The Art of Community Seven Principles for Belonging

This practical leadership guide offers seven timeless principles for building a supportive and inclusive community with a strong sense of purpose.

Many people think of “community” as something that happens by accident or emerges naturally over time. But in The Art of Community, Charles Vogl shows that there are specific principles that leaders can use to create or strengthen communities. Drawing on three thousand years of tradition, Vogl lays out the seven enduring principles that every community of every kind—whether formal or informal—must master to be effective.

Vogl describes the purpose of each principle and offers extensive hands-on tools for implementing them. He also shares ways to help communities remain healthy and life-affirming by avoiding toxic rigidity and exclusivity.

Charles H. Vogl has been working to build communities since his days as a Peace Corps volunteer. He now works with leaders in technology, finance, media, government, and social change organizations to help them create a meaningful difference. He is also a founding producer at Broken English Productions, creating works that have won several international awards.

Preface
Introduction: The Inspiration for This Book
Part One: Recognizing Community
1. Understanding Community
Part Two: Seven Principles for Belonging
2. The Boundary Principle
3. The Initiation Principle
4. The Rituals Principle
5. The Temple Principle
6. The Stories Principle
7. The Symbols Principle
8. The Inner Rings Principle
Part Three: Advanced Ideas
9. Distinguishing Religion and Avoiding Cult
10. Managing Community Face-to-Face and Online
Epilogue: Endings and Beginnings
Beginning with Acknowledgment
Last Thought
Appendix A: Leader Worksheets
Appendix B: Dinner Community Case Study
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Author