A few years back I purchased a poster I’d had my eye on from Syracuse Cultural Workers: How To Build Community. After finding the right frame at Arlene’s, I hung the piece in my dining room. In March of 2020, that corner of my dining room became my home office. So, every day I could consider a new way to build community, contemplate who is in my community, and figure out new ways to show up for my community.
Now that I am working outside of the home again, I continue to think about what each suggestion on the poster might look like in action. My tendency with most things is to think through my actions (intentionality) before executing. But if the ultimate goal is to strengthen the connections of our community, why not share my contemplations, and invite all of you, one of my communities, to contribute, too?
So, I will begin periodically expanding upon the phrases on the poster. The titles will start with “HTBC” for “How To Build Community”. And in the comments I will encourage you to share ways you might put the phrase into action in your own community/communities, in your own unique way. In time I hope we will inspire each other to live out these ideas in our daily actions.
The beauty of community lies in the overlaps. We all belong to a wide web of communities, that connect with many more. As we take time to build even one of our communities, it will impact others. Strengthen one to strengthen many.
RESOURCES
Poster: How To Build Community