Project Description

The term healthy communities implies the presence of a vibrant social infrastructure consisting of numerous formal and informal organization which are held together by the social fabric of the community. Social networks link organizations and individuals with each other and enable the community to function in a healthy way. In most urban communities, the weakening of the social fabric has exacerbated existing problems. Individuals torn loose from a context of community lose the ability to work with others to influence the conditions of their lives.

A strong social fabric characterized by trust, honest communication, and mutual support allows a community of individuals to collectively address their problems through the development of a collective sense of community. When individuals communicate in a climate of trust and mutuality, they are collectively able to influence the conditions of their lives in a positive way.
 

Project Goals

A collective sense of community empowers a group of individuals to act for their mutual benefit, both internally and externally. Granting that a strong social network or fabric is necessary for a healthy community, it becomes necessary to develop a measure of the social fabric.

The goals of the ongoing Sense of Community Project (SOC) are fourfold:
 

1.   Development of a measurement process that can provide a reliable and valid mapping 
      of the sense of community that exists in a given neighborhood.
2.  Demonstration that sense of community is a useful construct in community building efforts.
3.  Identification of factors that increase the sense of community.
4.  Implementation and evaluation of activities designed to strengthen the sense of 
     community in urban neighborhoods.