of the area

3. Geography and environmental influence

 the community’s physical environment
 the community’s location and proximity to highways, bodies of water or
mountains * existence of recreational areas concerns regarding environment hazards
such as pollution, power shortages, among others

4. Beliefs and Attitudes

 cultural values, traditions and beliefs of various segments of the population
 spiritual and political values of the residents
 available social agencies and the help they can extend
 perceptions of residents as part of the community.

5. Local economy and businesses

• businesses, factories and other sources of employment that characterize the
community
• nature of business (owned by local residents or government)

6. Income distribution
• public assistance benefits available to residents
• median income level of residents
• income levels and corresponding percentage of population.

7. Housing
• housing conditions
• population density
• types of housing
• ownership and status of houses (rental, real estate, etc)

8. Educational facilities and programs

• education system
• extent of community support
• existence of public and private schools
• adherence to intended curriculum of the Department of Education

• attention to special
population (e.g., children
with special needs) and
to cultural
differences.
• extent to which
education brings out the
best in the children
(participation in
competitions,
profile of graduates,
training students
holistically)
• adequate preparation for
adults to enter the labor
force
9. Health and Welfare
Systems
 • adequate numbers of
health professionals and
specialists
• social service programs
• respect of service
providers to the needs and
values of minority
populations
• availability of fire and
police protection
• safety of the
environment
• the residents’ view on
public safety and justice
system.
10. Sources of information
and public opinion
 • presence of TV and
radio stations and
newspapers which provide
the people information
and perspectives on
current events
• community
organizations’ capacity to
update residents on
important information
• the capacity of the
sources of information to
enhance the residents’
skills to promote
positive change
• the presence of
community leaders who
speak for various
marginalized subgroups.
11. Summary Assessment
of Community Issues
• overall assessment of
community’s functioning
• dealing with social
problems (youth gangs,
poverty, abuse)
• gaps in social, health
care, and other community
and educational services
• attention to special population (e.g., children with special needs) and to
cultural differences.
• extent to which education brings out the best in the children (participation in
competitions, profile of graduates, training students holistically)
• adequate preparation for adults to enter the labor force

9. Health and Welfare Systems

• adequate numbers of health professionals and specialists
• social service programs
• respect of service providers to the needs and values of minority populations
• availability of fire and police protection
• safety of the environment
• the residents’ view on public safety and justice system.

10. Sources of information and public opinion

• presence of TV and radio stations and newspapers which provide the people
information and perspectives on current events
 • community organizations’ capacity to update residents on important information
• the capacity of the sources of information to enhance the residents’ skills to promote
positive change
• the presence of community leaders who speak for various marginalized subgroups.

11. Summary Assessment of Community Issues

• overall assessment of community’s functioning
• dealing with social problems (youth gangs, poverty, abuse)
• gaps in social, health care, and other community and educational services

TOPIC 3: Understanding Community through its Process

A leader is an important figure in the community. Leaders must possess

important characteristics such as:

1. Effective Communication - an open communication is highly recommended for leaders

and their constituents. There should be free access to important information concerning social
issues and public matters.

2. Development of Social Capital Building - developing a resilient capital is among the

most important contributors to successful community leadership.

3. Community Engagement - it is important to encourage young leaders to participate

so that they are ready to take over when the time comes.

4. Collaboration - leaders should learn to “build bridges” and develop networks among
community leaders within the diverse fields.

These major components of being a better leader will help improve communities by
effecting positive social change, improve the relationships of their residents as well as build
community power.

Community Power is the capacity of the community to exercise control over

activities and seek ways to employ available resources to establish a stronger and successful
community. The diagram below presents some ways for a community to build power.