Bridging and Bonding

How Can We Create Engaged Communities in a Time of Rapid Change?

New forms of telecommunications, ease of travel, and the ever-increasing pervasiveness of mass
media, and perhaps especially the Internet, have transformed our personal lives and our communities. These technological innovations include everything from faster and more convenient forms of transportation to the pervasive dissemination and use of telecommunication devices to increasingly specialized delivery of news and entertainment. All of this has altered how we interact with each other, how and where we work, and how we form and maintain relationships, both public and private. As is common during all periods of rapid change, the past is idealized; the present seems unsettling; and the future, unknowable. Compounding the problem is a perpetual sense that we dont have enough time to engage, much less adjust and adapt. Also, increasing mobility has led to more diversity. More frequent exposure (whether virtually or physically) to individuals whose experiences and beliefs differ from our own can be challenging. Traditionally communities have been comprised of bonds based on principle of reciprocity, familiarity, and trust. Rapidly changing and diverse communities must build social bridges that help people connect across differences. Is it possible or even desirable to redirect our attention from the me of individual appetites and competition fueled by uncertain economic conditionsto the we of community? How can technological innovations enrich our lives instead of undermining our ability to create bonds and bridges? During this time of rapid technological change, how do individuals acquire the interest, time, and commitment necessary to act together for a common good? Can we live in community with others whose values, experiences, and simply ways of being in the world are quite different from our own? If we are to build and sustain engaged communities, these questions must be addressed. This discussion guide offers three options for addressing this challenge. Hopefully the guide will provide a framework fosters thoughtful deliberation about the sometimes-conflicting values we all hold dear. Each option reflects a fundamentally different concern and suggests actions that we might take. There is no perfect solution. The goal is not to pick one option but rather to weigh each one thoughtfully, consider its downsides and trade-offs, and work together toward a wellreasoned judgment about how to create and sustain engaged communities in this period of rapid change.

Option One: Acknowledge and Adapt to Change In a highly mobile and rapidly changing society, we need to acknowledge the role played by the proliferation of small groups that dont have formal affiliations. Small groups start with the family, and expand outward to include, for example, the seniors who gather each morning at the local coffee shop, a Facebook common interest user group, or a book club. Too often their important for civic engagement isnt recognized. Reaching out to these tiny publics, with their complex webs of alliances, can provide energy and vital connections for more formally organized civic groups. Also, the newwhether its newcomers to the neighborhood or new technologiesshould be embraced. We need to become more accepting of all kinds of differences, including ethnic, generational, racial, religious, and socio-economic, and embrace the use of new technologies for communication and entertainment, if we are to interest and engage more people in civic projects and programs. Some Examples of What Might Be Done Strive for Inclusivity. Reach out to small informal groups. Rather than creating programs for them, work with them to develop initiatives. Re-envision customary practices and habits of thinking to create more equitable relationships. Support the Existence of Informal Groups. Local governments and civic institutions should make resources and spaces available to both groups to foster their stability and growth. Cultivate Curiosity and Avoid Judgment. Reach out to groups other than your own. Explore the music, films, and other cultural and recreational activities of people who are different from you. Learn New Technologies and Make the Internet Accessible to Everyone. Public libraries should receive the funding needed to offer courses. Just as with electricity and the telephone, the Internet should be a public utility. Build Bridges Across Differences. Use social media to build social and civic organizations that are representative of the entire community, and accommodate and acknowledge differing norms. Consequences and Trade-Offs to Consider Many of these organizations have long histories and beloved traditions. Although the organization would become more inclusive would it come at the cost of generating resentment among long-time members? Would this action inevitably end up with winners and losers since in very diverse communities it would be impossible to accommodate everyone? Many people dont have time to do the things they enjoy. Is it reasonable to expect people to spend their time on activities that may not be personally appealing? Although doing this would promote technological literacy, are we willing to accept the reduction in face-to-face interactions that have always characterized vibrant communities? Although this may build stronger relationships with some groups, could it also lead to increasing fragmentation in the community? Also would the time be better spent on addressing more pressing community problem such as poverty or domestic abuse?

