Taking the Steps: What It Takes to Build a Community
Vickie Aguayo, Writer
Group of people hanging out in a bar
A community can be defined in many ways, but for many people, it means a group of individuals who share common interests and regularly engage with one another. Having a community has been a subject in America in recent years, especially during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic, where individuals had begun to miss people, their communities, and felt the social isolation from being home all day. People are seeking connection, along with a sense of joy and purpose that being involved in a community provides, and now in times like these, having a community can play an important role in supporting individuals during challenging times.
Having a community can provide multiple benefits that improve mental and physical health and lead to a thriving social life. Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale University, spoke about the positive health benefits that are correlated to having a community like lower stress levels, reduced risk of chronic disease, and even a longer life expectancy.
“Activities like volunteering at a local shelter, mentoring someone, or even organizing community events can allow you to connect with others and give you a sense of purpose, to make sure you’re getting the biggest happiness boost, try to find prosocial activities that allow you to see the positive effect of your actions on other people,” said Dr. Santos in an article by The Guardian written in 2025.
Engaging and socializing with your community can help ease loneliness and improve mental health. It provides you with a shoulder to rely on when things may get too hard or when you need a sense of belonging. Going out of your way to help a neighbor or going to the local reading club may help with that. You may even get a sense of purpose by engaging with the community. All of these things may help with your mental health and leave you feeling happier in your life, as stated in an article by the National Alliance on Mental Health in 2019.
You may be wondering how to build a community right now. It can be hard and take time, but it can be worth it in the end.
Make the Effort to Show Up. Showing up to local events and participating in them can lead to new friends and slowly build a small community over time. It may be a little daunting to go to local events, but listen out and watch out for free events at the libraries, your colleges, city/county websites, and local attractions like the museums and parks.
Talking online. While it may not be the same, having an online community can be just as fun, as explained by Reader’s Digest’s article in 2025. There are several social sites, like Facebook and Reddit, that can help you find a local group to hang out with either online or in person. With online groups, you may have an easier time finding groups for just about anything, like birdwatching, book reading, and more!
Talk to Your Neighbors, Classmates, and Coworkers. The people around you can be your community and be lifesavers, as these are the closest people to you. Neighbors can look out for your home, notify you of unusual activity around your home, or notify you when you get your package. Classmates can help with assignments and subjects that may be hard to understand, and coworkers can help pass the long hours at work.
How do We Maintain a Community? The way to maintain a community is to take the time to build bonds with people and take the effort to maintain those connections, whether it’s by calling a long-distance friend or having a quick chat with the neighbor as you walk by each other, a community can’t be built if there are no connections for it to stand on. It may help to remember how you matter to the community, you may be offering people with help on assignments, or maybe you’re making the effort to help protect your neighbors and friends, or offering a peace of mind by inviting someone out on a coffee hangout.
Having a community can improve anybody’s life; the only thing you have to do is take the step and find it.
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