The Broomstick Principle: Why Community Care Matters

In our modern world, we are taught to think in terms of transactions. We focus on monetizing our skills and growing our businesses so we can support ourselves—and that’s necessary. We have to eat, and our labor has value.

But if we only ever focus on what we can extract or profit from our surroundings, the social fabric starts to wear thin. A thriving community requires a different kind of currency: unmonetized service.

Beyond the Transaction

Take a look at your neighborhood. Think about the walkable shops, the local cafes, and the small businesses that give your area its character. If we want those places to exist, we have to do more than just appreciate them from afar; we have to show up. We shop there, eat there, and support them because we want that ecosystem to survive.

However, community care goes deeper than just being a “good consumer.” It’s about asking a simple, radical question:

“What am I giving back to the space I am taking from?”

The Small, Silent Acts

I have a ritual. I have an old, repurposed push-broom handle—just a long, sturdy stick. Whenever a heavy storm hits and the street begins to pool with water, I head outside. I find the storm drains clogged with leaves and debris, and I poke at them until the water breaks through and the street clears.

No one pays me to do it. Most of my neighbors don’t even know I’m out there. But that small act of service prevents the block from flooding. It keeps the path clear for everyone.

Finding Your “Broomstick”

A community isn’t a static thing; it’s a living project that requires constant maintenance. There are a thousand small acts needed to make a neighborhood thrive, and many of them don’t come with a paycheck or a “thank you.”

• It’s picking up the trash outside your home.
• It’s checking on a neighbor after a power outage.
• It’s sharing food in a community fridge.

We need to survive, yes. But we also need to serve. When we look at the communities we care about, we should ask ourselves where we can move from taking to tending.

What is one small thing you can do for your block this week—just because it needs doing?

This philosophy is exactly why I co-founded Women Belong. For me, community isn’t just a side project; it’s my life’s work. I’ve seen firsthand that when we create spaces where people truly show up for one another—sharing leads, advice, and encouragement—everyone grows.

But even within a professional network, the “broomstick principle” applies. We have to look at what we are contributing to the Circle, not just what we are getting out of it.

If you are looking for a community that values this balance of professional growth and mutual support, I’d love for you to see it in action.

Come be my guest. I invite you to join us for a free visit to one of our networking Circles. Let’s see how we can be of service to one another.

Content provided by Women Belong member Kate Alpert