It is no surprise to anyone that we are living in polarized times. We are increasingly isolating ourselves in bubbles catering to our already held beliefs. We are getting news and information from “news” outlets designed to cater to specific audiences. Getting objective information from objective sources is becoming harder by the day. And with the rise of social media, the rules and norms of decorum seem to have eroded. The concept of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all” that was taught by most of our mothers, seems to be a thing of the past. As someone who recently completed a successful run for public office, I know this as well as anyone.
So, how can we change the narrative in community associations? Community associations have (and sometimes rightfully so) received a bad rap over the last decade. However, that reputation is not supported by the data, as reported by my law partner Jim Slaughter in his recent blog post entitled Community Associations in 2025: Bigger, Busier, and Still Strongly Supported. His blog references the fact that 86% of owners rate their community association experience as very good, good, or neutral. So, how should associations work to foster community and change the perception?
This is a tough industry. Sometimes there is tension, emotions can run high, and managers and board members can experience burnout. This can have a negative effect on mental health and wellness, which can lead to more negativity among all parts of the community association. As Melissa Ramsey wrote when she began her 2025 term as President of the Community Associations Institute (CAI), “[w]hat if we focused efforts around the good? Imagine spending time and energy promoting the positive aspects of managing a community. We take time to highlight the wins and promote the accomplishments of volunteers, managers, and business partners.”
Associations should focus on community building through several methods. First, approach communication with respect. This communication style should come from the top. Meaning, the Board of Directors should (even when they don’t want to) be respectful to their members, management, and business partners. Management should always act professionally as they are often the communication arm of the Board. And, members should equally show the same level of respect to the Board, management, and their neighbors. Even when there is a valid dispute, resolutions are more feasible when there is respectful dialogue.
Second, be transparent. That is not always possible, especially when the Board is discussing confidential or privileged matters. However, the Board should have open communications with the membership about initiatives, concerns, and community maintenance projects.
Third, the association can support community building through social events, community beautification days, cookouts, or other volunteer opportunities. These types of activities can allow owners to get to know their neighbors in situations outside of an organized community meeting. Knowing your neighbors can build trust, camaraderie, and can support community safety.
In the new year let’s work as Boards, managers, business partners, and homeowners to change the narrative. Let’s focus on the positive, let’s respect each other, and let’s do all we can to put the “community” back in community associations!