Building Community: A Personal Journey in Human Services

In Kenya, I always have a special place to visit my ‘In-Loves‘ in the western region. They have had their village homestead for decades, cultivating crops like tea and bananas on their small working farm. It’s the perfect spot to spend our twilight years—a personalized haven of comfort where the locals know the family well. My In-Loves continue to show love and hospitality every time we visit. We’ve even held major soccer tournaments there, scouting goalies and players.

My family, including my 'in-loves,' on a visit to Wamage Village in Western Kenya

The Essence of Community-Building

But what does this mean for community-building?

In a place where everyone knows you, relationships come with history—both comforting and constraining. Reputations precede you, support is automatic, but change can be slow. When my father-in-love passed, the whole community attended the funeral. At least, that’s what it looked like from the drone views. The community even held a soccer match in his name, the Manasseh Cup. Strong communities don’t just happen overnight; they take time to grow into something beautiful.

As transplants from another city, we arrived on the west side of Cincinnati as a blank slate, free to redefine ourselves. Yet, we worked hard to earn trust. Newcomers bring fresh ideas, but integration takes time. Someone once said, “I know the pain of not being Catholic and living on the Westside.” As a community builder at heart, I absolutely love seeing all communities with positive affiliations and missions flourish.

My Journey in Community Building

Working at Starfire as a senior community builder opened my eyes to how socially isolated and fragmented our society can be. I spent years flexing my community engagement muscle. I was encouraged to prototype designs for community projects, learning from missteps along the way. The support was person-centered, not systems-centered. We spent a lot of time figuring out how individuals wanted to show up in their communities—ways that would also be valuable to neighbors and other ordinary, shiny neighbors. I still find myself participating in Starfire’s Curiosities community, which meets once a month. It serves as a sort of "brain balm" (thanks, Pam Whitely, for this term) for the service delivery diaspora most participants are entrenched in.

Starfire recently powered an annual community event I co-hosted in my neighborhood along with Community Matters, a place-based organization focused on resident-led projects. This year's Brunch & Art continued to empower neighbors to sell their wares, cook side dishes and desserts, and serve meals. We even included an after-party this year! Fellow collective founder and artist Kachelle Davis, along with Alicia Hildebrand, Julia Bean, and I, were at the planning table with Jenna Hippensteel from Community Matters. We discussed what kind of event we wanted to have and how our neighbors would play a central role.

Having worked in the human services field for over 25 years, I know that the term “inclusive” can mean different things to different people. So, let me clarify. The event intentionally and authentically included a person with an intellectual/developmental disability at every aspect—from conceptualizing and planning to implementing. This individual held prominent and valued social roles as a community leader, artist, and co-founder of the collective.

Celebrating Community Through Art

The day was beautiful. It brought people from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds together for one purpose: to celebrate community through fun and artful activities. We also celebrated the collective for another year. That day reinforced the idea that everyone has a place and belongs.

Co-Founder of the Artists Collective, Kachelle, signs her t-shirt for a customer.

This event showcased my belief in curating welcoming, inviting, and hospitable places where everyone is on the same playing field. It allows us to introduce our neighbors to one another, creating a larger, woven community. In this space, people no longer fear those they don’t know because barriers come down across several points of connection. Neighbors worked side by side, preparing and cooking food, serving meals and healthy fare, showcasing their wares, pouring fresh roasted Ethiopian coffee, leading art projects, and walking alongside one another on a tour of a local business. It was an authentic sense of belonging without labels to define or otherize anyone.

Dianne McIntyre's modern dance choreography

According to world-renowned modern dance choreographer Dianne McIntyre, “What we know home to mean may change over the course of our lives, especially if most of our formidable years took shape when we left our home of origin.” Although she is from Cleveland, Ohio, Dianne spent most of her professional years in New York City. “I can’t recall when I was growing up whether I knew I would stay or leave.”

When it comes to community building, we find new friends and acquaintances by exploring our interests, skills, hobbies, and talents. That’s why I believe it’s best to learn and cultivate what you are truly passionate about. Then, find your community around those things. You will find “your people,” and “your people” will find you.

Reflecting on Community

Building a community is not just about gathering people; it's about creating a space where everyone feels valued and included. It’s about fostering connections that transcend differences and celebrating the unique contributions each person brings.

Questions for Discussion

1. Can a person truly belong to more than one place? How do we carry our roots with us when we leave?

2. What responsibilities do established communities have toward newcomers, and vice versa?

   
   

As we reflect on these questions, let’s remember that community is a living, breathing entity. It evolves, grows, and sometimes even faces challenges. But through love, understanding, and collaboration, we can build communities that thrive and support everyone.

In the end, it’s about creating spaces where we can all belong, learn, and grow together.