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Episode 29: Practical Ideas for Building and Contributing to Community
One of the things that’s been important to each of us at the Virtual Kitchen Table is community, both for the sake of all and also as a way to better support educational options for families. In one of our earliest episodes (linked in Resources/Show Notes) we talked about the benefit of rich and varied communities as places to live and learn. Several episodes later, we discussed homeschool communities (also linked). In today’s episode, Kendel from @spark.to.flame.homelearning joins us again as we think through some practical ideas for building and contributing to community with the local spaces and people around us as well as specific thoughts in relation to home education. We touch on so much in this conversation and yet there’s still more to think about. We’d love you to have a listen!
We Discuss:
Definitions and ways of thinking of community
The common hope among home ed families to welcome more people, the search for practical ways to do that and how we might create conditions that allow more people to homeschool or have choice in education
How community doesn’t need to only be about always seeing the same people when we’re out and about, but also the general safety, familiarity and predictability of places
The sense of belonging that comes as a benefit when you finally form a community
The nature of reciprocity in community that leads to a deeper sense of belonging – the significance of work, time, commitment and trust
How frequency and regularity of contact and visits can determine the closeness of connection and community
That people’s needs for community are so variable
Intentional versus naturally occurring community
Urban versus rural or small-town community and our need to be known and taken care of
Community that is based on proximity and practical need versus community that is based on common interest
The uniqueness of community needs – how we understand community based on our own needs and situation
The “success” of intentional communities as being variable
Building layers of support
The really difficult and sometimes terrible outcomes that happen when people don’t have community
The role of extended of family as community
Building relationship with grandparents or other elders by meeting the elder where their interest or gift is
Neighbourhood messaging loops/connections to check in and inform
How we don’t always share common interests in neighbourhoods and extended families beyond proximity or having a common history, yet we can build tolerance, patience and openness – another level of learning
Extended family get-togethers as safe ways to develop social experiences – there can be a feeling of belonging simply because we are part of the family
Local lemonade stands and neighbours sharing lilacs – slowing down and leaving space to interact with people
The balance between being present with our own families and looking outward to the needs beyond our families
Being open to receiving what others offer
The oddity of living right beside people and not really knowing them
Practical offers such as dog care as ways of getting to know people and as routes to feeling we can ask for help as well
A familial quote, “People are my hobby” which means to leave “recreational” time available for people and community and showing kindness 🙂
Diversity of interest, age, beliefs, socioeconomics, etc as strengths in community
Practical things like newspaper routes and regular roles as giving opportunities for intergenerational connections
Digitalization as sometimes taking away community connection
Naturally occurring communities for both us and our kids existing as a result of shared interest rather than age and the increased chance of “belonging” – contributing with presence and connection
That intentional community can take time and even if people have interest, it can take a while to work things into their schedules
Supporting local businesses both as far as buying things from people who know you as well as well as the odds of running into fellow local customers
Keeping our eyes open to small feelings of community in everyday transactions such as kids’ activities, music lessons, interacting with a librarian
The sense of community created by seasonally doing the same traditions every year
That “not all classrooms have four walls” – community as an extension of our lives
Spotting the community (which is often more abundant than we think) that’s already there and tapping in if we or our kids have time and interest
Volunteerism as opportunity for service and creative outlet
Online communities that can connect us to other people with similar interests and convictions (for kids or adults) and encourage us to share our real actions in the virtual community
How strong community is helpful to homeschool families and how homeschooling can in turn be beneficial to community
Public spaces being intentional about welcoming and being points of connection for homeschool families
The visibility (or lack thereof) of home education – recognition of its existence
The growing offerings and support to homeschool families from public spaces
How sometimes the homeschool community can be a bit of a challenge for local community spaces to serve
The rub between building consistent community and respecting our kids’ individual needs – there can sometimes be a tension there between realizing our children’s needs and preferences and being part of the bigger collective
Knowing when and how to “pass the torch” and recognizing the ebb and flow and the natural course of communities
Homeschool communities as hubs for information sharing and connection
Tapping into opportunities with non-homeschool for community as well
Partnering with staff in community spaces where homeschool events happen to share the responsibility
Connecting with a small group of families in casual public events like the movies, public swim or games at the library even outside of a set “games day”
The high school years and simply finding a few key people to do social or recreational things with
Homeschool groups that plan activities for the whole versus offering a menu to choose individually from – there are pros and cons
The dwindling of homeschool numbers in the high school years and looking to the quality of social connections over quantity
The “grey area” for teenagers who want something different than their childhood homeschool social routine but don’t necessarily want to go to school – practical ideas
Anchor points for finding high school homeschool community
Overlooking differences and inconveniences with other parents in order to help facilitate community for and with teenagers and how we end up learning from those and yet …
Embracing opportunities for like-minded communities to bolster and encourage us when we’re already making an “outside-the-box” choice
How sometimes we need to be with like-minded people and have a bit of an “echo chamber” while we’re getting our bearings and our kids are young, and then overtime it might be easier to move beyond those
Looking to the way adults build community as guidance for how teens might build community
Low cost, accessible tips and touch-points for families to find either homeschool community or broader community
Keeping our eyes open for ways to offer other families help and consideration, whether that’s related to time, service, financial cost or flexibility
Resources:
Episode #3 – Choice in Education: Living and Learning in Community, Virtual Kitchen Table
Episode #15: Homeschool Community – Finding, Sustaining and How it Evolves
Who are the People in your Neighbourhood? Ever Learning
Happiness is Here – Is Unschooling Too Focused on the Individual?
Happiness is Here – Nature Journalling: Adopt a Creek for a Year
Novitas Magazine – Grassroots Community Support During the Current Housing Crisis
Five Ways That Home Education Can Be Healthy For Communities