COMMUNITY

ALLAN M. GONZALES
INSTRUCTOR
 UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY
• WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?
• WHAT DO WE MEAN BY UNDERSTANDING AND
DESCRIBING THE COMMUNITY?
• WHY MAKE THE EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND AND
DESCRIBE YOUR COMMUNITY?
• WHOM SHOULD YOU CONTACT TO GATHER
INFORMATION?
• HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AND
DESCRIBING THE COMMUNITY?
 WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?
• While we traditionally think of a community as the people in
a given geographical location, the word can really refer to
any group sharing something in common. This may refer to
smaller geographic areas -- a neighborhood, a housing
project or development, a rural area -- or to a number of
other possible communities within a larger, geographically-
defined community.
• It is often defined by race or ethnicity, professional or
economic ties, religion, culture, or shared
background or interest.
 WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?
The word "community" is derived from Latin and has been used in the English language
since the 14th century. It refers to both the development of a social grouping and also the
nature of the relationship among the members. The term is most often associated with
one or more of the following characteristics:
• common people, as distinguished from those of rank or authority;
• a relatively small society
• the people of a district;
• the quality of holding something in common
• a sense of common identity and characteristics.
The concept of community was further developed in the 19th century to contrast the
dynamics and relationships of residents within a local setting to that of larger and more
complex industrial societies. It is related to the terms commune (French)
and Gemeinshaft (German), in terms of denoting particular kind of relationships.
 THREE MAIN TYPES OF COMMUNITIES
1. Geographic communities share physical space, so that residents come into contact
with each other by virtue of proximity, rather than intent. However, to be a "real" community,
residents must feel a sense of belonging and hold at least some values and symbols in
common. For example, a feature of the natural landscape, such as a river, that is important to
many, or a local claim to fame; such as an internationally known theatre company. In
geographic communities how power is distributed has a significant impact on how the
community develops.

2. Communities of interest are sometimes referred to as "communities within

communities". Members of these communities choose to associate with each on the basis of a
common interest (e.g. model railway club) or shared concerns (e.g. poor air quality).
Sometimes communities are formed by self-identified members of a reference group based on
characteristics outside of their control, e.g. a disability, ethnic group, or low income, which
give them a sense of common identity and shared concerns.

3. Virtual communities are groups of people that primarily interact via communication
media rather than face to face. If the mechanism is a computer network it is called an online
community.
 COMMUNITIES CAN BE…
• Communities can be healthy or unhealthy, with most being
somewhere in the middle. In an unhealthy community there may be
an environmental disaster, such as the contamination of the water
supply, a high level of poverty due to a major industry closing, or
entrenched conflict over a divisive community issue. The path to
becoming a healthy community starts with broad community
engagement, leadership, the development of a shared vision and
community goals, effective planning, local government commitment
and collaborative use of internal and external resources.
• An individual can belong to several different communities at the
same time; e.g. a faith community, a business community and a
neighbourhood community.
 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF A COMMUNITY

• Health and human service organizations. Known on the world stage as NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations),
these are the organizations that work largely with low-income people and populations at risk. They encompass
free or sliding-scale health clinics, family planning programs, mental health centers, food pantries, homeless
shelters, teen parent programs, youth outreach organizations, violence prevention programs, etc.

• Advocacy organizations. These may also provide services, but generally in the form of legal help or advocacy with
agencies to protect the rights of specific groups or to push for the provision of specific services. By and large,
they advocate for recognition and services for populations with particular characteristics, or for more attention
to be paid to particular issues.

• Service clubs. Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, Masons, etc.

• Veterans' organizations. In the U.S., the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are the major
veterans' organizations, but many communities may have others as well.

• Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations. Some of these may be oriented toward specific types of
businesses, while others, like the Chamber, are more general.

• Groups connected to institutions. Church youth or Bible study groups, school clubs, university student groups
(e.g., Foreign Students' Association, community service groups).

• Trade unions. These may be local, or branches of national or international unions.

• Sports clubs or leagues. Enthusiasts of many sports organize local leagues that hold regular competitions, and
that may compete as well with teams from other communities. In many rural areas, Fish and Game clubs may
function as informal community centers.
 EXAMPLES OF VARIOUS COMMUNITIES
• The Christian/Muslim community (or faith community, a term used to
refer to one or more congregations of a specific faith).
• The arts community
• The Aeta community
• The education community
• The business community
• The homeless community
• The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community
• The medical community
• The elderly community
 WHAT DO WE MEAN BY UNDERSTANDING
AND DESCRIBING THE COMMUNITY?

