How Attached is Your Community?

People working with children know the vital role attachment plays in child development. In the first few months of life, infants form some kind of attachment relationship with the person who is primarily responsible for their care (often a parent). We know from the science of early childhood development that early relationships and attachments to a primary caregiver are the most consistent and enduring influence on social and emotional development for young children. * Further, Infants with secure attachment relationships with their caregivers are more likely to play, explore, and interact with adults in their child care setting. **

This got us thinking...could attachment play a role in our ability as adults to attach to our communities? If children with strong attachments are more likely to play, explore and interact with others, could the same be said for adults and our relationship with communities and the groups we work with?

Well, lo and behold, there is a study to give us insight into the role attachment plays in community! Enter, Gallup and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation who conducted a study with a focus on what attaches people to their communities. They asked questions such as; what makes a community a desirable place to live? What draws people to stake their future in it? Are communities with more attached residents better off? The study found three main qualities that attach people to place:

1. social offerings, such as entertainment venues and places to meet
2. openness (how welcoming a place is)
3. the area’s aesthetics (its physical beauty and green spaces).

As community facilitators we recognize the connection between how “attached” people feel to a group (or a collaborative, organization, or community) and how engaged they are in the work. We call this constructing relevance: finding the purpose and meaning that most resonates with individuals, and with the group as a whole, so that people stay energized in their village raising work! When facilitating groups we pay special attention to the space in which formal and informal meetings occur. We do this by:

1. creating a welcoming space rich in dialogue
   
2. asking stirring questions and providing social networking opportunities that are “out of the box”.


3. adding dashes of creativity to liven the space

Perhaps this approach taps into a feeling of connection that encourages play, exploration and interaction with others! Attachment and relevance – two drivers in community building!

Village Raising Questions

How engaged are you to play, explore and interact in your community? How engaged are you in your collaborative or organization?

On a scale to 1-10, how attached are you to your community?

What might bring you a stronger sense of community attachment?

References:
*From the Zero to Three website http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/imhtestimony.pdf?docID=1286
Shonkoff, J., & Phillips, D. (Eds.). (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

** http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/ChildCareResearchBrief.pdf?docID=3542

For more on the above study see the Soul of Community website: http://www.soulofthecommunity.org/