We’re Going to Need Community More Than Ever

It really is the Hunger Games out here.

2024 has tested us all, pushing our limits and exposing raw truths - just as Katt Williams prophesied. But while fighting for our lives this year, we’ve also experienced how much we can lean on others as the world around us continues to spiral out of control. Confronting reality is essential, yes, but it’s also exhausting.

Between disappointing election results, a worsening cost-of-living crisis and record levels of hate crimes, the collective mental toll has been immense. Many of us are worn out and lost, searching for stability and purpose in a time that isn’t going to stop being chaotic.

According to Kindred’s Positive Change Series, today’s “consumer” is fully aware of and well-informed about many of the world’s urgent issues. The saying ‘ignorance is bliss’ has lost its relevance - there’s only so much time you can spend in delusion before reality catches up. We’ve long known that putting our faith in those in power to take action on big issues - like climate change, fair wages and social support - is often a recipe for disappointment. In these moments, community becomes vital.

The Community Connection

Unfortunately, I couldn’t talk about community without mentioning Community - a show that, in its unique way captures some of life’s hardest moments but, more importantly, how we face them with the support of our chosen family. In the show, the misfit group finds acceptance and connection with each other. Perfection is never their goal, but progress is.

Like the characters in Community, we often build bonds in unlikely places, creating our own families and safe spaces when traditional structures fail to provide support. Just look at how people rally together for causes, from boycotts to disaster relief to signing petitions. In real life, communities band together with the same resilience, wit, and warmth we see in Community.

“In the clurb, we’re all tired”

For a long time, isolation was my go-to coping mechanism. When life was overwhelming, I’d retreat, finding comfort in shutting out the world. But this year, no amount of isolation could bring the peace I needed. Through therapy, a little FOMO and intentional thinking, I found that I actually feel better surrounded by people - specifically, my people. And I’m not alone in that realisation.

Over the next few years, a strong sense of community will be essential for helping us all stay resilient. We’ve seen that isolation no longer provides the refuge it once did. We’re stronger as individuals when we’re part of something bigger - friends, family, support networks, and safe spaces.

Kindred’s research shows that when institutions fall short, community action steps up to fill the gap. While climate issues, fair wages and social equality are top of mind for us, they’re less urgent for those in power. But that’s where community steps in: a space where we can accept each other as we are, motivate each other and find protection - especially when large institutions fall short.

We can create a buffer against pessimism together. There’s something so powerful about being surrounded by people who understand you, and during difficult times, having solidarity, empathy and hope can make all the difference.

we can't go it alone

In a world where so much is out of our control, community can help keep us steady. Just knowing that we’re all side-eyeing the same politician can be enough to band some of us together. With political and social uncertainty a constant challenge, community will be the lifeline we all need.

And finding your people has never been easier. Whether through shared hobbies, niche spaces on Reddit, apps like Lex or blogs like ALIEN, community comes in many forms. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach - and that’s the beauty of it.

Time and time again, we’ve witnessed how our collective energy can drive real change. As we approach 2025, community will be more than something we want; it’ll be something we need - a lifeline that reminds us that together, we can do more than just survive. It really is the Hunger Games, so lean on your people, vent to your community and fuel the change we’re all hoping for.