The Why and What of Community

Before you build a community ask yourself these questions

The textbook definition of community is “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.”[1] Another useful explanation for defining a community that I often relied upon is:

A group of people with a common interest and shared values.

Given these definitions, what makes your community distinct? What is that common thread that brings people together? Once you bring people together, how do you ensure the community remains healthy and grows? To figure out your community, you need to answer four simple questions: what, who, why, and how?

Normally, you would think to start with “why.” After all, that is what well-known speakers like Simon Sinek talk about.[2] In general, this is true, which I will share the importance of why later on. In my experience though, most communities start with a mini-”why” seeking a “what.”

Community organizers often begin their journey thinking, “I wish there was a group that did ‘this thing’ I am interested in.” There is always some reason, or spark, that gets the idea going. It may not eventually be the big “why” that helps launch the community, but it is enough of a question or pain in the neck that it nudges the process along to finding the “what.”