Barn-raisings and other community traditions once helped neighbors know neighbors, gave everyone (including youth) a meaningful role to play in meeting a genuine need, and created a tangible product that sparked individual and community pride. These social institutions strengthened the fabric of personal and professional relationships that are the heart of a community. And as studies show, these relationships provide the key to making communities safe and healthy places for all of us. If we can't bring back barn-raisings, how can we create modern community building traditions that meet these ageless needs and provide these essential outcomes? Hundreds of communities have built vibrant new traditions from the models provided by Community Matters:
	The 24 Hour Relay Challenge® This 3-stage community building program forges and strengthens interagency partnerships, promotes intergenerational understanding, and generates significant revenue for local youth development and community building initiatives. The 24HRC culminates in a high-visibility celebration event for the entire community that features hundreds of youth and adults camped together in a safe, asset-rich, and substance-free festival. >>>
	Joining Forces This community-wide summit or gathering allows citizens to gather to explore pressing issues and common concerns. It helps them identify potential solutions, forge consensus around a plan, and mobilize to take effective action. Joining Forces provides the productive forum necessary for resolving complex problems that impact the whole community and therefore require a community-wide approach (e.g. violence & safety, substance abuse, building developmental assets). >>>
	Renewing Our Sense of Community This program affords people an opportunity to experience a sense of community, explore its principles, and apply them to enrich their daily lives. It can be an evening, afternoon, morning or full day of getting to know neighbors and local leaders in a refreshing, light-hearted, yet substantive way. >>>

Creating the Common Ground for Building and Sustaining Healthy Communities Energizing and Uniting your Community: The 24 HOUR RELAY CHALLENGE The Three R's of Building Community: Relevance, Relationships, and Results Joining Forces: Designing A Big Community Summit and Getting Big Results

Coaching and Consulting
Since every community has unique resources and challenges, "building community" implies different things to different people. Contact us if you want to:

• Expand the pool of active citizens beyond the same familiar faces
• Build understanding, trust, respect and consensus from disparate contingents
• Re-weave the fabric of your community, re-kindling hope and re-awakening its spirit

We will listen carefully, tap our extensive field experience, and help you map out a strategy that is right for your community.