How to run a community based online program
Impact-focused businesses that are prioritizing community connection are beginning to see the importance of instilling a holistic approach to working with other people. Social ecology can help conscious business owners to instill styles of service that expand beyond traditional structures of working in community and with other people. A community based program can help to encourage the development of collaborative relationships between facilitators and participants, creating a more immersive and valuable experience for everyone involved. Within this article we discuss what community based programs are and how we can incorporate them into our service based businesses as a way to make more positive impact on people’s lives.
What are community based programs
Community based programs are different than individual-led programs in that in community based programs, participants have in real time engagement and interaction with not only the facilitator of the program but also the other students or members who are a part of the program. In this style of program, communities practice skills and get feedback instead of working completely passively and alone. There can be real time support provided in either a self paced environment (where participants set their own pace), or the facilitator can control the structure and pace while also providing real time support. With community based programs, levels of hierarchy, resource hoarding, and gatekeeping are exchanged for a more holistic approach to existing in community; an approach dependent on interdependence, collaboration, and relationship building.
There are ways to make community based programs an experience that still provides participants with levels of independence and autonomy, such as by allowing participants to set their own pace and structure for how they go through educational or learning components of the program. Yet, facilitators of community based programs can also structure their program in a way that has the facilitator controlling the pace of learning and release of education. When a facilitator controls the pace of the learning environment, this can potentially help the facilitator to set up an environment that establishes a realistic flow of learning rather than expecting participants to learn at a rapid or unrealistic speed. In community based programs, the facilitator can also offer a subscription that allows participants of a program to continue accessing value and support beyond the program materials. This is a great option for facilitators who want to provide a specific structure of curriculum while also providing ongoing support to participants that possibly have already gone through the curriculum.
Personally, I have really enjoyed structuring my service experiences to be community based because it has helped me to prioritize the experience I am offering clients and students of my curriculum. When you input a community style of learning, it ups the chances of participants completing the education and implementing what they learned. Statistically speaking, an average of 85% of participants of community based programs complete the learning experience and implement what they learn. Whereas in completely independent, self study experiences, the completion rate drops to 5% on average. As you can see, your participants' success increases tremendously when you structure your program to be community based.
Understanding what community building is and isnt
The most critical thing to comprehend when going into developing a community based program is to fully understand what community based programs aren’t. Often times, the concept of community is thrown around as a marketing attempt to draw people in based on a common desire of humans to feel a sense of belonging. When we weaponize our intrinsic desire to belong solely out of the desire to profit off a sense of belonging, we are missing the entire purpose of community building. Community building takes a tremendous amount of intention, mindfulness, humility, and willingness to give up personal power. Community based programs depend on a collaborative environment, therefore the individual facilitating the community space must have the ability and desire to actively and consistently shape the environment to be as such. Community building is not simply selling an idea, offer, or service to someone else with the promise that they will also gain community with their purchase. Community based programs focus on catering to the needs of the community to which it serves. Being community based, therefore, depends on actively listening to, learning about, and catering to the needs of the very people your program is for. This disrupts the typical hierarchal model of service based programs where individuals come into a space with a specific structure that others are meant to follow. In community based programs, the participants help shape the culture, atmosphere and structure alongside you. Community based programs do not function from a framework where an expert comes in and delivers access to specific resources. Though this can be potentially an aspect of a community based program, it must always be remembered that community participants help shape the culture and environment, including the resources provided. Community based programs therefore provide an opportunity to co-create curriculum, co-shape learning experiences, and co-contribute resources. Community based programs should help enhance the experience and quality of life of the very participants of the community you are supporting. Otherwise, your community program may not actually be for the community at all! Truly community based programs take into account all facets that make up someones quality of life, such as social, economic, spiritual, ethical, environmental, racial, political, and so on. This is a more holistic approach to community building that factors in the whole self and lived experiences of the community members. In doing so, you can shape a community program with the intent to empower all members by acknowledging their wholeness. This is a relational approach to community building that is dependent on acknowledging interconnectivity.
Benefits and features of community based programs
Cohort style: In community based programs, the structure is often set up in a cohort style, where participants have a learning agenda paired with hands on interaction, contribution and engagement with the community. This is what establishes the co-creative nature of the environment.
Collaboration: Participants get to collaborate with other participants of the program, enhancing their learning experience in the process. Participants also get to collaborate on the ways in which the community is structured, how it functions, and what it does. This provides community members power.
Support: Support increases tremendously in community based programs, where participants have more hands on guidance from the facilitator and community members. Support consists of actively considering and engaging the whole self of each member, prioritizing the establishment of diverse, inclusive and accessible experiences.
Structure: The structure of community based programs is controlled by the facilitator and members, requiring the facilitator to put in more work to maintain and manage the experience in real time. To hold the vision of the community based program, the facilitator must consistently engage the community, seek feedback and participation, pass power off, and actively involve members in the process of upholding the community culture.
Networking: In community based programs, participants have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with other participants while experiencing deeper levels of connection with other people. This requires a level of regulation in that you want to ensure that community members feel safe to express, share, participate and contribute. Again, this part depends on the facilitator actively upholding a culture of true community.
