Editing Local community (section)

{{Short description|Term describing people living in a common location}}
A '''local community''' has been defined as a group of interacting people living in a common location. The word is often used to refer to a group that is organized around common values and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household. The word can also refer to the national community or global community.

The word "community" is derived from the [[Old French]] ''communité'' which is derived from the [[Latin]] ''[[communitas]]'' (''cum'', "with/together" and ''munus'', "gift"), a broad term for fellowship or organized society.<ref>Beck, U. 1992. Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. London: Sage</ref>

A [[sense of community]] refers to people's [[perception]] of [[interconnection]] and [[interdependence]], shared [[Social responsibility|responsibility]], and [[wiktionary:Common|common]] [[goal]]s.<ref>Melissa M. Ahern, Michael S. Hendryx, Kris Siddharthan
Medical Care, Vol. 34, No. 9 (Sep., 1996), pp. 863-986</ref><ref>Chavis DM, Wandersman A. Sense of community in the urban environment: A catalyst for participation and community development. Am J Community Psychol 1990;18:55.</ref><ref>McMillan DW, Chavis DM. Sense of community: A definition and theory. J Community Psychol 1986;14:6.
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Understanding a community entails having knowledge of community needs and resources, having respect for community members, and involving key community members in programs.<ref>Sustaining Community-Based Programs for Families: Conceptualization and Measurement
Jay A. Mancini, Lydia I. Marek. ''[[Family Relations (journal)|Family Relations]]'', Vol. 53, No. 4 (Jul., 2004), pp. 339-419.</ref>