Here are three examples of purpose statements for reflective communities of practice: - The Community Information Systems (CIS) community exists to create a knowledge system that will inform the work of practitioners in the field who are responsible for influencing public policy and establishing community-based technology centers offering access to underserved populations.
- The Civic Engagement and Leadership community exists to organize a network of individuals and organizations who will develop new knowledge that can be used by others working in the field of civic and leadership development at the neighborhood level.
- The Dialogue Advocacy Group exists to document and disseminate the theory and practice of dialogue in order to increase their use in organizations that serve youth.
Approaches
A great deal of the value of developing a statement of community purpose is the process, itself. The following approaches are tips that may help the community to strengthen its relationships and commitments, in addition to arriving at a clear, concise statement.
- Take the time for each member to reflect on and share their purposes as they relate to their own lives and the reasons they are drawn to this community. Synthesize or combine these individual purposes to arrive at a community purpose.
- Ask each member to draft one or more purpose statements that express for them the community’s reason. Notice the differences, similarities and themes among these purposes. Take the time to surface and resolve significant differences of opinion about direction before reaching consensus on a purpose statement.
- A good way to determine the scope and scale of the community’s purpose is to begin with a draft statement and continue to ask the question, "For what purpose?" Once you have developed a "ladder" of purposes from smallest to largest, come to agreement on the size of purpose that is appropriate, practical and reasonable for the community.
- Another way to define the community’s purpose is to create two lists: one titled "Our purpose is…," and another titled "Our purpose is not…" Use these lists to define the scope, scale and boundaries for the community’s work.
Check
Your community’s purpose statement will serve the community well if it: - Is derived from the intersection of individual and collective purposes
- Provides the community with an inspirational and motivating "reason for being"
- Establishes boundaries between what is and what is not the community’s work
- Creates clarity, focus, unity, and a common sense of direction for community members
- Offers guidance for decision-making, resource allocation, and conflict resolution
- Communicates what the community is about to interested others
More
Do a websearch for "writing a purpose statement, "writing a mission statement," or even "communities of practice, purpose." You’ll be amazed at the wealth of help and the number of examples that are available.
