B.I.E.L.D. : 5 Key Benefits of Community

Community is something that plays a vital role in the lives of all people, regardless of age or status. As humans, we are made to be social. We crave connection and seek to find our place in society.

From birth, we are gifted community in our family situations. Though there are different styles of families, in each unique system, a family provides a sense of community. As a child works their way through school, they seek to find friends and connect to a group. This is an example of community connections. We want to have someone to lean on and turn to in all situations. This idea furthers into living as a young adult and beginning a career.

As someone finds their fit in a workplace, the environment plays a vital role in their comfort. It is normal to want to have supportive, likable co-workers to interact with. These people are your daily sense of community. Maybe you are active in a local church, on a sports team, in a community group, club or volunteer organization. When considering these different concepts, it is clear that community is consistently intertwined with our daily lives and long-term lifestyle. But what makes community so important?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “bield” is a Scottish-based word meaning shelter, protection, and refuge. Your community is your sense of refuge. It is where you find your fit. It is where you place your identity. It is where you seek support and comfort. Being able to connect the idea of community with the word “bield” allows for a broadened concept. B.I.E.L.D., as an acronym, can provide an avenue for reminding oneself about the values and benefits of community.

The 5 key benefits of community are: belonging, inspiration, emotional health, learning, and dependability.

(1) Belonging
According to Wellbeing People, “an open bond with new connections is what builds valuable relationships, and gives us a deeper sense of belonging.” In feeling connected to a group or individual, you can be reassured and fulfilled with an additional sense of security.

(2) Inspiration
Interacting with others builds opportunities for inspiration and motivation. Maybe someone else has the exact idea or creative perspective you’ve needed for the project you are doing at work. Maybe your friend’s hobbies or pastimes inspire you to try something new. Take the initiative to seek out a positive influence in your life.

(3) Emotional health
Connecting to a community provides the social connections you need to help maintain and strengthen emotional health. It is extremely valuable to have a friend or group you are comfortable with and can turn to in a time of need. Your connections can motivate you to prioritize your well-being and help to keep you moving in a positive direction.

(4) Learning
Being part of a community leaves room for the members to take after one another. Each person is gifted in different ways, so connecting with people holding different skills, beliefs, talents, and more can allow for healthy growth and development. This could even look like having a mentor or counselor.

(5) Dependability
Communities can also provide a sense of dependability. You can depend on others in a community, just as they can depend on you. This provides a consistent connection and can bring a sense of personal importance. Dependability could also look like opportunity. Connecting to communities could open the door to new innovations, relationships, job connections, and so much more. It is important to find and maintain someone to keep you accountable.


Through the B.I.E.L.D. acronym, we can be reminded that community has many values and benefits in each person’s life. It is important that we not only find a community to connect to, but also a community that uplifts and empowers us. Do not allow yourself to be complacent in a space or position that is not providing the positive influence you need in your life. Your community influences your thoughts, actions, mental health and decisions.

Take the time to locate and define the healthy community that you need in your life.

Tori Storm

Tori is a junior from Greensburg, Indiana, majoring in visual communication design and public relations event planning at Anderson University. Storm is an associate with Fifth Street Communications®, a student-run public relations agency on campus.