Our communities are essential to our well being and to the well being of our planet. They create a sense of belonging, they are a driving force in change and they serve as platforms for real, global impact. When seeking personal or professional purpose, many of us start by turning to our communities, and for good reason. Community engagement is the perfect avenue for infusing our passions, skills and knowledge into programs and initiatives where we can have direct impact. What if you didn't have to make a major career leap to find your true calling? At OutGrowth, we always make the case that the journey to a fulfilled life and career begins with experience. Communities are the channels, the pathways, to local experience-building merged with real-time impact.

At OutGrowth, community engagement is one of our core value pillars, because we truly believe that engaging with our local leaders, businesses and movements is what generates that hard-to-define enrichment piece. Our programming doesn't just focus on professional development or just career readiness. We need that other dimension. We need the community for true experiential, relevant learning to occur. We need the community because emotional connection rooted in purpose is what enlivens us. We need the community because there's a lot of work to be done in this world, and our communities are already taking action to be a part of the solution. This month, we showcase two phenomenal contributing writers who serve as gold standards for community engagement. We also give you our top resources for taking your first steps toward meaningful involvement. Happy reading.

Grow out with us.