Program Management Guide: Community Belonging Network

1. Program Introduction & Benefits

This program is a 12-month, structured networking initiative designed to measurably increase the sense of belonging among community members. It is built upon proven network theory and experiential learning frameworks. The curriculum is modeled as a dynamic network where skills and relationships are interconnected nodes, developed iteratively through a 70-20-10 approach (70% experiential networking, 20% peer interaction, 10% formal instruction). The core goal is to elevate the community's belonging score above 4.5/5 in the annual survey by strategically building and strengthening social connections.

Strategic Benefits for Community Members:

• Enhanced Social Capital: Systematically build a robust, supportive, and diverse personal network within the community, increasing access to resources, support, and opportunities.
• Increased Confidence in Social Engagement: Overcome initial hesitancy through a structured, spiral curriculum that progresses from self-awareness and one-on-one connections to confident group participation.
• Stronger Sense of Inclusion & Trust: Move from feeling like an isolated participant to being an integrated member of trusted subgroups and the wider community network.
• Development of Tangible Soft Skills: Acquire and practice critical interpersonal skills such as active listening, reciprocal relationship-building, and constructive conflict resolution.
• Sustainable Community Integration: Learn rituals and strategies to maintain and expand connections long-term, ensuring ongoing engagement and a lasting sense of belonging.

2. Program Expansion Strategy

Evaluation: The primary program is a Networking Program, not a Mentorship or Coaching program. The goal of increasing belonging is fundamentally social and relational. While structured networking builds breadth and initial depth of connection, a supplemental Peer Mentoring layer would significantly enhance outcomes by providing consistent, supportive, and accountable one-on-one relationships. This addresses key audience challenges like low commitment and social anxiety by pairing members for mutual support throughout the 12-month journey.

Value Addition & Implementation: A voluntary Peer Mentoring track, launched in Month 2 after initial network mapping, would create anchored, dyadic relationships that reinforce learning and provide a safe space for vulnerability. These pairs would act as "home bases" within the larger network, increasing participant retention and deepening the quality of connections, directly feeding into the belonging score.

• Implementation Note: Use a lightweight matching tool (see Approved Tools) to pair participants based on complementary goals or shared interests identified in Module 1. Provide a simple framework for peer mentoring pairs, suggesting a 30-minute bi-weekly check-in to discuss progress on networking goals, share challenges, and celebrate successes. This structure formalizes the "20% peer mentoring" component of the 70-20-10 model.

3. Implementation Roadmap

Launch Phase (Pre-Month 1 to Month 1)

• $render`✓` Pre-Launch (4 Weeks Out): Secure leadership buy-in and announce program to community with clear benefits. Open registration.
• $render`✓` Tooling Setup (3 Weeks Out): Configure selected Internal Social Network and Onboarding Platform for program delivery.
• $render`✓` Kickoff & Baseline (Month 1): Host a virtual launch event. Administer the initial belonging survey and have all participants complete their personal network map (identifying 5+ existing connections). Onboard participants into the first module.

Tracking & Operations (Months 2-11)

• Monthly Cadence: Release new spiral content for the active module. Host at least one facilitated experiential (70%) event (e.g., themed networking roundtable). Promote peer-led (20%) meetups.
• Quarterly Cadence: Administer interim "pulse" belonging surveys. Analyze aggregated, anonymized network metrics (average degree, clustering) to identify silos or disengaged participants.
• Continuous Moderation: Program managers will facilitate the Internal Social Network group, highlight success stories, and encourage cross-group interactions based on network analysis insights.

Success Measurement

• Primary KPI: Belonging Score: Achieve >4.5/5 in the annual survey (End of Month 12), with incremental gains of +0.5 at each 3-month milestone.
• Quantitative KPIs:
  • Network Health: Average participant network degree >10; clustering coefficient >0.5; engagement path length <3.
  • Engagement: >90% monthly activity rate (e.g., logging an interaction); >75% of participants form 5+ new, meaningful connections.
  • Retention: <10% participant dropout rate.
• Qualitative Feedback:
  • Thematic Analysis: Monthly analysis of feedback from events and forums for frequency of "inclusion," "trust," and "connection" themes.
  • Narrative Collection: Quarterly collection of short participant stories about connections made.
  • Peer Recognition: End-of-program nominations for "Community Connector" awards.

4. Approved Tools List

• Internal Social Network: Primary Delivery & Interaction Hub. This tool is essential for hosting the community, facilitating the 70% experiential networking (via interest groups and event organization), enabling peer (20%) interactions, and sharing formal (10%) content. It allows for the organic formation and observation of network ties.
• Onboarding Platform: Structured Journey Management. This tool will be used to deliver the sequenced, spiral curriculum (Modules 1-4), provide a clear roadmap for participants, house the resource library, and track completion of micro-commitments like network mapping exercises, supporting the need for structured progression against low commitment.
• Personality Test (Optional, Supplemental): Can be used in Module 1: Self in Community to give participants a framework for understanding their own communication and networking style, fostering self-awareness before engaging with others.

Justification: Mentorship/Coaching Software and ERG Program Software are too narrow for this broad community networking goal. An LMS is too academic and linear; the Onboarding Platform provides a more flexible, journey-oriented experience. The Internal Social Network is non-negotiable as it is the digital fabric where the community network will actually form and be observed.

5. Resource & Content Library

General Program Content

• Guide: "Mapping Your Community Network: A Starter Template"
• Video Series: "The Art of the Follow-Up: Turning a Hello into a Connection"
• Interactive Worksheet: "Active Listening in Action: A Self-Assessment"
• Article Collection: "The Science of Belonging: Why Weak Ties Matter"
• Playbook: "Hosting a Successful Peer-Led Coffee Chat"
• Framework Guide: "Using ADKAR for Personal Networking Habit Change"
• Template: "My Connection Maintenance Ritual"
• Case Studies: Stories from past participants on overcoming social anxiety within the community.

Supplemental Mentoring Content Table

To support the optional Peer Mentoring track and reinforce core program skills.

Skill Area	Resource for Mentor/Mentee Pair	Purpose
Active Listening	"The Three Levels of Listening" Cheat Sheet	To improve the quality of peer check-ins and model behavior for wider networking.
Giving & Receiving Feedback	"The SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) Model for Peer Feedback" Guide	To help pairs provide constructive support on each other's networking approaches.
Goal Setting for Relationships	"Networking Goal Canvas" Worksheet	To structure peer conversations around specific, actionable connection goals.
Building Trust & Vulnerability	"Question Prompts for Deeper Connection" Card Deck	To provide a safe, structured way for pairs to move beyond surface-level interaction.
Navigating Conflict	"A Simple Framework for Peer Resolution" Flowchart	To equip pairs to handle misunderstandings and maintain their supportive relationship.