12/6 Class Discussion Notes

PD 2
 What is a community? What are some reasons people form and/or participate in communities? Is the process of forming a community intentional or natural and coincidental?
1. A group with similar ideas. They for communities to be around people who are similar. Forming a community is not intentional
2. naturally form communities but the people are intentional
3. gain a sense of belonging
4. not be lonely
5. want to make a difference
6. most ideas are better with a group
7. Ex. Gangs are intentional communities. Cultures strive to stay together
8. People join preexisting communities intentionally
9. Traditionally communities were geographic, but now people can live across the world and still be apart of a community
10. People with different ideas are necessary for a successful community
 List at least five different examples of communities. For each, explain the purpose or the focus of the community. How does being a member of that community benefit its members?
1. Geographical; working to solve area problems; community benefits(pool, local paper, police, jobs, venues, churches, roads)
2. Teams and Clubs; gather people who enjoy a common activity, social benefits, to excel
3. Ethnic ; keep a culture alive, stay with people who look like you
4. Religious; spiritual grown, church.
 Consider: Although communities exist to support and benefit an individual, how can being a member of a community produce conflict or struggle for an individual.
1. Might not agree with culture
2. Hard to adapt
3. Bad influence
4. Some communities make you conform
5. Some groups have high standards
6. Violence
 To what communities do you belong? Does your involvement in any of these communities require you to conform in any way?
1. Cyber communities; facebook, MySpace, games, blackpanet, bebo, yahoo, google,
2. School community
3. Gay community
4. Black community


PD 3
 What is a community? What are some reasons people form and/or participate in communities? Is the process of forming a community intentional or natural and coincidental?
 A group of people who share common interest, space or culture.
 Security, allowed to express beliefs without persecution, a sense of belonging, affection, unity, daily routines are established.
 Natural- it is in human nature to want to be around other people who are like them or similar. There is always a purpose of forming a community.
 Intentional- communities based on ethnicities.

 List at least five different examples of communities. For each, explain the purpose or the focus of the community. How does being a member of that community benefit its members?
Compounds (Mormon/ religion) want to isolate their beliefs. When together they are less likely to be defensive of their beliefs.
West Indian Community (ethnic/belief system) protects identities as well as culture.
Culture Communities- self advancement, help grow the community, new generations gain a new appreciation of their and other cultures
Fraternities- lifelong family
Bowie Community- very private, boring, quiet, dysfunctional. Provides privacy by surrounding forest areas. Commuter access. Center of historical landmarks and areas. Up to date library. Access to art venues. Pretty safe. Police force to pressed to get arrest. Super clean.
 Consider: although communities exist to support and benefit an individual, how can being a member of a community produce conflict or struggle for an individual.
Too much similarity would be a disadvantage.
If different beliefs are expressed there are judgments. (Gay community)
Too much isolation may lead to rebellion.
Rivalry/ sterotypes
 To what communities do you belong? Does your involvement in any of these communities require you to conform in any way?


PD 4
 What is a community? What are some reasons people form and/or participate in communities? Is the process of forming a community intentional or natural and coincidental?
Group of people that look out for each other; have a common interest; socially interconnected; they don’t have to share the same interest; sometimes based on common interest and sometimes based on geography. People form communities to have relationships w/ new people; people feel more safe; feel comfortable; interdependence; help and support; communities have connections w/ people but not intentionally; want to feel wanted; people join communities to give back; people like systems that are well-organized; human nature leads to communities.

 List at least five different examples of communities. For each, explain the purpose or the focus of the community. How does being a member of that community benefit its members?
1. Cultural community: to share your cultural values and beliefs and to preserve that culture, it helps the transitioning process from a country to another, support in general, to be passed down generations; 2. School club(chess club): so one can meet people w/ the same interests, to improve skills, to see one’s other interests

 Consider: although communities exist to support and benefit an individual, how can being a member of a community produce conflict or struggle for an individual?
Some people may have different point of views, one might gain independence, one might become narrow-minded, a minority doesn’t have power toward majority, might limit personal freedoms, become stereotyped, might become judged within your community, discrimination within the community, one can’t be lazy, internal struggles w/ situations,
 To what communities do you belong? Does your involvement in any of these communities require you to conform in any way?
Church community: requires to help out the external community(your choice), Tennis community: real accepting community, Art community: required to conform; African Association: to talk about your culture, don’t have to conform, you have to conform; NHS: have to have certain amount of hours, have to dress up; Step team: have to dislike the Flowers step team