Although building a community of care is a horizontal process, it is important to establish a structure where different players take on specific roles that contribute to forming the community as a whole. These roles should be filled by a wide representation of different communities; whether they represent different geographical areas, different groups within the community (e.g., migrants, Indigenous, Black, LGBTQ, etc.) or their expertise aligns with different needs of the community. It is important to identify the unique skill set of each member so that “community work” can be distributed effectively. For example, some people may be natural leaders, others good at task management, or others may have a creative flair. All of these parts work together to create a cohesive and successful basis on which other participants can add upon.
Tip: look for different opinions but similar values, this way you’ll foster a healthy debate and self-critical environment that grows together, making the fabric of the community more heterogeneous and diverse.
Common Traits
Look for these traits in everyone: friendliness, proactiveness, acting from a perspective of wonder, open to sharing and receiving “vulnerability”, ability to listen, open-minded, optimistic, dreamer mindset, selflessness.
