An Italian woman may become an intensely involved member of the ethnic and cultural community of her Nigerian husband. Here is the exact wording from a few schools: University of Michigan: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Community centers may provide athletic, cultural, social, and other (yoga, support groups) activities for a variety of ages. In Participant Observation. What is meant by shared identity? Government officials may have very different interpretations of the political scene than activists or other community members. You might also gain information by reading between the lines of old newspaper articles and tracking down people who were part of past conflicts or events. Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community, Section 18. Developing a Plan for Assessing Local Needs and Resources, Section 3. Determining Service Utilization, Section 14. Some things you might like to know, besides the number of people in the community: In the U.S., most of this and other demographic information is available from the U.S. Census, from state and local government websites, or from other government agencies. What kinds of problems did you solve (personally, locally, or globally)? When you're new to a community and want to be well informed before beginning your work. 1. And colleges want students who are going to be active in engaging with their community. Because, while this essay is largelyasking about your place within that community, it is a great opportunity to share more about you, and how you will most likely engage with that community (or other communities) on your future college campus. One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. ___You must understand the community's physical and geographic contexts -- the setting in which the community exists ___You must understand the community's people, culture, and web of relationships ___Explore all dimensions of the Whether or not the community is defined geographically, it still has a geographic context -- a setting that it exists in. Newspaper archives can also reveal the stories that help you understand the emotions still surrounding events and issues that don't seem current. You might also include an analysis of how the various categories interact, and how that all comes together to form the community that exists. Participant observation is a technique that anthropologists use. Chicago, IL: Planners Press, pp. Given the availability of technology, you don't have to limit yourself to any specific format. There are three supermarkets and there is a bus station next to the bank. Donate now. There are two main ways in which people develop prejudices. There is a mosque, denominations of Christianity (such as Church of England, Catholicism and catholic schools) as well as a faith building Im not too sure about. The country is now multicultural, with many languages, cultures, different food and services; it has provided a new and differently skilled work force and enhanced the economy. The County Health Rankings illustrate what we know when it comes to whats making people sick or healthy, and the new County Health Roadmaps show what we can do to create healthier places to live, learn, work and play. (250 words). She is a Christian, and is heterosexual. Their self-image, many of their attitudes, and their aspirations are often reflected in the places where they choose -- or are forced by circumstance or discrimination -- to live, work, gather, and play. This does not mean to accept or agree with those qualities or choices, it just means that you tolerate them and can live with them. In the second paragraph she mentions the value of connection. We were devastated; the pumpkin was part of our identity. 37.5C. It's especially important to get the perspective of those who often don't have a voice in community decisions and politics -- low-income people, immigrants, and others who are often kept out of the community discussion. The Neighborhood Works. Is there a good deal of office space, and is it empty or occupied? I wouldnt be surprised if some day I started my own form of quirky pumpkin growing and reap the benefit of true community. Different cultures, backgrounds, languages, age, gender and social/lifestyle choices all seen in the community in which I live all add to the diverse community in which I live, as diverse means different and varied. While researching and writing a community description can take time, your work can almost always benefit from the information you gather. Humans are made to live and work with others in a community where we can thrive. TheU.S. National Institute of Mental Healthprovides statistics and educational information for the public as well as information for researchers. pumpkin on our doorstep. For example, a certain member of my family does not agree with immigration within the country and believes that the only people who should live within the country should be the white people who are born here. All rights reserved. Geographic Information Systems: Tools for Community Mapping, Section 17. for teaching core skills. The health of a community depends on many different factors ranging from individual health behaviors, education and jobs, to quality of health care, to the environment, therefore we all have a stake in creating a healthier community. For hundreds of ideas check out RandomActsofKindness.org. On my desk, a framed picture of an Asian family beaming their smiles, buried among US history textbooks and The Great Gatsby. TheInstitute of Medicineadvances scientific knowledge to improve health and provides information and advice concerning health policy. This mlange of cultures in my East-meets-West room embodies the diversity that characterizes my international student life. In order to set some goals related to building relationships between cultures, resolving differences, or building a diverse coalition, it helps to have a vision of the kind of cultural community you hope