Engagement: Engagement tends to be much higher in community based programs because of the nature of these types of programs being more interaction driven. When the facilitator upholds the collaborative nature of a community based program, engagement happens as a byproduct.
Accountability: The level of accountability that participants receive in community based programs increases in comparison to individual-led programs because participants have events to participate in, places to share feedback and practice skills and a community to be involved in to help them stay accountable.
The difference between community based programs and individual-led programs
In this style of program there are benefits! Such benefits include the convenience that independent learning provides. Individual-led learning environments are easier to build into one's schedule. As well, this type of learning is more flexible with less pressure placed on the participants. This is great for learners that tend to work better alone and at their own pace. For facilitators that are leading a community based program, you can also provide individual-led experiences by allowing participants to go at their own pace and learn at their own speed while also having the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning activities. This is the way I lead my community based cohort, where participants have a resource library containing their curriculum. Participants are able to self study through the curriculum at their own speed and pace. Then, we also run ongoing live events for the cohort, giving participants a chance to practice, receive feedback, collaborate, gain support, engage with their community, and be held accountable. In individual-led programs, there is less work on the facilitator yet this can cause a lower completion rate for participants. As the facilitator, it's important to identify what is most important for you as well as your participants, considering how you are going to prioritize supporting your participants in gaining a learning environment that is most conducive to their success in completing and integrating what they learn. What I find is that in community based programs, it helps participants make what they are learning fit them in an authentic way, ultimately upping the participants chances of truly integrating as well as benefiting from what they learn.
Some examples of community based programs
Group immersive classes
After school programs
Cohorts
Live courses
In real time events, workshops, or classes
Collaborative experiences like workshops
Service learning (fieldwork or place based learning)
Project based learning events
Interactive memberships
Community initiatives (in person or online)
Public social networking spaces
Brand-driven online groups
How to begin implementing a community based program
Identify key people you are creating your online community based program for: It’s important to get really clear on who this style of program is for, considering these types of individual’s style of learning and what will best support their success. If you decide to create a program that offers both hands on learning and self-paced learning, this can up your chances of supporting individuals with varying learning styles.
Define the purpose and goal of your community based program: Next, you want to consider why you are creating a community based program. Thinking about and identifying what you want participants to do within the program as well as get out of the program. As an example, the goal of my community based program is to provide participants with an experience that helps them gain a sense of belonging, support and collaboration while they develop their creative ideas. The purpose is to support people in having access to resources and community that can help them thrive not only in creating their desired projects or business, but also thrive throughout the creative process itself.
Select a platform that you will run your community based program on: Once you identify who your program is for and what the point of it is, next you want to decide what platform will do your program the most justice. This is an important choice, as each platform that is out there and available for us to use contains their own unique features and benefits. The program you choose should align with your goals, vision and purpose for your program paired with who the program is for. Some platforms are specifically designed for self study, where as other platforms are more conducive to community interaction and engagement. If you choose a platform that is setup more for self study journeying, it is helpful to decide how you will still create a community atmosphere. Personally, I use the platform MightyNetworks to house an online community forum for the participants of my cohort. This allows them to have a community space to connect, collaborate, and build relationships outside of our learning environment and live community events.
Clearly state how you want participants to participate! This is an important part of creating community based programs because community based programs disrupt many of the norms within the learning space. We are often taught to learn at an individual level that does not prioritize collaboration, networking, practicing skills or interacting in community. In order to create a community based program, you will need to clearly define what the structure of your program is in a way that allows people to get a direct vision and understanding of what they can expect as a participant.
Setup a calendar or plan for the structure: Lastly, as a community based program facilitator, it is going to require a lot of planning on your part. In order to create a community based program, you will want to decide on how you will lead the community by establishing a curriculum that is hands-on, interactive and immersive. This will ask you to define how, when and where you will host live events paired with how you will keep your participants in the loop about the structure. Communication is an important aspect of community programming, so deciding on how you will connect and communicate with your participants is essential. Planning the structure of your community based program will help you ensure that you are upholding a community based model that provides participants with space to practice, receive feedback, collaborate, network, connect and engage throughout their experience.
Be clear about the culture, norms and standards of your space: This is where you would place your community ethos statement, manifesto, rules and regulations. This is a critical part of community based programs in that it sets the tone for the space. I also recommend including a DEI statement in this section of your community based program.
There are many other aspects to getting started with creating a community based online program, but I hope that what we covered in this article gets you going! If you need more support or have questions in relation to this topic, feel free to reach out via email!
Until next time…
Natalie Brite
Connecting communities to resources to help you thrive in business and beyond
The School of Business with a Conscience Community is about strengthening the connection between community members and the resources they need to thrive. The resources we provide are both natural or formal in the level of support you receive from them, such as self study courses and classes or live community circles or workshops. These are provided by Natalie Brite or led by individual leaders in our community. In addition, our school is structured to be easily accessible, meeting members where they are at and supporting them on their unique journeys. To learn more about the SBC community, click here.
