TYPOLOGIES OF COMMUNITIES

1. distinguish between formal and

informal types of communities;
2. make a community map of a rural
and urban community; and
3. explain local and global communities
and their relationship.
Vocabulary:
Formal Community- characterized by institutionally structured hierarchies, which define the
relationship between authoritative and subordinate actors and groups.
Global Community- characterized by integration and interaction between individuals and
groups away from each other in time or space or both.
Informal Community- seen to typically operate through socio-cultural mechanisms within
the community structures.
Local Community- characterized by close social integration and physical proximity.
Moreover, it is defined as a group of people sharing the same environment and conditions
such as intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs and risks.
Rural Community- characterized as pastoral, agricultural, and located along the periphery
of urban centers or in the countryside.
Typology- a classification according to general type. This refers to the types of community.
Urban Community- described as industrialized and commercial centers where population
density is relatively high compared to rural communities.
 Formal and Informal Communities
An example of a formal community is a
business firm, where people are assigned
positions based on their job descriptions
and functions. One example of an informal
organization is a group of zumba fanatics
who meet once a week at the city park.
Formal vs Informal Communities
Social Space is defined as a physical
or virtual space which members of
the community visit or where they
stay. Some examples of social space
include the social center, online social
media, or other gathering spaces
where people gather or interact.
Some social spaces are owned by
the government, such as town
squares, parks, and beaches.
These are spaces generally open
and accessible to people.
 Private social spaces, on the other
hand, are owned and regulated
regularly, such as shopping malls.
These social spaces may be used
by community residents for their
gatherings or simple recreation
activities.
Formal Community
Private Space
Informal Community
Public Space
Informal Community
Public Space
Formal Community
Private Space
Sectors in Different Communities
Community sectors are various groups or
subdivisions of the larger community
divided based on characteristics such as
political, economic, cultural, and religious
beliefs.
1. Health
-medical and mental health professionals;
pharmacists; hospitals and other in-
patient facilities, clinics, non-traditional
health practitioners; public health
agencies and systems
2. Education
- public and private preschools, K-12
schools, colleges and universities,
school committees, school
administrators, teachers, other
educational institution employees;
parents, students, state board of
education
3. Law Enforcement
-the local and state police, the
court system- judges, probation
officers, prosecutors, court-
appointed defense lawyers, court-
mandated program for offenders
4. Government
- regional, provincial, state,
local, and tribal government
bureaucracies, agencies, and
officials, both elected and
appointed.
5. Business –
from the self-employed
individual to the
multinational corporation
with a local facility.
6. Youth
- youth themselves (generally viewed as
ages 18 and younger) and those who work
directly with them (youth violence prevention
and outreach programs, Big Brother/Big
Sister, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, scouting, etc.)
parents, human service, culture, and
sports/recreation sectors.
7. The Media
- newspapers and magazines,
radio, and TV, vast array of blogs,
videos, online news, and
other materials available on the
internet.
8. Human Services
- non-profit professional and volunteer
organizations that provide free and
affordable services such as job training,
food, shelter, elder services, services for
individuals with
physical or mental disabilities, support and
advocacy for immigrants, among others.
9. Religion
- places of worship and their members,
religious organizations (e.g. Knights of
Columbus, Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines) of all faiths, may
include the hierarchy of a national
church as well (Roman Catholic
archbishop)
10. Service/Fraternal Organization
- the Masons, Rotary, Kiwanis, and
other local and national or
international service organizations,
college fraternities/sororities or other
local and national social clubs, as well
veterans’ organizations and the like.
11. Housing Development
- both public and private non-profit
housing agencies and organizations that
provide rent subsidies and/or affordable
housing, as well as developers who build
market-rate and upscale residential and
commercial properties.
12. Sports and Recreation
- sports clubs, town or county recreation
departments, amateur and professional
athletic associations, public and private
sports and recreation facilities, gyms,
coaches, personal trainers, recreation
leaders, and camp directors, as well those
who participate in these groups as athletes,
spectators, or supporters.
13. The Environment
- individual environmentalists, international,
national, and local environmental organizations,
conservation land trusts, recreational hunters and
fishermen, rock climbers and mountaineers,
wildlife biologists and botanists, ecologists,
hikers, canoers/kayakers, and other outdoor
people, hydrologists (water specialists), those
who make a living from a pristine or carefully-
managed environment
14. Agriculture
- confined to rural areas, may also include dairy
farmers, cheesemakers, winemakers and
vineyards, and food processors and packers,
including all consumers of the food produced.
 Local and
Global
Communities
A 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
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 community may
consist of business operators, public
agency staff, residents with interactions
that may include sharing of resources,
information, and assistance.
Commercial relationships may also be
present between local businesses and
consumers
The global community, on the other
hand, is a system characterized by
integration and interaction between
individuals and groups away from
each other in time or space or
both.
The word “global” refers to the nation
of the world considered closely
connected by modern
telecommunication, though they are
economically, socially and politically
independent (Sebastian, 2009, and
dictionary.com)
The domains and certain aspects of
the local and global communities
intertwine. Establishments, programs,
and other events that started in the
local setup may eventually grow to
have a global presence, such as the
Jollibee fast food chain.
Proposed plans and programs in the
local community, when implemented
successfully, may reach the global
community, and gain traction there as
well such as outreach activities,
programs during calamities etc.