for. A sense of community may, indeed, lead you to act in certain ways to advance a cause, donate your time, or exert your energies to meet the needs of your community. An example of where stereotyping had a negative effect on a group is Blacks were actively discriminated against and held out of certain places ND activities. On the Common Application, a number of colleges have begun to require that students respond to a supplemental essay question that sounds something like this: Tell us a bit more about a community you are a part of. (If the community isn't defined by geography, note and observe the areas where its members live, work, and gather.) Because you live there, you are a part of the community. Whether you connect with the people around you is a . I was raised in The Pumpkin House. Every Autumn, on the lawn between the sidewalk and the road, grows our pumpkin. Getting a feel for the attitudes and opinions of the community when you're starting work on an initiative. Spradley, J. P. (1980). That something may be religion, culture, government or any combination of the three. 16. These reports can help community leaders see that our environment influences how healthy we are and how long we live, and even what parts of our environment are most influential. Volunteer. The community's physical characteristics. (Biking, or in some cases even walking, is difficult in San Francisco, for example, because of the length and steepness of the hills.) If privacy keeps you from opening up, well, describe A community. I belong to a community of storytellers. Not sure? County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Make an appointment to talk to one or more local government officials. The team worked in the drizzling rain on a Saturday in February, fuelled by cakes and sausage rolls, to transform the small field in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, into, what will be known as, Jubilee . Registration number: 419361 The Small Town. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the principal agency for protecting the health of U.S. citizens, is comprised of 12 agencies that provide information on their specific domains, such as theAdministration on Aging. The community is a street where people play football, sing song together, or invite in a pool party. Community bylaws and regulations are often available at the public library. Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; Why? For me, culture is a country or a place that has its own beliefs, a way of life, etc. Once youve completed that exercise for several of the communities you are a part of, you might start to see one community seems to be the most obvious one to write about. 1430 N Street (Lobby Drop-Off Box) Sacramento, CA 95814. On the wall in the far back, a Korean flag hangs besides a Led Zeppelin poster. This may be the most difficult aspect of the community to understand, since it incorporates most of the others we've discussed, and is usually unspoken. Imagination ran wild, characters came to life, and I became acquainted with heroes and lessons that continue to inspire me today. Growing up, the pumpkin challenged me as I wasnt always comfortable being the center of attention. This is a newly constructed and renovated space, that houses a boutique hotel, restaurant, and creamery. There are many activities specialized for the different ages, there are mother and baby/toddler groups (which there are many babies and toddlers within the community), there are many schools, after school clubs and social groups for children (although their doesnt seem as many children of school age). Depending on your needs and information, this description might be anything from a two-or three-page outline to an in-depth portrait of the community that extends to tens of pages and includes charts, graphs, photographs, and other elements. Having enough familiarity with the community to allow you to converse intelligently with residents about community issues, personalities and geography. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, pp.167-196. 4. Sustainable Measuresprovides a searchable database of indicators by broad topics (health, housing) and keywords (AIDS, access to care, birth weight, etc.) Chicago, IL: Center for Neighborhood Technology, pp. Sixteen training modules It's a subjective exercise, as everyone will have different priorities . Most have a geographic area or areas they are either defined by or attached to. People use their own prejudice to create these labels and they may not be based on the truth. Also important are how various areas of the community differ from one another, and whether your impression is one of clean, well-maintained houses and streets, or one of shabbiness, dirt, and neglect. 100%. This annual ritual became well known in the community and became the defining feature of our already quirky house. Shopping. I would not consider myself as being very religious however; being a part of the Church of England it is important to me to live by the guidelines of the church. Interactions between different species in a community are called interspecific interactions inter- means "between." Different types of interspecific interactions have different effects on the two . It's fairly easy to notice if one huge industrial plant dominates a community, for example, or if every third building appears to be a construction company. The Rankings & Roadmaps show us what is making residents sick, where we need to improve, and what steps communities are taking to solve their problems. Qualitative Methods to Assess Community Issues, Section 16. Another idea: Its also possible to combine the narrative and montage structures by describing a challenge WHILE also describing a range of values and lessons. You need a bunch of people who are alike in some way, who feel some sense of belonging or interpersonal connection. Those who live in traditional neighborhoods, with a combination of residential and accessible