Community Engagement

Aspect of a Community

• 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 and always will be social beings.

Different aspects of Community

Demographics

Geography and Environmental Influences

beliefs and attitudes

local politics

local economy and business

income distribution

housing

Educational Facilities and program

health and welfare systems

sources of information and public opinion

summary assessment of community issues

Demographics

• population size (total number of persons living in the community)

• density (ratio of people to the space they inhabit)

• heterogeneity (the extent to which community members have diverse characteristics)

• ethnic groups in the community

• names given to various parts of the community

• areas known for having their own characteristics (e.g., industrial area, blue collar families)

• isolation from or closeness to other communities

• history of the area

• changes and development in the area

Geography and Environmental Influences

• 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.

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

local politics

• structure of government

• decision-making power and control

• major issues currently in debate

local economy and business

• businesses, factories, and other sources of employment that characterize the community

• nature of businesses (owned by local residents or government)

• employment profile and residents

• adequacy of public transportation

income distribution

• public assistance benefits available to residents

• median income level of residents

• income levels and corresponding percentage of population

housing

• Housing condition

• Population density

• Types of housing

• Ownership status of houses (rental, real estate, etc.)

Educational Facilities and program

• Educational system

• Extent of community support

• Existence of public or 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 out the best in the children (participation in competitions, profile of graduates, training students holistically)

• Adequate prepararation for adults to enter the labor force.

health and welfare systems

• adequate numbers of health professionals and specialists

• Accessibility to area residents

• 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

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 social change

• The presence of community leaders who speak for various marginalized subgroups

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

Formal Communities

• the group is created as per official authority, to fulfill certain goals or objectives.

• the group possess a systematic hierarchical structure.

• the position of a member defines her/his importance in the group.

• there is a professional relationship among members. the flow of communication is restricted due to the chain of command.

Informal Communities

• the group is formed according to the likes, interests, and attitudes of the members

• the group has loose structure, and the members join to satisfy their social needs.

• every member is as important as any other member.

• there is a personal relationship among members.

• the flow of communication stretches in all directions.

RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES

communities may be located in either rural or urban areas.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE THREE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RURAL AREAS

1. Population density is found to be low, which means that few people populate the entire community, and they tend to live far apart from each other.

2. the area is situated geographically distant from larger urban areas.

3. each area typically specializes in a particular form of livelihood, such as farming

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN AREAS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.there is a higher population density, with

more diverse subgroups (ethnic, racial,

cultural, age, sexual orientation)

2.various industries and business are found in

the area

3.a large portion of the population live in

rented apartments or homes

4.transportation is readily available,

although this may be costly

5. urban areas are highly developed with many buildings and structures

6. traffic and noise levels are high in these areas

7. the large population gives rise to close interactions among many people, as well as more intense political involvement among citizens.

Local Community

• is characterized by close social integration and physical proximity

• it is defined as a group of people sharing the same environment and conditions such as intent, belief, resources, preferences, and needs and risks.

• these factors may affect the identities of the individuals as well as the community's degree of cohesiveness.

• in addition, a local government may consist of business operators, public agency staff, and residents with interactions that may include sharing of resources, information, and assistance.

• commercial relationships may also be present between local business and consumers.

Global Community

• is a system characterized by integration and interaction between individuals and groups away from each other in time or space or both (Guy, 2009)

• according to dictionary, the word "global" refers to the nation of the world considered closely connected by modern telecommunication, and are economically, socially, and politically interdependent