How Volunteerism Strengthens Belonging, Trust, and the Future of Wilmington

Civic Pride Is Not a Feeling, It’s a Practice

When cities talk about progress, the conversation often centers on growth: new development, job creation, and economic investment. These matter. But they are not the whole story. Some of the most consequential forces shaping a city’s future are harder to quantify like belonging, trust, connection, and the sense that a place is ours.

This is the work of civic pride.

Civic pride is not blind optimism or boosterism. It is the collective sense of ownership, care, and responsibility residents feel toward their city. It shows up not just in moments of celebration or crisis, but in everyday choices - whether people participate, contribute, and believe their involvement matters. In Wilmington, civic pride is visible, active, and deeply tied to volunteerism.

Active community engagement can increase local economic development by up to 25 %.

What Civic Pride Looks Like in Practice

Cities with strong civic pride tend to “feel” different. People show up. They take responsibility for shared spaces. They speak about their city using we rather than they. Civic pride becomes visible through participation, not slogans.

It looks like residents volunteering with local nonprofits and schools. Neighbors picking up trash on a walk instead of stepping around it. Community members advocating for safer streets, stronger greenways, or more inclusive housing; not just by complaining, but by organizing, collaborating, and staying engaged.

Civic pride also shows up in how people tell their city’s story. When residents uplift local wins, support small businesses, attend arts events, help their neighbors, and welcome newcomers, they are reinforcing a shared identity. These behaviors signal trust in one another, and in the idea that collective effort leads somewhere meaningful.

Volunteerism as the Bridge Between Pride and Belonging

Volunteerism is one of the most powerful expressions of civic pride because it transforms care into action. Volunteers extend the capacity of nonprofits and public institutions, making it possible to meet community needs with limited resources.

It is not only about service delivery; it is about connection.

Volunteers also act as connectors - bridging neighborhoods, generations, and lived experiences. Through volunteering, people build relationships that reduce isolation, strengthen trust, and create pathways into deeper civic engagement.

Just as importantly, volunteers are stewards of place. From environmental conservation and disaster response to arts, culture, and historic preservation, volunteers help protect what makes Wilmington distinct. That stewardship fosters pride, belonging, and a shared responsibility for the city’s future.

Why Systems Matter, Not Just Goodwill

Good intentions alone do not sustain civic pride. For volunteerism to strengthen communities over time, it must be supported by intentional systems.

Well-designed volunteer programs create meaningful, accessible roles that align with real community needs. They invest in leadership, measure impact beyond hours served, and recognize volunteer engagement as a strategic function - not an afterthought. When volunteer systems are under-resourced or poorly structured, they risk burnout and inequity. When they are intentional, they become engines of resilience, trust, and long-term capacity.

In heavily engaged communities, crime rates decline by about 15 %, and a majority of volunteers (around **65 %) report feeling more connected to their community because of their service.

This is especially important in a city like Wilmington, which is experiencing rapid growth alongside persistent inequities and environmental vulnerability. Sustainable development here is not abstract. It is human and place-based, balancing growth with equity, resilience, and social infrastructure.

A Moment of Opportunity

The United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development offers Wilmington a timely opportunity: to name volunteerism as a core strategy for community well-being, invest in the systems that make it effective, and better understand how civic pride and participation shape the city’s future.

Sustainable development will not be achieved through policy or funding alone. It will be built, day by day, by residents who show up, give their time and skills, and believe their city is worth caring for.

Civic pride is not something we have or don’t have. It is something we practice daily, together.

As Wilmington looks ahead, there is an important moment to pause and recognize the role volunteers play in shaping our city’s future. On February 3 at 6:30 PM, the Wilmington City Council will read a proclamation recognizing 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development during its regularly scheduled council meeting.

This proclamation reflects Wilmington’s commitment to civic participation, community resilience, and the people who show up every day to serve.

We extend sincere thanks to Mayor Saffo, City Council, and City staff for their leadership and dedication to fostering a city where volunteerism, connection, and shared responsibility are recognized as essential to our collective well-being.

Statistics taken from Zipdo Community Service Statistics

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