The question I am asked most frequently is if I’ve found that people are willing to pay for access to an online community and my answer is always yes. How much? That depends on the host of the community, the members, and the problems that the community solves.
I’ll share a few steps I took to apply for this grant, which will not be awarded for a few months, so I can’t say that this is a “winning” strategy yet, but I’ll let you know.
Using the notes, feedback, and observing your “ideal members” during interviews, surveys, or focus groups, you can take that data to put together what you’ve learned for what will work for your community structure.
Chris Fitz is the Founder and Artistic Director of River Crossing Playback Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With experience in improvisational arts since 2003, Chris and his ensemble use Playback Theatre to build community by dramatically portraying real-life stories.
He is also a trained mediator and former Executive Director of the Center for Community Peacemaking, specializing in Restorative Justice—community-based practices that address harm and promote healing in schools, communities, and the legal system.
Chris sees Playback Theatre as a tool for personal and social healing, emphasizing the power of storytelling to foster connection, belonging, and understanding. Through performances like ”Healing York,” his troupe has addressed issues like racial harm, showing how storytelling can help heal communities.
Chris believes in the importance of repeated dialogue and rituals to foster belonging, whether in-person or online, and offers advice to community builders on engaging participants without relying too heavily on presentations.
His focus remains on creating safe spaces for people to connect, share their stories, and address community challenges through both art and conversation.
Contact Chris Fitz and the River Crossing Playback Troupe by visiting the website https://rivercrossingplayback.org/ and connect with Advoz at https://advoz.org/.
If you have an online community, or just want to grow an online business, communicating directly to your audience allows you to build relationships with them one email at a time!
You might think you don’t have enough time, but I have some great news for you!
ConvertKit can help you start building your email list with easy-to-setup templates, immediate analytics, and start for free!
Buzzsprout Let's get your podcast
Start for FREE
Mighty Networks
All-In-One Community Platform for your course or membership.
Bonsai
Run your entire business in one place with the help of this business management tool
Kit
Kit makes email marketing easy!
Grammerly
Grammarly helps you become a better writer using AI technology
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
The Community Strategy Podcast offers interviews with online community leaders who share their community-building journey. Our podcast covers community concepts, community building, community strategy, community structure, community membership, and community management. Visit our Website Find Calm Here to learn more about working with Deb