Harold DeRienzo distinguishes between neighborhood and community in “Community Organizing for Power and Democracy: Lessons Learned from a Life in the Trenches.” Neighborhoods are based on geography, while communities are based on the social ties that exist between the people. Reflecting on my past, I realized I’ve often mixed up the two words. I viewed community as the definition mentioned above, but specifically with the individuals in my neighborhood, which I never had. I’ve moved 4 times in my life, 3 of which have occurred in the past 6 years. As a result, I was never able to develop a “community” within my neighborhood. After reading this piece however, I’ve realized that my community extends far beyond the physical region I reside in. It extends to the organizations I am a part of, the friendships I have made across the country due to the organizations, and much more. This community has indeed given me the opportunity to reach my aspirations and goals, as James DeFilippis and Susan Saegert highlighted in “Communities Develop: The Question is, How?” However, this fact has made me question whether there was a set definition of community, and I do not believe there is. In that case, how does one find his/her community? I think the answer to that is using the resources available to you.

Linking this to the mental health system in the city, I believe there is a lack of resources for individuals dealing with mental health issues to create a community. They are often marginalized and isolated from the public. DeFilippis and Saegert state, “communities are the sites for our housing, education, health care, daily convenience shopping, and the other activities that sustain us physically, emotionally, socially, and psychologically”. When reviewing the history of mental health in New York City, individuals facing mental health issues were not given adequate housing, education, or health care. Even today, many do not have access to these resources, and as a result they are hurt physically, emotionally, socially, and psychologically.

Recognizing the importance of community is the first step in tackling mental health issues. ThriveNYC has specified an initiative to increase such resources, so I believe we’re going in the right direction.