Groups and responsible togetherness in a local community

Background. In the actual socio-cultural context, we witness always more complex forms of social togetherness among citizens, who bring cultural and dedication differences in the communities. Nevertheless, the perception of low individual and collective power makes it difficult to think and act for creating contexts of responsible togetherness. We hypothesize that groups in local communities can guarantee the promotion and transmission of togetherness. Indeed, every group meets for doing something, allowing individuals to defend theirselves from primordial anguishes. Aims. The aim is to understand processes to create responsible togetherness and active participation into a local community, starting from the group dynamics. Method. Our study involved eight members from a socially and politically active group (average age 32). We conducted semi-structured interviews about group's experiences, its relationships with the community and its planning. The transcripts were analysed using the Grounded Theory. Results. Four categories emerged: group identity, group's realist but confident vision, promoting togetherness in the community through the group, ambivalent relationship with the outgroup between resources and difficulties. The core category was looking for the Other between collision and comparison, because of the numerous references about the relational area and the interdependence between the group and the local community. Conclusions. It seems evident that local communities need spaces to make differences meet and match, to inform and discuss, to promote participation and empowerment, to motivate citizens in using their resources for the common well-being. This makes us reflect about actual the social phenomena and the transformations they cause in local contexts.