COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS          People are very social animals. We need to talk with and do things with other people. We often understand ourselves better when we discuss our opinions, emotions and activities with 2 other people. We need to make meaningful connections with friends and family. These connections help us put aside our frustrations and worries. We can focus on things that are important: the people we care about.        Your local community is the area near your home. It’s where you work, play and go to school. It is the neighborhood where your family makes connections with other people. It’s the places you feel like you belong. Communities grow and change over time. Families move from one city  to another because of work or family situations.      Older adults often move to smaller homes or vacation areas after their children have grown up. Their children move out to start families of the own. New families move in when others leave. Basic services, such as police, post office, health and public schools are in almost every community.       Businesses provide services to the community, too. Stores sell things that people need. Restaurants sell prepared food. Offices provide a variety of skilled word. The local city government is usually an elected mayor and city council. It is their job to listen to the people of the community and help them connect. Some individuals may move on, but the community remains.   1. What should we do to understand ourselves better? __________________________________________________________________ 2. What is a local community? __________________________________________________________________ 3. Why do families move from one city to another? __________________________________________________________________ 4. Name some basic services. __________________________________________________________________