ELECTIVE 1

Ms. Veronica B. Borlongan

Week 1
The Importance of Understanding Community Dynamics
and Community Action

“There is nothing
permanent except
change”
• Have you ever asked what your role is in the grand scheme that
we call society?

• Do you ever feel small to a point that you question your value to
the social environment you are in?

• Have you been curious to know how your current decisions would
affect your personal future and future of your family members or
even the world around you?

• Look no further in exploring the depths of understanding of this

matter and peer into the very institutions that surround us and we
ourselves are part of, our own communities.
 The Living Commune

The word community in its literal form is defined by two

characteristics: location and social identification.

First, a community can be defined simply as a group of

individuals bound within specific geographic location. It means
that a group of people living in a specific area can already be
called a community.

The second definition surmises that a community is an example

of a collective that identifies common traits, goals, or customs. It
can be argued that communities bind individuals into a collective
whole.
 The Basic of a Community
When we think of a community, we think of how people come
together to form a singular faction. We see it as a structure that is
made up of individuals bound by something abstract and
unforeseen. It is not as simple as such, as the community is bound
because of self-help.

The concept of self-help is about how individuals seeks personal

development without the help of others. However. Self – help
defines a community once each individual wants and needs
intersect, therefore justifying a need to unify. It is assumed that
people are bound to seek self-help in their own lives, and in their
journey, find common avenues for cooperation and partnership
among others and therefore lay the foundations for capacity-
building.
 The Community as a Movement
A community is more than just a collective. It acts much like a living
entity that takes on life. Living within the imaginations of its
members,
A community also embodies a perspective, identity, strand, and,
much like a social movement.

The main differences between both is social movements its exits

primarily of a cause the manifest either as a reaction to an event or
as preexisting popular expression among the community members,
while a community is bound not just by one issue or narrative but on
abundance of compromises ore agreement that are commonly
accepted and continually reinforced. To put it simply, a social
movement is more issue-specific and may exist primarily for its own
ecosystem.
 Community Dynamics and Community Action

A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with

commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or
identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a
given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, town, or
neighbourhood)

• Community Dynamics is the change and development involved in

a community that includes all forms of living organisms. 

• Community Action is putting communities as the center of the

services development and services delivery. This initiative aims to
cater the primary needs of the communities before implementing
it.
 The Community Dynamics data gives valuable insight into
how people feel about the place they live in and can shape
decisions about which services are offered in particular
neighbourhoods.

Community action is any activity that increases the

understanding, engagement and empowerment
of communities in the design and delivery of local
services. Community action includes a broad range of activities
and is sometimes described as 'social action' or
'community engagement'.
 Types of Community Engagement

• Community Building. Projects that intentionally bring people together

to simply get to know one another.
• Community Education.
• Community Organizing.
• Deliberative Dialogue.
• Economic Development.
• Engaged Research.
• Institutional Engagement.
 TYPES OF COMMUNITIES

•RURAL
•URBAN
•SUBURBAN
 RURAL

•Rural communities are placed where the houses are spread very far apart.
• Many people think of rural communities as farmland.
- This is because, in most rural communities, people have quite a bit of property,
and they can have many plants and animals on their property. Rural communities still
have towns, but they are generally smaller and don’t have as many buildings or
workplaces.
• In a rural community, you will also be able to do more with your land.
• People who live in rural communities also need to think about schools and their
distance to travel to get there.
• If you purchase a home that you plan on selling in a few years, make sure you
consider who else may want to live there.
• A rural community will be a good choice for you if you like wide open spaces, lots of
nature, and no neighbors peering in your windows
Rural Area
Urban community
• Urban communities usually have access to all the latest and greatest
things.
• They have lots of resources for large numbers of people, and they
have lots of housing options. Most of the time, the urban housing
options are going to be more like apartments and high-rise buildings as
opposed to large ranches with lots of land.
• If you like night life, things to do, and higher-paying jobs, the urban
areas are a great place to consider.
• Since there are more people, there are usually large companies and
access to better jobs for people.
• When it comes to schooling choices, urban areas also have lots of
different school options for both private and public education. You may
even find some colleges that are located inside urban areas.Many
people will have cars, but some will use public transportation or even
walk to get the necessary things.
• Sometimes cities are going to be expensive to live in because of the
convenience they offer as well as their access to good jobs.
• People are starting to learn how to make urban areas more nature
friendly, and you may even see some rooftop gardens in certain
buildings.
Urban Area
Suburban Community

• The suburban areas are the mix of the urban and rural. With a
suburban area, you are going to get many of the same
conveniences a city has.
• You will also get room to spread out and move around as well as
a bit of nature.
• Many communities across the world are built in suburban areas.
• This allows people to travel into the city if they need to for work
and then return to the suburbs at night and on the weekends.
• In the suburbs, you usually see quieter streets with houses lining
them. There are parks, lots of schools, and generally some small
towns as well.
• The towns are mostly small Main Streets with some shops,
restaurants, and businesses. The houses are located outside of the
town area.
• The suburban area is probably the most popular area for families
to live because it gives the best of both worlds.
 Difference Between Town, Village, and City?

• A village is an area where people have started to settle. A village is usually a small
area with a limited number of houses, schools, and businesses.

• Towns are areas which may contain a few villages. Towns are still smaller than
cities, and they are still going to have more of a suburban type lifestyle than an urban
lifestyle. When you combine a bunch of towns and create one centralized location
with lots of people, places to live, and business, you will find a city.

• Cities are busy, and there is usually a lot of noise and traffic as well. Although a
village can get busy at times during an event, it won’t be the same as living in a city.
For instance, a village about an hour from New York City which has a
main street with ten restaurants, several small businesses, and a few
shops and stores won’t compare to New York City itself.
The villages and towns tend to have a slightly slower pace of life and
allow for a little more space between people and buildings as well.
Do you have any question?

Good bye and Have a nice day!