In a time when climate anxiety and fear of large-scale societal changes are at a ‘That world that’s in your pocket is not the world, the world is the one that lies before your feet, and the people that we meet.’

– Tom Rosenthal, You Might Find Yours

In January, we made the trip to Ennistymon for the ‘Nature & Collective Action’ workshop hosted by Hometree, the nature restoration charity, and B Lab Ireland. Alongside our fellow B Corps, we spent time gaining insight into the work that Hometree undertakes, and how holding the B Corp Certification can help reframe how you do business. We learned about our native Irish forestry as we pulled birch trees from the ground to be used in the nursery, and we discussed how we must protect the land as we seed-harvested crab apple trees. We reflected on the power of culture and art on nature and the climate, and how maybe, art can be used as a tool to connect with people about the climate crisis.

Despite noting early on into the workshop that attendees could take time at any stage for a phone call, to reply to an email, or do some work as needed; phones were rarely a feature of the day. Quick snaps were taken, perhaps an email or two replied to, but mostly the Out of Office feature served its purpose. When given the option to be outdoors, to get dirt under our fingernails, and to have meaningful conversation; phones and laptops didn’t seem to exist – we had time together, as part of a community.

The word community has garnered additional meaning in recent years. Previously, community meant a local area, club, neighbourhood – somewhere that might take up physical space or function as a place to congregate. Now it seems to exist in the ether, oscillating between reality and the online world. Followers on social media platforms can now mean community, and community has developed into parasocial relationships with people admired online. In a sense, community has become a way to pull back the curtain on the lives that would have felt unattainable before.

However, in a bid to bring us closer together, we have never felt so apart.

The issue is, community is something that should be inherent, not earned. In commodifying community, we have put a price on connection. The discussions around the rise of consumerism and individualism are rife, with most people theorising the same thing: we have more than ever, and we are more alone than ever.

When we build community, we build grassroots places for action. From community comes change and camaraderie. Coming together to discuss, extricate, discenr, argue, agree, input – all of these small instances’s matter, and be built upon. Broadening life beyond a screen to real interactions is where all the magic can happen. Community is built on connection, on coffeess, walks, talks and events. Engaging on an interpersonal level face-t-o-face helps bring us together to empathise and invigorate, regardless of whether the issue is big or small. That belief underpins our 1% for Communities initiative, through which we dedicate 1% of our time each month to providing pro bono communications support to charities and community groups making a difference.

Attending the most recent B ag Caint workshop to celebrate B Corp Month, you could feel the sense of community buzzing in the air. With attendees ranging from companies who had recently received the certification, to those who have held it for years, to even those who were curious or in the process of certifying – the room was for everyone. It was for open discussion and food for thought. A space for generosity, evident through the time people had given to attend down to coffees, pastries, and product samples donated by B Corps.

Bringing together leading voices across engaging panel discussions on purpose-led entrepreneurship and female leadership, as well as powerful keynote speeches, the room felt full of action and engagement, highlighting how powerful change can come from people and the support we can offer when we come together.

In today’s world, our connections often start online and that has created brand new ways of engaging or working together, offering a model that is more flexible than previous, one that can offer more balance. That being said, becoming a B Corp and being given these opportunities to come together with the wider community has highlighted the importance of taking time to be offline. Often, these person-to-person conversations can help join the dots to develop meaningful relationships with those who share your values or make you think differently about what you’re doing. While we know that online communities are here to stay, our takeaways from these experiences are not to underestimate the power of the offline, to try unplug from time to time, and to go outside.