Option Two: Affirm the Value of Traditional Community Life We need to affirm the value of traditional community life. Human beings get to know each other not only through planned interactions but also through casual and unexpected encounters. These bonds provide incentive for the time and commitment essential for engaged communities. Although social media may be used to supplement connections, and transient social groups are part of everyones life, it is the long-term and face-to-face relationships, where people can see, hear, and even touch each other that build the bonds that sustain communities. We need to make personal and public policy choices to ensure the participatory community culture and civic associations that have been such an important part of American life continue into the twenty-first century. Some Examples of What Might Be Done Support Civic Recreation. Civic organizations should get behind this increasingly popular trend of turning a leisure activity into a fundraiser for a social justice or public cause. Generate More Awareness of and Support for Civic Organizations. Clubs and other civic organizations need to more effectively reach out to the broader community to explain the value of their activities and recruit new members. Zone for Civic and Social Life. Towns and cities should think about zoning and building codes that make streets and public places welcoming for foot traffic and social interactions. Parks and other aesthetically pleasing areas can foster positive and productive interactions among residents. Service Learning Is for All Ages. Social clubs and civic organizations can help to transform abstract ideas about people and issues into more democratic exchanges by developing programs that emphasize doing with rather than doing for. Create Partnerships between Civic Organizations and Artists Committed to the Participatory Arts. Participatory art is involves community members in the creative process and provides opportunities for exchanges that open up innovative approaches for addressing social problems. Consequences and Trade-Offs to Consider Although this is a popular way to participate in community life, what does it say about our society if civic recreation is replacing Lions Clubs and PTAs? Spending time on self promotion will increase public awareness. How can this be done in ways that do not appear self-aggrandizing? What is the proper balance between self promotion and devoting that time and money to directly addressing social problems? Zoning is a contentious issue in many cities and towns. Would the wrangling that inevitably accompanies this kind of activity offset or reduce any future good will? Is the public benefit here worth possible infringements on the ability of property owners to make their own decisions? Although this can be a transformative experience, it may be off-setting or intimidating for some, and may result in a loss of participants. Is this a trade-off that you are willing to accept? While clearly this would generate community interest and involvement, is it right to spend money on the arts when so many are struggling to make ends meet? Might this be considered an elitist approach?

Option Three: Civic Engagement Should Support Individual Goals and Aspirations. We need to support the individualism that has always been a hallmark of American life and align civic engagement with the values self-reliance and autonomy. There is no gold standard for measuring social responsibility. Individuals who choose to focus on private rather than public concerns should not be criticized. While some are deeply committed to public service, others are devoting their energy toward family or private pursuits. These decisions are also influenced by individual preferences, stage of life, culture, and degree of economic security. Civic organizations and those interested in public service need to find ways of more clearly aligning their goals and activities with private and business interests. Some Examples of What Might Be Done Develop Internship Opportunities. Social and civic organizations could work actively with colleges to develop internships that help students acquire skill sets relevant to their future careers. Foster Alliances. Community organizations and clubs could partner with businesses, professional organizations, Chambers of Commerce and government agencies to identify and realize common goals. Community Service Should Not Be Mandatory. High schools and colleges should not require students to do community service or servicelearning because this is an activity that should be freely chosen by the individual. Self-Help and Other Kinds of Private Informal Groups Should Be Supported by Civic and Governmental Groups. Many who participate in these personally-oriented activities are actually engaged in social movements. It Gets Better (a project that helps young people cope with harassment) is just one example of this. Civic Organizations Should Foster Connections with Individuals Without Asking Them to Become Members. Many people who are not included to join a club are often willing to share a skill for a specific project or write a check to support a cause. Consequences and Trade-Offs to Consider While organizations and the students could benefit from this experience, this approach might be seen as prioritizing professional development over community service. Is that justifiable? This would enlarge the possibilities for partnerships, but does so at the cost of blurring the differences between public and private interests. How might that compromise the public good? While the ideal of volunteerism for altruistic reasons is attractive, doesnt a good education include getting students involved in learning activities that they may not choose of their own accord? On-line communities are appealing to young people and self-help groups often address important public problems on an individual basis. Does this self-interested activity treat the symptom while ignoring the larger social conditions that are causing or acerbating these problems? Although this would allow organizations to utilize the skills and resources of individuals, doesnt it affirm our societys increasingly isolationist tendencies? Also, doesnt simply accepting a check mean selling out to a consumerist mentality?