Fighting Fragmentation: The Role of Community-Based Nonprofits in Promoting Group Membership
Abstract
In their respective theories on human nature, Karl Marx and
Ferdinand Tonnies both postulate that community is an intrinsic human
need that is not being satisfied in capitalist societies. Fragmentation and
alienation are gradually replacing group membership and moral
fulfillment, leaving entire populations without the social necessities of
humanity. My theoretical analyses suggests that community-based
nonprofits are the most effective institutions in fighting fragmentation
and promoting the resurgence of classical communities. This claim is
supported by a case study and reflection of my time working for Harriet
Tubman Center, a community-based nonprofit located in Detroit, MI.