Citizen Relations’ Post

So, what truly drives us? Connections! More specifically, community connections. When people, local businesses, and grassroots causes find meaningful ways to engage and support each other, remarkable things happen. That's where the S&H Green Stamps program comes in creating a bridge between tradition and innovation, designed to strengthen vital local bonds. Read our blog Reviving Community Spirit: How Digital S&H Green Stamps Connect People, Businesses, and Causes https://lnkd.in/g_qQKej2

Community = the power of sharing your light. 🌟 An audience might admire your gift. A community? They amplify it. That’s where sustainability and growth happen. It doesn’t matter if it’s a group, a team, or a handful of passionate supporters—it’s about people who love what you offer and can’t wait to share it. Huge shoutout to Carliss Miller, PhD Miller—my ultimate community partner. 💛 She’s brought me opportunities, inspiration, and endless support. The difference? Audience = people who know you. Community = people who co-create magic with you. ✨ Let’s build communities, not just audiences. 🙌

What kind of connection do we need in Greater Miami? What impact can greater connection have on our community? Jocelyn Noya Quintana is The Miami Foundation’s Vice President of Strategic Communications. She joined our team four months ago and has been compelled and inspired by our Foundation’s focus on connection as a vital pillar to building a Greater Miami where everyone can thrive. Read her reflections on connection: https://lnkd.in/ecXgeQVN And tell us - What do you think connection needs to look like in Greater Miami? #10DaysofConnection

Thank you to Lake Macquarie City Council and Spectrum Comms for holding the 100 Voices 2024 morning yesterday (Saturday 20 April) with the view of bringing approximately 100 members of the local community together to be heard and have influence into LMCCs next Community Strategic Plan. There was a nice slice of representation of our 95 communities and villages that surround our coastal tidal lake that is four times the size of Sydney Harbour. There was recognition that our council faces challenges not seen elsewhere due to our beautiful lake separating us, along with a distinct lack of state financial backing. And there was also recognition that despite this, our Lake Macquarie communities and villages are strong and have so much to offer. Through our uniqueness there is great opportunity to not repeat decisions and actions made by other councils ad nauseum, but move forward with intrepid discovery and learning which in turn offers knowledge and teaching for future decision makers. Could things be done better now? Sure, always - which is what yesterday was about. However there was acknowledgment of not needing to re-write the book on all aspects but instead improving and building on what is working. Some of the reiterated points shared by the group were: transparency around new and future developments and where developers restitution fees go, much needed footpath creation and maintenance to enable true connectivity for ALL residents, better access to communications for ALL residents regarding events/products/services being held and offered throughout our LMCC to enable better community support of local businesses etc, plus much more. I love being a Lake Mac local. I love that I live in a place where people come to holiday. I chose my home here, and for my family to grow here, closely linked to Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Central Coast, to the magnificent Mt Sugarloaf in my backyard, and to THE BEST wondorous beaches on the 9 mile stretch. We really do have the best of all worlds!! Growth can walk alongside protection - it is possible to grow our communities with environmental preservation at the fore. It takes (those corporate buzz words that are diluted through cheap overuse and need rebolstering): integrity, courage, persistence, and determination. We have AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT people living and working in our LGA that know how to make this happen. It’s up to our voted council to use those under their noses and want what we want. A true alignment. I’m looking forward to reading the draft LMCC Community Strategic Plan due out at the end of 2024, and seeing how council listens to its voters.

Stronger Together: Supporting Local with The Coast News Group At The Group our heart beats for the local community. Our mission is simple but powerful: to uplift, inspire, and strengthen the people and businesses that make this area extraordinary. That’s why our partnership with The Coast News Group feels like destiny. For decades, Coast News has been more than a newspaper—it’s been the voice of our community, championed by the Kydd family with unwavering dedication. Chris Kydd shares our passion for promoting the incredible talent, resilience, and stories right here at home. This partnership is about more than business. It’s about creating a ripple effect of positivity, connection, and growth. It’s about doubling down on what makes our community unique, ensuring that the spirit of “local” thrives for generations to come. By supporting Coast News Group, you’re not just supporting a publication, you’re joining a movement. A movement to celebrate local businesses, empower neighbors, and build a future that honors our roots while reaching for new heights. Let’s stand together. Let’s support local. Let’s create something extraordinary. #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #encinitas #carlsbad #insperity #community #communityfirst Insperity #theheartofthematterpodcast

Looking for meaningful ways to engage your employees while driving equitable health impact in your community? The American Heart Association has you covered. We offer simple, turnkey volunteer activities that align with corporate social responsibility goals. Whether virtual, in-person or hybrid, these experiences showcase our mission while empowering your team. Let’s work together to build healthier communities—one volunteer at a time! Learn more about how to get your company involved!

In today's interconnected world, the success of a business is not solely determined by its products or services but also by its ability to build meaningful partnerships with the community it serves. Business and community partnerships offer a wide range of benefits, from fostering innovation and driving economic growth to enhancing brand reputation and creating social impact. 🤝 Explore why forging strong partnerships with the community is essential for your business's growth by reading our latest article: https://lnkd.in/geC2QhnB

Being the admin for your local community's digital space can be a grind — no one hands you a playbook on the ins and outs. That’s why we made “Creating a Flourishing Digital Public Space for Your Local Area”. It’s packed with tips to help you navigate cultivating a thriving space for your neighbors to gather online. 

We are pleased to announce that Public Media Company has been awarded a grant from the Knight Foundation in support of a new initiative to help local public media organizations expand access to local news, particularly in underserved communities. This initiative will provide local public media organizations and community stakeholders with greater insights into their local news ecosystems, as well as support for launching, growing, and scaling their local news services. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/g2pBx5SC With their reach, decades of service, and rootedness in communities across the country, local public media organizations are an important solution to the crisis in local news. This initiative builds on those assets and will help these organizations expand and grow their service at this critical time. Many thanks to Bill Davis at Station Resource Group (SRG) and GBH for starting this work and creating the momentum to making it a reality.

This week, I have been sitting with these questions: What happens next? How do we find our way back to each other? Regardless of the outcome next week, we will have to find a way to come together. Whatever unfolds on Tuesday, Wednesday, and in the days that follow, I know we’ll need a path forward—together. I’ve found comfort in recent work that highlights the role of social ties in bridging divides, fostering understanding, and leading to collective healing. In the Einhorn Collaborative newsletter, Jonathan Gruber shared a conversation with Sam Pressler about his Connective Tissue Report. The report describes social ties as the “connective tissue” that holds communities together, building an “infrastructure that binds us” and creating space for healing. Likewise, Stitching Together America’s Deep Divisions Could Be as Simple as a Walk in the Park by Cary Simmons from Trust for Public Land and Corey K. Wilson, J.D., from BREC in East Baton Rouge, explores how “casual, positive interactions in shared spaces” like parks can help “stitch together America’s deep divisions.” And finally, an article on StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative underscores the impact of conversations that bridge divides, creating opportunities for empathy and connection between people with different perspectives. As we approach election day, these perspectives remind me that focusing on genuine connection strengthens the social fabric that holds us all. I’m thinking of each of you, your communities, and the vision so many of us share for more connected communities—places where belonging is possible for everyone, where we are bound not just by shared spaces but by shared purpose and understanding.