An open system model is applied to assess individual experience of community life. It was predicted that the racial composition of the community and the involvement of individuals in the community would affect perceptions of community culture (community strengths, deficits, support, and satisfaction) and community processes (problem solving, information dissemination, power/influence, and resource utilization). Service providers, active, and inactive citizens from a predominantly black and a predominantly white community were interviewed and differences were obtained with respect to racial composition on culture and process variables. Blacks reported more frequent and distressing problems, cited fewer alternatives in problem solving, and tended to rely more heavily on informal and personal support networks than white respondents. Significant differences were found with respect to role, with service providers citing more strengths and deficits, indicating a higher level of satisfaction, using more services, and relying more on formal resources to solve problems than did citizens. Active citizens were better able to combine the use of formal and informal resources than both service providers and inactive citizens. (Author/RLV)