• Is my community a psychological construct of my internal making to create a sense of belonging for survival?  (Sense of Community)

• Is my community a sociological norm created by society that I learn that I must adopt? (Socialization)

• Is community a geographical connection I attach myself to define who I am?

As a transplant, I seek a sense of community to people I can regularly and meaningfully interact with, share a common identity, find integration and fulfillment, and exercise influence.

My community includes many sub-communities.

• Geographic communities: range from the local neighborhood, suburb, village, town or city, region

• Communities of culture: range from the local clique, sub-culture, ethnic group, religious, multicultural or pluralistic civilization, or the global community cultures of today, virtual

• Community organizations: range from informal family or kinship networks, to more formal incorporated associations, political decision making structures, economic enterprises, or professional associations

My current geographical community is Minnesota.  Within Minnesota, I belong to a range of cultural communities (world citizen, 1st generation American of African descent, cosmopolitan, arts oriented, athlete…) and community of organizations (my employer, professional associations, community groups, Facebook…).  I log on to my virtual online Facebook community to keep in contact with relationships on four continents.

As a transplant, I have had to identify and learn the cultural-social expectations and norms of Minnesota to survive in my new community.  For example, I have had to learn to understand and adapt to “Minnesota Nice” which is SO REAL.

Building community is not a simple exercise.  Severance from familiar interactions with relationships in a former geographical community can involve a cycle of grieving and social isolation.  I have grieved for the physical presence of relationships and places left behind as I’ve floundered to create new relationships and assimilate into a new life in Minnesota.

Some communities openly welcome transplants.  Some communities appreciate the differences transplants bring.  Community can only be built when others let the newcomer in.

So where is my community and who is my community?

~ Elizabeth Swanzy-Parker is a guest contributor.