Lesson 1 Concepts And Perspectives Of Community

CONCEPTS AND PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY

Lesson 1 CSC

CONCEPTS AND PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY “Is it an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being.” John Joseph Powell, The Secret of Staying in Love

WHAT IS COMMUNITY?

WHAT IS COMMUNITY? Pramila Aggarwal (2006) of George Brown College, Toronto, Canada describes community as a social organization that is considered fundamental to society such as, village, or religious sect. They are often regarded as natural grouping based on ties of shared blood, language, history, territory, and especially, culture. Bill Lee (1992), community is simply a group of people who have something in common.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY? For the Greeks, it means “fellowship,” that is, a group of people who come together for mutual support and to fulfill their basic needs. Boothroyd (1990) sees community as a human system of more than two people in which the members interact personally over time, in which behavior and activity are guided by collectively-evolved norms or collective decisions, and from which members may freely secede.

EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY:

EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY: Chinese Community in Davao Filipino Community in Singapore Burmese Community in Thailand Community in the form of society, club, or organization, such as Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Lion’s Club, Knights of Columbus, Photography Club of Davao, etc. Religious Communities

WHY IS A COMMUNITY IMPORTANT? “As human beings, we need a sense of belonging, and that sense of belonging is what connects us to the many relationships we develop. Communities are also rich in resources, that is where their collective aspect comes into play. We are all members of many communities (family, work, neighborhood, etc.), and we constantly move in and out of them, depending on the situation.

Community is where we find comfort in difficult times..”--Riché C. Zamor, Executive Director, Professional Services Division, Latin American Health Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

WHY IS A COMMUNITY IMPORTANT? “…most people want to be part of a community because there is something indescribably lovely about being a part of a group of people who share something more substantial than geographical location. . . something they feel passionately about. Something that, when shared, makes individuals seem less lonely.” --Sarah Michelson, Teen Intern with The Food Project, Current Program Involvement: Building Local Agricultural Systems Today (BLAST)

WHY IS A COMMUNITY IMPORTANT? “Community is about growing with others. I grew up surrounded by a culturally rich and loving community which has shaped my identity and pride as a black Latina woman. I have been blessed to be around young people and families ever engaged in improving the vitality of their community. Now, thirty five years into my life, I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Everyday, I get to meet with young people. I have the opportunity to be there in their lives during some of their most difficult and distressing moments. Because of who these young people are, and because of the love I have received, I strive to be the best physician I can be and to serve those who need me most.”--Lisa R. Fortuna, MD, MPH, Staff Psychiatrist, Cambridge Health Alliance, Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts

WHAT DO YOU LIKE/LOVE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?