This report examines belonging, community attachment, and resilience among Central Oregonians through survey data, focus groups, and community co-interpretation sessions. This report also specifies concrete strategies for action based on these findings and national recommendations.

Belonging is multi-dimensional and rooted in various communities and identity groups.

Family, shared hobbies, and lived experiences are significant sources of belonging for Central Oregonians. Participants expressed a strong desire for warm, supportive interactions, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal connections in fostering a sense of belonging. Engagement in shared activities, volunteering, and participation in community events also contribute to a deeper sense of connection within Central Oregon communities.

Belonging is an important determinant of health for Central Oregonians.

Belonging plays a vital role in the health and well-being of Central Oregonians, affecting both physical and mental health. Survey findings highlighted a clear relationship between community attachment and self-rated physical and mental health. Individuals with higher levels of community attachment reported better overall health, while those with lower community attachment and connectedness experienced poorer self-rated physical and mental health.

Major drivers of belonging include safety, relationships, and reciprocal, active participation.

The findings highlighted that safety is a necessary condition for belonging. Moreover, physical and emotional safety creates a foundation for Central Oregonians to feel secure, accepted, and valued within a group or community. Findings from the focus groups further demonstrated that belonging is nurtured by warm and supportive relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and mentors. Belonging is cultivated by active participation, reciprocity, and shared interests with others (e.g., shared hobbies, recreational interests, religious beliefs, values, and lived experiences).

Identities, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age, are strongly associated with belonging among Central Oregonians.

Participants express the importance of shared backgrounds and experiences in fostering a sense of connection within their communities. However, barriers related to identity, such as discrimination and exclusion, present challenges to belonging. Promoting inclusivity and addressing systemic barriers are crucial steps in ensuring that all Central Oregonians feel a sense of belonging in their communities. Additionally, we found substantial generational differences with older adults placing greater importance on age-specific communities (including clubs and activities tailored to their age group, like gardening or book clubs) and shared political beliefs, while young adults leaned toward connections built through school, college, and in the LGBTQA+ communities.

Barriers to belonging include discrimination and economic and political divides.

Discrimination— based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation – creates substantial barriers to individuals feeling accepted and valued within their communities. Participants identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color shared experiences of microaggressions and tokenism in predominantly white spaces, underscoring a lack of genuine inclusion and representation. Moreover, our findings demonstrated that economic disparities can contribute to feelings of exclusion, as financial constraints limit access to resources and opportunities for social engagement. Similarly, political divides deepen social fragmentation, fostering an environment where differing ideologies can be a barrier to interpersonal connections and community cohesion. Addressing these barriers necessitates concerted efforts to prevent discrimination, alleviate economic inequality, and bridge political divides, fostering a more inclusive and cohesive community environment.