commercial areas, do the most walking. squeegee available to scrape the water down at the end. Reexamining the community -- or perhaps examining it carefully for the first time -- can infuse an organization with new ideas and new purpose. Here, we'll simply list them, with short explanations and links to sections where you can get more information about each. I am from Birmingham and England and I share identities with other Christians, people in the same geographic locations and members of the IAMB. When people learn to appreciate diversity it develops a greater understanding and respect for peoples differences. You. Roads and bridges may be impassable at certain (or most) times of year, phone service and TV reception nonexistent, Internet access a distant dream. Otherwise, the Montage Structure works well. Advertisement Clearly, that pumpkin enriched our life and the entire neighborhoods. My street is a thoroughfare for walkers, dog walking, bicycles and skateboards. Knowing the context of the community so that you can tailor interventions and programs to its norms and culture, and increase your chances of success. For example, if people are divided and angry about a particular issue, your information might show you an event in the community's history that explains their strong emotions on that subject. How? For example there a recolourful paintings on the walls which were painted by some hippie community. If this all sounds a lot like investigative reporting, that's because it is. These might be both facilities for the direct use of the public -- community pools and athletic fields, for example -- or stadiums and arena where school, college, or professional teams play as entertainment. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill. 23K views, 573 likes, 95 loves, 386 comments, 82 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Lohnunternehmen Markus Wipperfrth: Lohnunternehmen Markus Wipperfrth was live. People also have the desire to fit in and will act in accordance to that. At its core, the counter model also shows that the music industry can still be a vehicle for tangible good in the world, including better treatment of . That can make both a community assessment and any actions and activities that result from it easier to conduct. First to Review. Good, bad, and the ugly. Pamphlets of American colleges scattered on the floor. Explain how the variations in question 2 contribute to the diversity of the community. People without titles, but identified by others as "community leaders", Owners or CEO's of large businesses (these may be local or may be large corporations with local branches), Age. Studying the physical layout of the community will serve you not only as information, but as a guide for finding your way around, knowing what people are talking about when they refer to various areas and neighborhoods, and gaining a sense of the living conditions of any populations you're concerned with. A community is a group of people who live in the same general area. For example, there are now many healthcare professionals such as doctors whom have studied and worked in different countries and gained valuable experience with what would be rare illnesses or infections within the UK due to the Auks quite high standards of living compared to that within some of other countries. 20 photos. The topic is unique to the writer and not something that many - if any - other applicants would be able to write about. A community description can be as creative as you're capable of making it. (1979). Many people think of rural communities as farmland. If you're new to the community, or an outsider, however, it's a different story. An example of this could be, a homosexual male student aged 19 goes to university in Birmingham but is from Manchester. A communitys spiritual beliefs, how it expresses those beliefs and what aspects of the practice bring members of the faith together are good descriptors. He is a colleague to his work mates, a keen Southampton supported and a truck spotter. How has it shaped your perspective? Angelina Jolie was born on June 4 1975 in California Los-Angeles. 1070 Words 5 Pages Decent Essays Read More That exercise asks: What did you actually do in that community? It could be both positive and negative and may not be the truth. In the local community there are people of both genders and of all ages. This is also true of the views of families, friends or peer groups teaching young people or influencing people into having the same views as them. ___A community can be any group sharing something in common What do we mean by understanding and describing the community? I would describe community living as residing in an area in which neighbors know and interact with each other. Create a communities chart by listing all the communities youre a part of. Being able to share information with other organizations or coalitions that work in the community so that you can collaborate or so that everyone's work can benefit. In the built environment, some things to pay attention to are: This is a topic that is ripe for examination. The media shows Islamic people as terrorists by showing only the examples of this in the media and scaring the public into believing it. Ive learned to accept my ambiguity as diversity, as a third-culture student embracing both identities. It is evident that my partner has many identities and may act different for each of the identities with different people. Rural Rural communities are placed where the houses are spread very far apart. There are many ways that stereotyping and labeling can have damaging effects on people. The newspaper is an enormous reservoir of both direct and between-the-lines information. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. 1. What will you describe as community living, and how impactful has it been to you? Does the lay of the land make it difficult to get from one part of the community to another? Tools for taking stock.