There are people looking for meaningful ways to get involved in their communities at the same time that many leaders are feeling burned out or wondering if anyone else cares enough to get involved. Engaging people in the community ranges from getting volunteers for a specific event to finding ways for people who feel disenfranchised from the community to have a voice in decision making.
Community groups mobilize talents and assets in the community.
They are opportunities for individuals to share common interests, learn new skills, develop leadership abilities, make new friends, solve problems or find meaning in service to the community. The groups may be informal activities groups or formal organizations with boards of directors, budgets and fundraising efforts. Finding ways to engage people in the community is the basis of strong, resilient communities. Community groups can empower individuals, link individual efforts toward a common purpose, take action towards implementing a vision, and address interrelated issues in a community. People join together to have an impact on the community, to improve current conditions and to create a better future.