Foster Mattering in Your Community

Your club can foster mattering by creating projects that focus on your community. Here are some questions to ask:

• What could be improved in my community?

• Are there people who feel lonely in my community?

• Are there systems that could be improved?

• Are there members of my community who are invisible?

• Are there spaces for gratitude and recognition or are only some members of our community recognized?

• Do all the people in my community feel like they matter?

• Are there inequalities in my community that can be addressed?

• Are there excess resources that could be redistributed?

• Is there a strong sense of community and belonging?

• Can my community be educated about issues that are important locally or globally?

You can also promote mattering by addressing issues in your larger community.

Here are some examples:

• Raise awareness about a larger issue such as homelessness, food insecurity, or educational inequality. Write about them for a newspaper. Create Public Service Announcement posters to share in your community.

• Identify local organizations working to address larger issues and explore a partnership.

• Explore a food donation program to reduce food waste in your community while feeding your neighbors.

• Can you serve as a mentor or teacher to people in your community?

• Could you serve as a teacher assistant or offer special help to students at an under-resourced neighborhood school?