Community of Belonging Working Group: A Community Assessment

Photo of a diverse group of people with their arms around each other swaying

Over the course of 6 to 9 months, this working group will provide a thoughtful and compassionate assessment of your congregation’s belonging efforts—grounded in honest feedback from members whose voices are too often overlooked or unheard.

Download the Community of Belonging Assessment Workbook Today

This is a starting point for reflection, conversation, and action within your community. It is intended to help your community identify the steps needed to become a community rooted in belonging.

This assessment will help you build on your existing measures and aid in initiating new ones. Think of this as an idea checklist: a vision of the type of community that you strive to be. In addition, there is also a version available for your camp community. Please fill out this short form to download the Camp Community of Belonging Assessment Workbook.

As part of the Community Assessment, you will be asked to first create a Community of Belonging Working Group.

The URJ offers a consulting If you have any questions about the assessment, please email belonging@urj.org.

Download the Community of Belonging Assessment Workbook Today

The URJ's Community of Belonging team have given us tremendous support over our process to become a more inclusive community. Their wisdom and materials have been invaluable, both in the initial REDI trainings and in their ongoing coaching. Using the assessment gave us a great tool to collaborate with other congregants to identify priorities for our community. In one year with their guidance we went from being overwhelmed to having a long list of accomplishments. The monthly working group meetings were very helpful both in terms of a sounding board and also to make connections with other congregations and hear their ideas. 

- Phyllis Oster& Sue Aronowitz
Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR

I am so grateful for the support offered to us during the process! The suggestions and the tools you offered were so helpful. The stories and anecdotes offered were especially helpful. I was given extra help and advice that helped us find our way. 

- Sarai Baxter
Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe NM