Community Building

When your work is inextricable from your identity, your community, and your own liberation, you need a unique praxis of care to sustain it—and for mission-driven activists, organizers, and changemakers working under oppressive systems, making space to center vital needs like rest, self-care, and healthy boundaries isn’t as simple as clocking out. Practicing Liberation reorients collective justice work toward a model that transforms the effects of injustice, harm, and oppressive systems into resilience, joy, and community care.

The role of organized religion in our society is undergoing monumental changes. Church attendance is decreasing at unprecedented rates. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Clearly, the need for religion remains as strong as ever, yet more and more, people are seeking spirituality elsewhere. Why? What accounts for these trends? Can organized religion still play a valuable role in today’s world?

The role of organized religion in our society is undergoing monumental changes. Church attendance is decreasing at unprecedented rates. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Clearly, the need for religion remains as strong as ever, yet more and more, people are seeking spirituality elsewhere. Why? What accounts for these trends? Can organized religion still play a valuable role in today’s world?

Despite our deep desire to feel a sense of belonging, many of us feel isolated. The rise of technology and modern workplace practices have led people to be even more disconnected, even as we remain constantly contactable. And as our human interactions have decreased, so too have our happiness levels. This is sparking a crisis in mental health that will have repercussions for years, leaving people lonelier and organizations less productive and profitable, too.

On the day after the Orlando nightclub shooting, James Martin SJ posted a video on Facebook in which he called for solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters. "The largest mass shooting in US history took place at a gay club, and the LGBT community has been profoundly affected," he began. He then implored his fellow Catholics - and people everywhere - to "stand not only with the people of Orlando but also with their LGBT brothers and sisters."

The NFT marketplace has become so popular that the average NFT now sells for $3,257, according to NonFungible.com. In fact, the most expensive NFT picked up $91.8 million in 2021. But it’s not only the ease of selling attracting artists to NFTs. Or even the total control they have over their earnings.

Bill Willits and best-selling author Andy Stanley share their successful approach, which has resulted in nearly 8,000 adults becoming involved in small groups at North Point Community Church in Atlanta . Simply put, the five principles clearly described here have passed the test. This is not just another book about community; this is a book about strategy - strategy that builds a small group culture.

The Working Centre in the downtown core of Kitchener, Ontario, is a widely recognized and successful model for community development. Begun from scratch in 1982, it is now a vast network of practical supports for the unemployed, the underemployed, the temporarily employed and the homeless, populations that collectively constitute up to 30 percent of the labour market both locally and across North America. Transition to Common Work is the essential text about The Working Centre.

In Building Community Food Webs, Ken Meter shows how grassroots food and farming leaders across the US are tackling these challenges by constructing civic networks. Overturning extractive economic structures, these inspired leaders are engaging low-income residents, farmers, and local organizations in their quest to build stronger communities.

Social isolation can shatter our confidence. In isolating times, we're not only lonely, but we're ashamed of our loneliness because our society stigmatizes people who are alone without support. As a single, 58-year-old woman who finds herself stranded after major surgery, Val Walker has woven into the narrative her own story. A well-established rehabilitation counselor, she was too embarrassed to reveal on social media how utterly isolated she was by asking for someone to help, and it felt agonizingly awkward calling colleagues out of the blue.

This book is perfect for anyone who eats and wants to understand what it takes to produce healthy food. Through new ideas and a different perspective, Marty shares a winning formula for success in modern family farming. Written by the owner of the Spence Farm featured in the documentary, Sustainable, this book provides listeners with the necessary steps an owner-operator must take to set up their family farm for long-term success.

Over 30 years, Burning Man has gone from two families on a San Francisco beach to a global movement in which hundreds of thousands of people around the world create events on every continent. It has been the subject of fawning media profiles, an exhibit in the Smithsonian, and is beloved by tech billionaires and boho counterculturalists alike. But why does it matter? What does it actually have to offer us? The answer, Caveat Magister writes, is simple: Burning Man's philosophy can help us build better communities.

Nick Mehta and Robin Van Lieshout deliver an actionable playbook on how to cultivate meaningful communities that fuel quantifiable business growth. In the book, you'll learn how to capitalize on this new growth strategy to scale your company and develop excitement around your products and your firm. The authors outline the ten foundational Laws of Community, explaining why community development does not need to be expensive and how to integrate community in the heart of your customer journey.

No one is a stranger to loneliness. Despite how social we are via text, chat, and notifications, we are far from being truly connected. We all want someone else to really see us and choose us for who we are. We want a place to finally fit in. But what if finding the right people or the right place is not the answer? From her community-building background, Sarah E. Westfall takes our longing to belong as an invitation to embrace and extend the deep love of God.

Explore the transformative journey of embracing compassion and authenticity in the workplace with Better Places. Robert Rasmussen, Founder and CEO of Agile Six, brings his vision of what a business community can aspire to become. Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Ahimsa, or nonviolence, this heartfelt narrative moves beyond the zero-sum game of winners and losers to reveal the profound impact of our words and actions on the world around us.

One thing that makes Facebook marketing different from other forms of marketing is that it enables you to build your business while also creating relationships with loyal fans in the process. Facebook marketing makes it possible for a business to grow from a very small one to an established brand with enhanced visibility and awareness across social media platforms.

Within this essential volume, leading social media expert Michael Malone explains the key approaches and philosophy that form the backbone of virtually every effective social media implementation regardless of platforms used, whether Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or other combined options. Citing real-world strategies adopted by such diverse brands as WoodenBoat magazine and the Grateful Dead, Malone lays out fundamental guidelines without which no attempt at social media outreach will succeed.

In a world that often feels more connected yet increasingly isolated, true friendships can feel hard to find. Mastering Friendship is your guide to cultivating meaningful connections and creating the tribe that lifts you up. Whether you're looking to build new friendships, strengthen existing ones, or shift your mindset to embrace connection, this book gives you the practical tools and insights to make it happen.

In Mastering Community Association Management, seasoned expert Rita Khan delivers an essential guide for anyone involved in community associations—whether you're a board member, a property manager, or a homeowner. This comprehensive manual covers all facets of community association management, from understanding governance and the required frameworks to building strong partnerships with boards, managing vendor relationships, and fostering vibrant communities.

Emerging generations in the West are more diverse than ever—ethnically, socioeconomically, educationally, and politically. And as church attendance among younger generations declines rapidly, research shows that one of their primary sticking points is the lack of diversity in most churches. In Church for Everyone, pastors Dan Kreiss and Efrem Smith address this phenomenon head-on. In this research-based and theologically informed book, they explore the younger generations' expectations and disappointments with church and hold out a vision for true diversity taken from the pages of Scripture.