Dear changemaker,

I believe that we all need to be designing for belonging. But why prioritize this when the world is on fire? Well, a sense of belonging is a key ingredient in social change. Feeling that you are needed, wanted, and valued gives you the foundation to reach for more. That can mean civic engagement, democratic participation, and even upward mobility. 

Lancaster County Community Foundation wanted to increase civic engagement in their corner of Pennsylvania, and we helped them facilitate a team of residents to do just that. When we asked about the root causes of a lack of belonging, one thing we heard about was negative media focused on the SouthEast neighborhood. With the support of our co-design process, and the foundation’s commitment to empowering community, this team of residents designed and launched their own solutions. For example, the SouthEast Times, a newsroom that puts control of the narrative in the hands of the community, is still publishing affirming, positive stories today!

See the case study >

This is belonging as both process and product. The local design team is more connected to each other and to their neighbors, and the solutions they launched help all Lancaster residents feel more at home. What could greater belonging do for your community?