Communities are the lifeblood of society. They shape our identities, support our growth, and drive change in the world. Trying to categorize different types of communities is a bit like trying to sort a bag of multi-colored marbles – it’s messy, imperfect, and some will inevitably defy easy classification. After all, communities are complex tapestries woven from shared interests, experiences, locations, and goals.
Yet understanding the different types of communities can help us better build, nurture, and engage with these vital social structures. In this guide, we’ll explore five key types of communities, based on the primary purpose that brings people together:
- Communities of Interest
- Communities of Practice
- Communities of Place
- Communities of Action
- Communities of Circumstance
We’ll dive into the purpose, characteristics, benefits, and challenges of each type. Along the way, we’ll discuss how communities often evolve and overlap.
1. Communities of Interest
A community of interest brings together people who share a common passion, hobby, or enthusiasm. Members connect to explore, celebrate, and deepen their interest through knowledge-sharing, social interaction, and a sense of belonging.
Examples of Communities of Interest
A global network of birdwatchers who share sighting stories, species lists, and photography tips through online forums and local meetups. An online fan community for a popular video game, where players share strategies, fan art, and theories about the game’s lore. See more examples of communities of interest.
Benefits and Challenges
Communities of interest provide a powerful sense of belonging and identity around a shared passion. They offer opportunities for learning, self-expression, and connecting with like-minded people across geographic boundaries.
However, they can also foster insular echo chambers and Us vs. Them dynamics. Maintaining engagement and evolution over time as interests change can also be a challenge.
2. Communities of Practice
A community of practice unites people who share a common profession, craft, or discipline. Members come together to collectively learn, problem-solve, and innovate in their domain. Through the social fabric of the community, they evolve their skills and shape their professional identities.
Examples of Communities of Practice
A national network of science teachers who collaborate on lesson plans, share classroom management strategies, and mentor each other. A local group of small business owners who meet monthly to share challenges, workshop solutions, and support each other’s growth. See more examples of communities of practice.
Benefits and Challenges
Communities of practice accelerate learning and professional development through knowledge-sharing and collaboration. They provide access to expertise, inspiration, and professional opportunities.
However, power dynamics and competition can sometimes hinder open sharing. Keeping engagement and innovation alive as the field evolves is an ongoing challenge.
3. Communities of Place
A community of place is defined by a shared geography. It’s the social fabric that connects the residents of a particular neighborhood, city, or region. Through their interactions and shared experiences, members cultivate a sense of belonging, pride, and investment in the places they call home.
Examples of Communities of Place
A tight-knit rural town where neighbors help each other during harvest season, celebrate local traditions, and rally together to advocate for community needs. An urban neighborhood association that organizes block parties, community gardens, and neighborhood watch programs. See more examples of communities of place.
Benefits and Challenges
Communities of place offer a support system, a sense of identity, and a platform for collective action on local issues. The social ties fostered can enhance safety, resilience, and quality of life.
However, competing interests, unequal power dynamics, and differences of opinion can lead to tension and conflict. Overcoming fragmentation to develop a shared vision can be challenging.
4. Communities of Action
A community of action rallies people together to make a change or difference on a particular issue. Members are united by a shared purpose and the desire to have a greater impact than they could alone.
Examples of Communities of Action
A grassroots political campaign where volunteers coordinate door-knocking, phone-banking, and voter registration drives to elect a candidate. A global network of activists who organize online petitions, local chapters, and large-scale demonstrations to pressure leaders to act on climate change. See more examples of communities of action.
Benefits and Challenges
Communities of action empower individuals to collectively tackle problems and drive social change. They provide inspiration, resources, and amplified impact.
However, sustaining momentum, agreeing on strategies and tactics, and collaborating across differences can be challenging. Burnout and disillusionment are common pitfalls.
5. Communities of Circumstance
A community of circumstance brings together people who share a common life situation, challenge, or experience, often unexpectedly. Members connect to offer support, resources, and understanding to others facing similar circumstances.
Examples of Communities of Circumstance
A support group for new parents, where members share the joys, challenges, and questions that come with parenthood. An online forum for people living with a particular chronic illness, where they share treatment experiences, coping strategies, and emotional support. See more examples of communities of circumstance.
Benefits and Challenges
Communities of circumstance provide vital emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of belonging during challenging or uncertain times. Knowing you’re not alone facing a difficult situation can be transformative.
However, these communities can sometimes reinforce limiting identities or worldviews based on the circumstance. Transitioning out of the community once the shared circumstance shifts can also be tricky.
Community intersection and overlap
While these categories help us understand the core purposes that bring people together, many communities don’t fit neatly into a single box. A community of place might rally together for collective action. A community of practice might evolve into a tight-knit community of circumstance supporting each other through professional challenges.
Communities are fluid, evolving entities that often serve multiple purposes and foster multi-faceted connections. The boundaries between types are porous, and communities may evolve from one type to another over time.
Online communities and types of communities
Online platforms have transformed the landscape of community-building and where types of communities are formed. From Facebook Groups to Reddit subcommunities to customer communities, digital communities have unlocked new possibilities for connecting people across geography and time around shared interests, identities, and goals.
Online communities offer unprecedented scale, accessibility, and specificity of connection. However, they also come with distinct challenges, from content moderation to creating authentic connection to bridging online and offline interaction. As we continue to weave our digital and physical community fabrics together, we’ll need to continually evolve our understanding and approaches.
Summary
Communities, in all their diversity and complexity, are the connective tissue of society. Whether united by shared passions, professions, places, purposes, or circumstances, communities give us a sense of identity and belonging. They’re where we learn, grow, support each other, and make change together.
The goal of categorizing communities by purpose is not to create rigid, mutually exclusive buckets, but rather to provide a framework for understanding the core drivers that bring people together. By recognizing the diverse purposes that motivate individuals to participate in communities, we can more effectively support and cultivate these vital social structures.
Communities are as diverse and complex as the people who comprise them. By appreciating the various purposes communities serve through classification into these differing types, we can better understand, engage with, and strengthen the social fabric that binds us together.