Isolation is one of the most common issues that people deal with, but how do we stop being isolated? I feel like people always talk about “building community” or “relying on your community.” But people talk a lot less about how you’re actually supposed to do that or what that actually means.
Let’s start with the basics. What is community? A community, at its most basic level, is just a group of people who share something that brings them together. This can include things like clubs, hobby groups, mutual aid groups, neighborhood associations, religious groups, volunteering, or even work. Some communities have specific goals while others don’t.
Already Created Communities
So now, how do we start building it? Get involved! Find a group that interests you and see if they’re open to having new members join, most are, in my experience. Groups can be found through lots of different places. I recommend looking at the local library for events that are being held there. Meetup.com is another option that has lots of local events. Volunteer opportunities tend to be easy to find on google. If you’re comfortable with it, reach out to your neighbors. An easy place to start building community is where you’re living. You could also try becoming a regular at a local shop or gathering place that you enjoy.
Online Communities
What if you don’t have a community in your area? That’s okay. You can always look at online communities or start creating community yourself. For online communities, I recommend looking at social media and focusing on groups that relate to one specific interest or trait and building relationships there. Some good places to start include Facebook, Reddit, Bluesky, and Discord. After that, it’s fairly straightforward to start your own group or discord.
Creating Your Own Community
As for creating an in-person community, start by finding a free space where people can gather. This could include libraries, community centers, coffee shops, parks, or any other number of places. The nice thing about creating a community from scratch is that you get to be free and use your creativity. What’s a topic that you would like to discuss with people? Are there activities that are better with others? You have all the options right now.
The biggest question I get at this point is: What if no one comes? That’s alright. Groups like these take time to get off the ground. Here are some ways that you might be able to speed the process up. Make social media and a website for the group/community. People want to be able to find information about what it is, and, nowadays, most people will look online for that. Tell your friends! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to spread information about events. Share with already established groups and spaces. Make a flyer and see if you can put it up where people are already gathering. People do look at the flyers, I promise.
There you go! Three different ways to start building community. They all have their pros and cons, but there are options for everyone out there. You just have to start, and once you’ve built your initial community, you can continue expanding and doing new things with them. For a place to start, here’s a list of some upcoming events held by local groups, both in the area and online.