• Understanding the community entails

understanding it in a number of ways.
• Whether or not the community is defined
geographically, it still has a geographic context --
a setting that it exists in
• You have to get to know its people -- their culture,
their concerns, and relationships -- and to develop
your own relationships with them as well.
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF
A COMMUNITY
• Physical aspects. Every community has a physical presence of
some sort, even if only one building. Most have a geographic
area or areas they are either defined by or attached to. It's
important to know the community's size and the look and feel of
its buildings, its topography (the lay of the land -- the hills,
valleys, rivers, roads, and other features you'd find on a map),
and each of its neighborhoods.
• Infrastructure. Roads, bridges, transportation (local public
transportation, airports, train lines), electricity, land line and
mobile telephone service, broadband service, and similar
"basics" make up the infrastructure of the community, without
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A
COMMUNITY
• Patterns of settlement, commerce, and industry. Where
are those physical spaces we've been discussing? Communities
reveal their character by where and how they create living and
working spaces. Where there are true slums -- substandard
housing in areas with few or no services that are the only
options for low-income people -- the value the larger community
places on those residents seems clear.
• Demographics. It's vital to understand who makes up the
community. Age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status,
education, number of people in household, first language --
these and other statistics make up the demographic profile of
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A
COMMUNITY
• History. The long-term history of the community can tell you
about community traditions, what the community is, or has been,
proud of, and what residents would prefer not to talk about.
Recent history can afford valuable information about conflicts
and factions within the community, important issues, past and
current relationships among key people and groups .
• Community leaders, formal and informal. Some community
leaders are elected or appointed -- mayors, city councilors, directors of
public works. Others are considered leaders because of their activities or
their positions in the community -- community activists, corporate CEO's,
college presidents, doctors, clergy.
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A
COMMUNITY
• Community culture, formal and informal. This covers the
spoken and unspoken rules and traditions by which the community
lives. It can include everything from community events and
slogans. Understanding the culture and how it developed can be
crucial, especially if that's what you're attempting to change.
• Existing groups. Most communities have an array of groups and
organizations of different kinds -- service clubs (Lions, Rotary,
etc.), faith groups, youth organizations, sports teams and clubs,
groups formed around shared interests, the boards of community-
wide organizations (the YMCA, the symphony, United Way), as well
as groups devoted to self-help, advocacy, and activism.
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A
COMMUNITY
• Existing institutions. Every community has institutions that
are important to it, and that have more or less credibility with
residents. Colleges and universities, libraries, religious
institutions, hospitals -- all of these and many others can occupy
important places in the community. It's important to know what
they are, who represents them, and what influence they wield.
• Economics. The system of production and management of
material wealth; economic growth; aspects of social, political and
economical life. How is wealth distributed? Would you
characterize the community as poor, working, class, middle class,
or affluent? What are the economic prospects of the population
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A
COMMUNITY
• Government/Politics. Understanding the structure of community
government is obviously important. Some communities may have strong
mayors and weak city councils, others the opposite. Still other
communities may have no mayor at all, but only a town manager, or may
have a different form of government entirely. Whatever the government
structure, where does political power lie.
• Social structure. Many aspects of social structure are integrated into
other areas -- relationships, politics, economics -- but there are also the
questions of how people in the community relate to one another on a
daily basis, how problems are (or aren't) resolved, who socializes or
does business with whom, etc. This area also includes perceptions and
symbols of status and respect, and whether status carries entitlement
or responsibility .
 COMPONENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A
COMMUNITY
• Attitudes and values. Again, much of this area may
be covered by investigation into others, particularly
culture. What does the community care about, and
what does it ignore? What are residents' assumptions
about the proper way to behave, to dress, to do
business, to treat others? Is there widely accepted
discrimination against one or more groups by the
majority or by those in power? What are the norms for
interaction among those who with different opinions or
different backgrounds?
 ACTIVITY
• Identify a specific example of a community inside the campus.
Answer the following guide questions below:
• What is the community all about?
• Who are involved or what is the specific feature of the community?
• What are the goals and objectives or its purpose of existence?
• What are the common problems met?
• How it helps or affect other students and the entire school community?
• What is your personal impression, did you find it productive, effective or
necessary in our school?
• What can you suggest to improve and ensure it’s effectiveness to be of
help in maintaining school safety and peace?