Maybelle Center in Portland, Oregon, has successfully integrated the Belonging Barometer into its programs to enhance community connections and address social isolation among residents.
For over 30 years, Maybelle Center has been dedicated to supporting adults facing financial hardship, mental health challenges, and social isolation in downtown Portland, Oregon. The organization has evolved to identify itself as a community health organization, emphasizing that health begins with a sense of belonging. Through various neighborhood programs, affordable housing initiatives, and assisted living services, Maybelle Center fosters lasting relationships, helping individuals feel known, valued, and connected.
In its mission to combat social isolation, Maybelle Center recognized the need to shift its focus toward intentionally building a sense of belonging within the community. However, this transition presented a common challenge: how to effectively measure belonging.
“We wanted to measure belonging,” recalls Shane Skinner, Lead Member Inclusion Coordinator at Maybelle Center. “But how can you measure something so subjective?” The solution came in the form of the Belonging Barometer.
As the organization developed its theory of change, staff members delved into extensive research on belonging from numerous sources. They sought a framework that would ground their programs in evidence-based practices. Upon discovering the Belonging Barometer, they found a research-backed definition of belonging that was both comprehensive and practical.
The Belonging Barometer transformed belonging from an abstract idea into measurable components that staff could easily understand, discuss, and intentionally enhance through their work.
One of the key insights from Maybelle Center’s experience is that implementing the Belonging Barometer does not need to be a complex process. Serving approximately 200 to 250 active members, the organization initiated its first survey using simple, readily available tools.
To launch the survey, Maybelle Center took several straightforward steps:
They introduced the survey through their monthly newsletter, mailed paper surveys with prepaid return envelopes, enlisted volunteers to enter responses into an Excel spreadsheet, and collaborated with a board member who had expertise in data analysis to interpret the results.
Ultimately, it required a commitment to learning from the community members they serve.
While the annual Belonging Barometer survey yields valuable data, Maybelle Center quickly recognized that the framework could also inform their programming. Instead of attempting to enhance every aspect of belonging simultaneously, the team identified three priority building blocks from the Barometer’s local belonging framework to guide their activities.
The three guiding priorities are:
1. Helping individuals feel welcomed and included.
2. Ensuring people feel valued for who they are and what they contribute.
3. Creating environments where individuals feel comfortable expressing diverse opinions.
Before each event, staff members intentionally ask themselves how the activity will strengthen belonging. Sometimes this involves incorporating icebreakers, altering conversation facilitation methods, or creating additional opportunities for participants to contribute.
After each program, the team assesses whether they achieved their belonging goals and uses the insights gained to enhance future activities. Each year, Maybelle Center plans to administer the full Belonging Barometer survey to track changes in members’ experiences over time. This data-driven approach will help staff identify which dimensions of belonging are improving and where further attention is necessary. As Skinner aptly states, “Belonging becomes the compass.”
Maybelle Center’s journey demonstrates that measuring belonging does not require perfect data, a large staff, or a significant budget. Organizations can start with a single survey and focus on just a few dimensions of belonging.
Most importantly, the Belonging Barometer provides a means to understand and strengthen community ties. As Skinner notes, the Belonging Barometer offers community leaders a tangible method to measure belonging, something many have been seeking.
For those interested in implementing similar practices, Maybelle Center encourages downloading the free Belonging Barometer Quick Start Guide and survey questions to begin measuring belonging in their own communities.
The insights shared here are based on the experiences of Maybelle Center, highlighting the importance of belonging in community health initiatives, according to American Immigration Council.