Community Purpose

Understanding why communities exist and why they matter.

Communities Exist To Help People Flourish

Roads. Parks. Schools. Organizations. Businesses. Government. These are not the purpose of a community. They are tools that help people build meaningful lives together.

Quick Summary

Communities exist because people accomplish more together than they can alone. A healthy community creates opportunities for learning, belonging, service, stewardship, safety, prosperity, and hope.

Communities Provide...

  • Connection
  • Belonging
  • Safety
  • Learning
  • Opportunity
  • Support
  • Shared Identity
  • Stewardship

Communities Grow Through...

Community Asset Why It Matters
Trust Builds cooperation.
Knowledge Improves decisions.
Participation Creates ownership.
Leadership Provides direction.
Stewardship Protects the future.
Learning Encourages continuous improvement.

Communities Are Living Systems

Communities are never finished. They continually learn, adapt, grow, welcome new people, remember their history, and prepare for the future.

The CivicWorks Perspective

CivicWorks exists to strengthen one of a community's greatest assets: its ability to learn together. Everything else— knowledge, collaboration, projects, organizations, technology, and stewardship— supports that purpose.

CivicWorks Principle

Communities flourish when people learn together, serve together, and build together.