Who Are We Becoming? Reflections on Belonging—and Why It Matters

The September Local Leadership Chat circled one theme again and again: belonging—not just as economics or growth, but as spirit, ownership, and care. As one community leader said plainly, “There’s economic development, and there’s community development. They’re not the same.” Jobs and housing matter, but so do rituals, relationships, and the sense that “you belong here.”

We heard the strain of rapid change: “What was once a small, affordable, tight-knit community… is now very expensive… homelessness has skyrocketed.” In the midst of that, the work isn’t to decree identity, but to steward the process: “When it’s city-run outreach, we’re more communicating at them than with them.” The fix? “Neighbor-to-neighbor conversations, where they discover what their priorities are and find ways to work together.”

Belonging shows up in practice. One city lowered the requirement for boards and commissions: “We changed residency to one year so military families could serve… even if they’re only here three years, they bring wisdom and ideas.” Another reframed the message publicly: “You belong here” went from slogan to mural—and to a service award that recognizes people “who give of themselves.” Festivals, National Night Out, even quirky traditions (“live donkeys” for a holiday pageant) weren’t treated as fluff; they’re on-ramps to connection and a sense of community ownership. “People want experiences,” someone noted, after tripling turnout by making a community night feel like a carnival: “We gave out over 500 hot dogs.”

We also named the hard parts. “People can’t have a civil dialogue anymore.” “Council meetings are full of conflict.” A reminder landed with weight: “You’ve got to make people angry sometimes. You can’t lead without upsetting somebody.” The point isn’t to avoid conflict; it’s to host it well so people feel “connected, respected, and heard.”

A practical idea surfaced that every community can steal: reinvent the welcome wagon—not just for businesses or utility hookups, but for civic life. Imagine a simple, shared on-ramp that greets new residents with “Here’s how to plug in: boards and commissions, neighborhood projects, upcoming forums, and a few people to call.” As one person put it, “Somebody has to be the champion who brings people together.”

Belonging isn’t accidental. It’s built—through invitations, shared work, and the steady drumbeat of “you belong here.” Or, as another leader observed, maybe the deeper call is to be long—to stay, invest, and help the community become its best self.