Community means a multitude of things. Organizations sometimes think of their communities as encompassing those who are similar to themselves in one way or another; they think of the community whose needs drive their work—sometimes they also think of these people as their audiences, their publics, their constituents. Sometimes they think about the power in gathering their people together.

Yet everyone is also surrounded by other people and other organizations. None of us is neutral in the places we are in; both taking part and not taking part have real impacts, especially in gentrifying neighborhoods. We have responsibilities to the people around us; connecting as neighbors is part of the sustainability of places and organizations.