Common purpose brings people together in thousands of different ways, and with support and leadership forms the basis of flourishing civic life. From T-ball teams and chambers of commerce to neighborhood-watch
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83% of adults were somewhat or very active in King County community organizations in 2004. | and school-support groups, people naturally come together around common pastimes or concerns. More than 80 percent of King County residents say they’re at least “somewhat active” with such a group. These activities do more than advance one purpose or another. They create a culture of participation and engagement, which makes broader community efforts easier to organize, and they build friendships and trust, which give people hope. Such activities require time–a dwindling commodity, especially among those struggling to make ends meet. But mentoring, training and other assistance can build lasting, effective organizations and alliances.
- Promote community-based projects and events, such as park development, parades, outdoor concerts or neighborhood festivals.
- Provide leadership and organizational development programs for a wide range of community groups.
- Encourage schools, businesses and government to cooperate and recognize community service.
- Involve traditionally underrepresented individuals and community groups in local planning and decision-making.
- Organize communities around advocacy and civic activities, such as voter registration drives.
- Connect neighbors with local schools, one of the critical forces for creating strong neighborhoods.
- Seattle Works offers people in their 20s and 30s opportunities to serve their community, and provides partner nonprofit organizations with a pool of reliable volunteers. Seattle Works also provides projects that ask for a one-time commitment and allow volunteers to experience various kinds of volunteering.
- The League of Women Voters of Seattle's Education Fund promotes citizen education and active participation in civic life by offering free monthly public forums, which feature speakers who offer different positions on topics that impact the lives of King County residents.
- Seattle's LGBT Community Center serves as a welcome center for recently out and new-to-town lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, reduces isolation of seniors, increases access to health services, and conducts development and operations training for other nonprofits.
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