Small Things You Did Today to Build Community

This thread is a place to share actions you take to build community. This could be your local community or community in a broader sense - after all, we’re all part of an amazing online community :heart:

As well as the non-financial benefits of building stronger communities, there are many financial benefits to building social capital too.

14 Likes

Today and the past few days:

  • Offered some free items (unwanted Christmas gifts, mostly) on my street’s small FB group before posting them to Buy Nothing. Neighbours down the block wanted a few things for their kids, so now there’s another point of connection with that family :slight_smile:
  • Brought surplus vege and herb seeds into work, to share with some colleagues who are planting out new gardens and expressed an interest in sharing seeds.
  • Helped a friend with some information on how to access certain medical care, for a relative who needs it.
5 Likes

Likelikelike

2 Likes

I had friend over for a legacy game. Made arrangements to have a running buddy.

6 Likes

Today we use our local library and shops. We also recently switched to a local daycare with the intention of knowing more local people.

Duckling drags us to see the neighbour weekly to pat their dog.

I’m hoping to add some more direct community actions soon :slight_smile:

9 Likes

I bought a coin purse from a couple kids having a small sidewalk sale. I remember having lemonade stands and sidewalk sales as a kid and getting very excited when someone stopped and bought something. And I had fun chatting with the kids for a minute and hearing them celebrate their sale. I’ll use the coin purse for my laundry quarters.

10 Likes

Oooh I love this! Last night I made zucchini bread and took some over to some neighbors who we miss and haven’t seen in awhile and who have had a lot of hard things happening. And we have plans to actually hang out next weekend!

6 Likes

Love this thread idea! Today I talked to a friend on the phone :slight_smile:

5 Likes

I actually introduced myself to another parent at the new daycare! Next up for today is doing an ask on Buy Nothing - I’ve only done offers so far!

8 Likes

I was feeling down so I reached out in a passive way on FB, and a whole heap of people responded in a way that buoyed my spirits :heart:

8 Likes

Going to lend a friend a power tool, so that they don’t have to buy something they’ll only rarely use.

4 Likes

Turned a request for advice into an in-person lunch date, which will improve the relationship :smiley:

7 Likes

I went to a social dance and asked 5 or 6 people to dance. I also taught a complete beginner some basic steps.

I created a personal development accountability group.

I started the process to be more involved in a political volunteer group.

Yesterday I invited two new people to a party. I also went dancing with a few friends and met new people in the scene.

6 Likes

Thanks for the thread!

We went to the local library this morning.

3 Likes

I wrote a Letter to the Editor of a local paper regarding the abysmal decision of one of the close school districts to all but eliminate sex education in their schools.

I worked with leadership within my local Planned Parenthood Action Council to make sure that my letter was on message as we gear up for the next legislative session.

For all the awesome things about my state, sex ed still isn’t mandatory. As a product of their education system, I had to learn shit the hard way by seeking everything out on my own. Our young folks deserve better than that. While teenage pregnancy is at an all-time low, rates of newly contracted STIs are on the rise, and most of them are being acquired by young people. The quality of the education is to blame.

7 Likes

I love this thread!

On Saturday the wiggler was the only kid at the library, so we made a point of saying hi to the library workers.

I recently joined a Facebook group about supporting local parks and historic areas, and signed a petition that was posted there to make donations by builders to the government illegal (over-development is a huge issue in my county and has been a significant contributor to two massive floods that received national coverage).

8 Likes

I 'm starting a book group with people from my choir (plus hangers-on) :smiley:

9 Likes

This is just a first step, but I got in contact with someone at my local library in order to start volunteering there!

6 Likes

Signed up to do Trailwork Thursday morning in the park where I usually run trails!

Meeting up this evening with friends at the game cafe near my work. I don’t know if hanging out with friends should count as community building, but it’s friends I really don’t see enough off facebook, and a combination of people I don’t see together.

6 Likes

I reached out to classmates to watch a movie assignment together.

6 Likes