Community Engagement

3 rd Quarter – Reviewer

Community
The word community, considered as a Late Middle English term, is derived from the Latin word
communistas which means “fellowship”
Its Latin roots, communis, means “common”

FOUR PERSPECTIVE OF COMMUNITY

1. Social Science Perspective - composed of people interacting with one another, sensitive to each
other’s emotions, as well as interests and subjective points of view.
2. Institutional Perspective - views the concept of community in three different dimensions.
3. Civil Society Perspective - views society as a community of citizens linked by common interests
and collective activity.
4. Local and Grassroots Perspective - highlights volunteerism. Members of different communities
may involve themselves in various programs or activities.

Essential Aspects of Community

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population size
Density
Heterogeneity
Ethnic groups
Names given to various parts of the community
Areas known for having their own characteristics
Isolation from or closeness to other communities
History of the area
Changes and development in the areas
GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE
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
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 BUSINESSES
Businesses, factories and other sources of employment that characterize the community
Nature of business
Employment profile of 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 conditions
Population density
Types of housing
Ownership status of houses
HEALTH AND WELFARE SYSTEM
Adequate numbers of heath professionals and specialists
Accessibility to area residents
Social service programs
Respect of service provides 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
Community organization’s capacity to update residents on important information
The presence of community

DYNAMICS AND PROCESSES

Community Power – the capacity of the community to exercise control over activities and seek ways to
employ resources to establish a stronger and successful community.
Leader– is generally define as the person who has the responsibility of controlling or taking charge of a
particular group.
Relationship – can provide feelings of belongingness and connectedness that most people seek in one
way or another regardless of one’s belief, cultural background or areas of interest.
Social Change – refers to changes that occur in the social order of a society.

Typologies
TYPES OF COMMUNITY
FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNITIES
Formal communities - established by the organization which have a public identity and goal to achieve
- Characterized by institutionally structured hierarchies, which define the relationship
between authoritative and subordinate actors and groups.
Types:
With temporary life - task force, disaster team
Team- business firms, company, cooperative
Informal communities - It refers to the pattern of activity interactions and human relationship which to
emerge spontaneously due to social and psychological forces operating at the work place.
- It arise naturally on the basis of friendship or some common interest which may or
may not be related with work.
 COMPARISON OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNITIES
Basis of Comparison Formal Informal

Formation The group is created as per official The group is formed according to the
authority, to fulfill certain goals or likes, interests, and attitudes of the
objectives. members.
Structure The group possesses a systematic The group has a loose structures, and the
hierarchical structure. members join to satisfy their social needs.
Primary Focus The position of a member defines Every member is as important as any
his/her importance in the group. other member.
Relationship There is a professional relationship There is personal relationship among
among members. members.
Communication The flow of the communication is The flow of communication stretches in all
restricted due to the chain of command. directions.

RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES

Rural Community 3 General Characteristics:
1. Population density is found to be low
2. The area is situated geographically distant
3. Each are typically specializes in a particular form of livelihood
Rural Community 7 General Characteristics:
1. There is a higher population density, with more diverse subgroups (ethnic, racial, cultural, age,
sexual orientation)
2. Various industrial and businesses are found in the area.
3. A large portion of the people 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 AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES
Local community is characterized by close social integration and physical proximity.
Global community is a system characterized by integration and interaction between individuals and
groups away from each other in time or space or both.

COMMUNITY SECTORS
- the various groups that people in the larger community might be divided into for reasons of common
social, political, economic, cultural, or religious interests.
SOCIAL SPACES
- defined as a physical or virtual space which members of the community visit or where they stay.

Community Dynamic and Community Action

GEOGRAPHICAL
 The members of a community share the same geographic vicinity, such as village, province and
neighborhood.
NON- GEOGRAPHICAL
 There are communities formed based on needs, ideas, interests, identity, practices, roles in social
institutions such as at home, at work, in government, society, or the community at large.

COMMUNITY DYNAMICS
A natural phenomenon because community changes and develops.
MICRO LEVEL COMMUNITY
A group is formed based on personal social ties
Groups formed for pursuing common interest or goals, like forming a small organization to hold a fund -
raising activity such as a concert.
MACRO LEVEL COMMUNITY
A large group affiliations are formed such as national communities, international communities, and virtual
communities.
ROLES OF COMMUNITY
1. Community consultation
2. Joint planning
3. Joint design
4. Joint delivery
5. Implementation of community-led activities

COMMUNITY ACTION
any activity that aims to increase the understanding, engagement, and empowerment of communities for
the intention of giving services to people.
NOTE: In a community action, local citizens engage in the planning, design, and delivery of local services.

Community Engagement

the process of working together with the members of a group based on geographic proximity,
special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the whole group
considered as POWER VEHICLE
Partnerships and coalitions are involved to mobilize resources and influence systems, change
relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies and programs.
Collaborations may be engaged in promotion, research or policy making.

EDUCATIONAL SETTING:
Service Learning - a teaching methodology that employs community service and reflection on service to
teach community engagement, develop greater community and social responsibility, and strengthen
communities
Community Outreach - the voluntary services done by students, faculty, school employees, or alumni in
response to the social, economic, and political needs of communities.
1. Community service – one-way initiative
2. Community development – fostering partnerships and sustaining relationships with the
communities
 Community Engage Research (CEnR) - a collaborative process between the faculty and/or
student researchers and the partner community in conducting research.

Solidarity
a sense of unity among people, especially in terms of their interests or objectives, or as an
expression of support or sympathy.
David Emile Durkheim - French sociologist who study solidarity as a social phenomenon.
He theorized that there are two kinds of solidarity:
1. Mechanical Solidarity
2. Organic Solidarity
MECHANICAL SOLIDARITY
occurs in small, homogenous societies, with shared beliefs and values known as their collective
conscience, which give them a shared sense of kinship and identity.
ORGANIC SOLIDARITY
occurs in large, diverse, complex societies, and are the result of urbanization, industrialization, capitalism,
and the division of labor
NEW KINDS OF SOLIDARITY
Transnational Solidarity- form of solidarity that refers to the ability not only of individuals, but also
of groups of people, to identify and empathize with others who are experiencing some form of
injustice, or are generally suffering through no fault of their own.
Theorized by Carol Gould in 2007
Robust Solidarity- requires 4 conditions: Joint interest Identification with the group Disposition to
empathy, Mutual trust
Theorized by Ashley Taylor in 2004

Expressional Solidarity- occurs when one or more of the previously listed conditions is
unidirectional or not mutual among the members of the solidary groups.

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