Community is such an important thing for so many people. Having people who have your back and support you through different situations can help improve your mood, boost your mental health, and benefit you in so many ways. It also feels good to give back to the community where you live and feel proud to be an active member of your little corner of the world.
There are so many different ways you can get more involved with your community. Take advantage of social opportunities or look for the chance to volunteer more. When you take the initiative to get involved, you’ll start to grow your circle and see the impact you’re making in a bigger way. It seems to be a common theme that when you give back to the community, you’ll get a lot back in return. Here are a few ways and simple suggestions to help you get involved and find that community right in your backyard.
Find a profession that helps the people around you.
There’s a great way to get involved in your community with your specific profession. Take your background and history and search for ways to incorporate that into a job that impacts your community. A great example of this is with the Ontario Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Malliha Wilson. She has a background as a lawyer with a great interest in human rights. She has taken her law degree and found ways to include that experience as she helps people in her community. From ruling on notable cases to serving in the local government, she has a ton of great experience and opportunity to help the people around her.
Start taking classes or joining social groups.
So many people are looking for community and different groups of people to befriend during their lifetimes. You can find great ways to get involved in the community by taking a new class or joining a social group. There are activities and communities for practically every form of entertainment and every type of hobby. Maybe you can get a group together to try recipe-sharing apps and enjoy great food. Get together once every few weeks to cook and try new things. This can become a consistent support system in your life and an excuse for you to continue learning new things every day.
Volunteer your time at local charities.
If you want to get involved with your community and also give back in a big way, do so by volunteering your time at local charities. Get involved with the closest food bank or work with some of the children in after-school programs. When you get involved in this way, you’re creating your own community and also enjoying the rewards of getting that extra ounce of love and fulfillment.
Get involved in your online community.
Thanks to the current state of the world, there are so many ways you can get involved with new friends in an online community. Start a local gamer group or connect with people through Facebook events. Having these unique and fun online encounters can be all the more special when you finally get to connect in person as well.
Serve on a board or get involved in local politics.
For individuals who want to take on leadership roles, you can always look for opportunities to get involved in local politics. Run for office or try to get a position on a local board. This will help you get involved in your community while you actually have a say in how some things are run. This is also an opportunity to get to know the public sector and surround yourself with like-minded people.
