About the Program - Community Builders Program | Wartburg College

What is Community Builders?
Community Builders is a project which brings together people of all ages (Waverly-Shell Rock 6th graders, Wartburg College students, and members of the local community) who discuss and share what it takes to build a sense of community and the value of doing so.

How is Community Builders structured?
Each participant is placed in a “neighborhood” which has seven to 12 people of various ages.

When does Community Builders meet?
Neighborhood meetings are scheduled five times during each semester.

What happens at the neighborhood meetings?
Individuals come together from various generations and backgrounds to learn about their community. They will begin by discussing definitions of community, service and learning. They will learn about sites in their community which provide a service to the citizens in their community. Community Builders participants will discover how participation and the ability to respond to authentic needs improves the quality of life in the community, which may lead to a lifelong ethic of service and civic participation. You can view Town Meeting pictures.

What is the purpose of Community Builders?
We believe that building an appreciation for the value of community is important. We live in a democracy which requires the participation of informed citizens who care about their community and country. We think Community Builders can help people be better citizens by talking about the importance of community and practicing the skills that can help improve communities. This is consistent with the Wartburg definition of leadership, “Taking responsibility for our communities and making them better through public action.”

What are the projects Community Builders are doing?
Community Builders undertake projects that help each member understand and appreciate the value of community and civic engagement. Projects are developed by the members of the different Community Builders neighborhoods. For example, each neighborhood develops a time capsule, which represents the understanding of community and civic engagement as discussed in the respective neighborhoods. In addition, Community Builders participants work on service projects. These and similar projects will allow Community Builders to help build community as they practice arts of civic engagement.