How to Build Meaningful Partnerships and Engage Communities Authentically: Insights from Friendzone
Services Provided by Friendzone:
Keynote Presentation on topic of Partnerships & Community Engagement
Q&A from participants
Demo of Conversation Cards Engagement Format
Introduction: Rethinking Community Engagement for Libraries
As one of Singapore’s most trusted public institutions, libraries have long been places of learning, discovery, and quiet reflection. But as social isolation rises and community ties weaken, a new question is emerging: How can libraries become catalysts for deeper connection and collaboration within the communities they serve?
In response, Friendzone was invited to deliver a sharing session for library branch managers across Singapore to provide fresh perspectives on building meaningful partnerships and driving authentic community engagement.
The Challenge: A Gap Between Outreach and Belonging
While libraries already offer a wide range of programmes and attract steady foot traffic, there has been a recent shift in focus towards prioritising community and partner engagement for libraries.
Friendzone was invited to share insights and strategies drawn from years of experience creating safe, meaningful spaces within neighbourhoods and civic communities.
Friendzone’s Value Add: A Fresh Take on Community Engagement & Partnerships
In an interactive sharing session, Friendzone’s Co-Founder & CEO Grace presented ways to design engagements that feel human, inclusive, and relational.
Key topics covered included:
Defining community as a network of strong and weak ties, not just attendees or users, and scoping boundaries for inclusion and exclusion.
Creating safe, structured conversation spaces using curated prompts, comfortable setups, and trained facilitators
Designing topic-based events on real-life and relevant themes
Reaching target demographics through peer-led storytelling and shared vulnerability
Unpacking the 5W1H of partnerships with practical tips for forming, maximising and ending partnerships.
Before the session, the organisers gathered questions from participants related to partnerships and community engagement. We thoughtfully addressed common concerns — such as how to source suitable partners, assess their credibility, and know when to walk away — and seamlessly integrated them into the session content to ensure it was practical and relevant. This ensured the session was tailored to the attendees’ needs and highly relevant to their contexts.
As part of the session, participants also had a short hands-on experience with our curated conversation card decks — offering a glimpse into how intentional design and facilitation techniques can create safe, engaging spaces for dialogue. This activity served as a live example of Friendzone’s approach to community engagement.
The Outcome: New Perspectives for Library Leaders
The sharing left participants with:
New ideas for approaching partnerships more relationally and meaningfully
Inspiration to rethink outreach and partnerships as two-way engagement
A better understanding of how libraries can play a role as social anchors within their neighbourhoods
Ideas to facilitate conversations and co-create programming with the community
Why It Worked
This glimpse into Friendzone’s approach helped bring the concepts of engagement and partnerships to life in a relatable, tangible way, inviting application for how libraries might similarly weave human connection into their spaces and programmes.
With an informative and interactive format, the session sparked new thinking around what community engagement and partnership building could look like in the library setting.
Ready to Bring Your Community’s Stories to Life?
With years of experience and over 100+ sessions under our belt, we help teams spark real conversations and build meaningful partnerships through our workshops and sharings. We help organisations reimagine community engagement through safe, authentic conversations. If you’re interested in working with us to equip your leaders with partnership skills or are looking at designing more relational, community-led programmes, reach out at hello@friendzone.sg.
Let’s get better at partnerships, and build spaces where stories, ideas, and belonging can grow — one conversation at a time.