All articles tagged with #community building
Amidst a societal loneliness epidemic, activism and community organizing are proving to be powerful tools for fostering social connections and purpose, especially among older adults, while also addressing social injustices and building resilient communities.
Shakea Roper, a Kansas City social worker and health advocate, started a walking group in her neighborhood to improve her health and foster community, which has grown to include regular walks, community engagement, and safety improvements, demonstrating how small lifestyle changes can positively impact individual and neighborhood well-being.
Despite declining Covid case rates and relaxed restrictions, some Minnesotans are still creating Covid-safer spaces by organizing events with strict safety measures such as high-quality masks, testing requirements, and air purifiers. These initiatives aim to provide a sense of community and joy while countering the isolation and despair experienced by those who still have restricted lifestyles due to the pandemic. However, these local efforts are limited in scale, and the need for comprehensive pandemic management remains a priority.
Helldivers 2 has defied the odds with its successful live service model, offering valuable lessons for game developers. Over-investment does not guarantee success, and excessive microtransactions can alienate players. Launching games at midrange prices and prioritizing gameplay and community building over monetization are crucial for sustained success in the live service genre.
Romance novel bookstores are on the rise in the US, with at least 15 dedicated stores opening in the past few years, driven by the genre's increasing popularity and a new generation of fans. These stores, often with playful and Instagram-friendly decor, are attracting customers from far and wide, and are seen as safe and welcoming spaces for all readers. The surge in romance bookstores is attributed to the genre's booming sales, particularly driven by BookTok, and a shift in public perception of romance novels, with a focus on community building and in-person experiences.
AshSaidHi, a retro game streamer on Twitch, has built a thriving community centered around nostalgia. Starting her channel in 2019, Ash focuses on playing games that evoke a sense of nostalgia, such as The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and Quest for Glory. She has cultivated an engaging community and turned streaming into a full-time business, finding a work-life balance that her previous career didn't allow for. Ash emphasizes the importance of authenticity and connecting with viewers, and she highlights the power of community on Twitch, particularly for women and marginalized groups.
Tulsa Remote, a program designed to attract remote workers to Tulsa, Oklahoma, by providing a $10,000 financial incentive, has been successful in revitalizing the local economy. The program has received a surge in applications during the pandemic, with 60,000 applications this year compared to 10,000 in its first year in 2019. The average age of participants is 34, with an average salary above $100,000. An economic impact analysis found that the program has generated millions in new local earnings and brought hundreds of new jobs to Tulsa. The program's community-building approach has also contributed to its success, with a high retention rate of 76% among participants who completed their program year.
Andrew Yeung, a 27-year-old Google product lead, has turned his hobby of hosting tech meetups into a sprawling events empire, throwing nearly 200 events attended by over 15,000 people. Despite the popularity of his parties, Yeung has never made money from them due to visa restrictions. His events have gained a reputation for providing a different vibe in the tech industry, focusing on authentic human connection rather than transactional networking. Attendees have formed lasting friendships and business connections through these gatherings, creating a sense of community. Yeung remains an enigmatic figure, leaving the parties early and sparking speculation about his identity.
Common'hood, a community building and economy management game, has joined Xbox Game Pass for Cloud, console, and PC. The game allows players to help their community thrive by scavenging materials, growing food, crafting, researching, and recruiting characters. The game's achievement list includes tasks such as setting up a tent, sharing and downloading designs, recruiting characters, installing machines, researching knowledge nodes, completing contracts, crafting blueprints and decorations, and harvesting crops.
The James Beard Foundation presented its 2023 culinary awards in Chicago, with Rob Rubba of Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C. winning outstanding chef and Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia winning outstanding restaurant. The awards process was retooled to reward not only culinary excellence, but equity, leadership, sustainability and community-building. Among about 30 winners this year, 25 are people of color, reflecting diversity in every region, cuisine and category.
Stability AI is releasing an open-source version of DreamStudio, its commercial interface for the Stable Diffusion AI image generator model, called StableStudio. The move is part of the company's dedication to advancing open-source development and community building. Stability AI has previously released various versions of Stable Diffusion for free download and last month released a suite of open-source large language models. However, the company's approach sometimes lacks direction, with StableStudio potentially competing with DreamStudio, which the company plans to customize for corporate clients.