In today’s world, brands and companies increasingly recognise the importance of building and nurturing strong communities, both online and offline. Whether it’s fostering customer loyalty, supporting employee engagement, or creating spaces for learning and growth, community engagement has become a key pillar of long-term success. 

At Friendzone, we understand the growing demand for skills that enable managers and leaders to build inclusive, thriving communities that can adapt and flourish.

The Challenge

One area where creating inclusive, safe, and thriving communities is essential is in Singapore’s libraries. Branch managers and volunteer leaders of LearnX (NLB’s community-driven learning spaces) often find themselves struggling with questions like, “How do I attract new community members?” and “How can we keep the space inclusive and safe while growing?”

To address these challenges, Friendzone developed a workshop tailored for Library managers and community leaders with the strategies, tools, frameworks needed to succeed in building vibrant, learning, and connected communities.

The Solution

Friendzone created a comprehensive four-part workshop, providing branch managers with the tools they needed to successfully engage with and build their communities. The workshop covered the following areas:

1. What is community?
   Participants learned the core elements of a community, explored different types of communities, and identified those relevant to their own lives. Understanding these fundamentals helped them lay the groundwork for future community development.

2. How to justify community to my boss?

   This section explored the concept of social capital—the value derived from relationships within communities. Participants learned how to explain the benefits of community engagement to stakeholders, demonstrating the tangible impact of fostering community relationships.

3. How do I build community?

   In this interactive session, participants broke into groups to discuss their existing communities and brainstorm ways to grow them. This collaborative process allowed them to exchange ideas and identify the best practices for community engagement and leadership.

4. Asset-Based Community Development

   The workshop introduced the ABCD approach, emphasizing how branch managers and LearnX leaders can leverage the strengths and assets within their existing communities to build upon what they already have, rather than starting from scratch. This sustainable model of community leadership enabled participants to harness the full potential of their community’s resources

Each participant also received a Community Journey Journal to guide them in areas like goal setting, recruitment, onboarding, participation, and leadership development and exit.

Outcome

During the three-hour workshop, Friendzone engaged 28 NLB staff members and 27 LearnX facilitators. Participants left with a better understanding of how to structure their community-building efforts and foster relationships within their volunteer-led groups.

Here’s what participants had to say:

• “I learned how to structure efforts to build community”

• “Communication and patience are important in building good relationships with the communities.”

Why It Worked

The community-building workshop allowed participants to identify areas of improvement within their communities and also draw from their personal experiences being involved in communities of their own.Through the workshop, branch managers and LearnX facilitators gained tools to create inclusive, engaging spaces that foster meaningful connections and lifelong learning within their own communities.

“Excellent teaching and sharing! So informative (very fast speed). I especially love hearing about the Friendzone's experience.”

• Khoo Sook Neo, GMO LearnX Community facilitator

Facing Similar Challenges in Building Community?

If you’re struggling to build and grow your community, we can help. Reach out to Friendzone today for guidance on creating vibrant spaces for friendships, growth, and meaningful connections.