There are many ways to get involved in the community and your involvement is important. Here are a few reasons why you should get involved in some way or another:. Those who make decisions on committees or in groups within the community will likely want to hear your ideas and feedback. Community opinions are important parts of any project and there are often good benefits that come from them. Whether you feel qualified or not, you can always give an opinion about what might need to be changed, what was done right, and where priorities might need to lay next time around.
Giving the community organizations a balanced understanding of the views in the community is important to the events and issues that come from those groups. Participants learn about the issues in-depth.
Greater knowledge allows them to see multiple sides of the problem. Citizens can practice communication and decision-making skills. Empower and integrate people from different backgrounds. Groups that feel ignored can gain greater control over their lives and their community. When people from different areas of the community work together, they often find that they have much in common. Create local networks of community members. Published by M3 Staff.
Connect With Us. Locations M3 Headquarters W. Saginaw St. Lansing, MI Some of us have learned these skills through training or work and take them for granted, but a lot of folks may not have had that sort of training and they can easily become frustrated and disappear from your organization. Some ways of helping them move past this are to hook them up with mentors in the group; to have some sort of training dealing with those issues ideally for everyone, not just them ; or to try to find a role for them that they understand is important, and that they can fulfill well while learning the other skills they need, etc.
Before trying to involve people ask yourself what obstacles could possibly inhibit participation of those affected by the problem. Remember: Examine barriers with an open mind and creatively think of ways to overcome them.
There are several ways in which to motivate others to become and remain involved. Motivation begins within the individual, so it only makes sense to focus on the uniqueness of each person. Help people to realize that what they have to offer is important and appreciated, and that by becoming involved they can benefit in ways that are significant to them.
You need to be familiar with what life is like for the groups you want to attract to work on your initiative. How do their physical, social, cultural, economic, and political environments affect their participation and your response?
By trying to imagine what it would be like to be other people, you may understand them better and have an easier time working together as a team. Every individual has unique talents, skills, cultural heritage, experiences, beliefs, and values. Because of those qualities, each person tends to learn different things from the experience of getting involved in community issues. While it is important for each person to contribute, it is equally important to recognize, appreciate, and utilize his or her strengths.
This will enable participants to see the ways in which their participation is helpful and important. In addition to recognizing the strengths of individuals, you should also recognize the strengths of a particular community. For example, if you are working to get members of the Asian-American community in your town involved, you should consider what strengths the Asian-American community possesses. How do they already organize to get things done?
They may already have effective systems in place that you can use. Political organizing may be unfamiliar to them, but you might be able to relate it to something they know and feel comfortable with--like, for example, organizing a big cultural event or church fundraiser. Individuals have different reasons for becoming involved. Those reasons often coincide with or respond to basic needs that they want to fulfill. Some of those needs include:.
If you expect people to give you support, you should reciprocate. In other words, don't expect them to support your initiative unless you're willing to support them as well. For example, if you are hoping to get the African American community more involved in your initiative, be prepared to lend your voice to their causes.
Speak out publicly against racism in your community, have your organization be visible at African American community events, and prove yourself and your organization to be an ally.
Attending an occasional rally or fundraiser may not seem relevant to your organization's purpose--but if it's relevant to the interests and concerns of the people you want to reach, then it's relevant to you. Citizens who take an active role in community issues develop skills and knowledge that they need to participate effectively. More important however, they have self-confidence.
Believing that they can make a difference leads to a willingness to participate. As you appeal to citizens for their participation, remember that each individual is a powerful resource and convey that belief to them. Even when addressing groups, recognize that groups consist of individuals who are all different despite their common bonds. A Gallup Poll showed that the main reason that has kept most people who are interested in volunteering from doing so is that nobody ever asked them!
By inviting people individually, you let them know that they aren't just faceless numbers in part of a mass appeal. When people interact on a personal level, especially between friends or neighbors, involvement appears less intimidating and distant.
You can ask people to get involved directly yourself, or you can get employers to invite their employees and co-workers, teachers to ask their students and families, friends to ask their friends, neighbors to ask their neighbors and so forth.
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