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Social capital is a measure of the connections between people
Posted: June 4th, 2009 Tracy Russ
Crossroads Charlotte released results of a new social capital study conducted by UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute and announced new initiatives by organizations in the community designed to increase levels of social capital in Charlotte Mecklenburg.
Eleven organizations announced new initiatives including: American Red Cross – Greater Carolinas Chapter; AT&T; Catawba Lands Conservancy; Centralina Council of Governments; Charlotte Chamber; Communities in Schools; International House; Leadership Charlotte; Partners in Out of School Time (POST); Piedmont Natural Gas and Queens University of Charlotte. To download a summary of these new organizations and their initiatives, CLICK HERE.
The 2008 Social Capital Benchmark Survey was commissioned by Foundation For The Carolinas and conducted by the Urban Institute at UNC Charlotte as a follow-up to a study conducted by Harvard Professor Robert Putnam in 2001. Foundation President Michael Marsicano released the results of the study during the event after introduction by Urban Institute Executive Director Jeff Michael. The current study will be used as a benchmark/evaluation tool for Crossroads Charlotte and will be repeated in 2011. To download a summary of the report, CLICK HERE. To download the complete study, CLICK HERE.
The findings from the 2001 survey indicated that Charlotte ranked 39th out of the 40 communities studied in interracial trust. Both studies measured various indices of social capital in the community, including social trust, inter-racial trust, diversity of friendships, giving and volunteering. The results of the current study will demonstrate how the influx of diversity within Charlotte’s borders and the current economic downturn have affected these topics.
Crossroads Charlotte is a community project that asks organizations and people to respond to four possible futures about the community’s future.
Major funding for Crossroads Charlotte is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Strategic leadership for Crossroads Charlotte is provided by Foundation For The Carolinas, with program management led by Community Building Initiative.
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Add a CommentWhen will they finally put a stake in this group and end it.
It is only about spending rich people's money and that does not bother me but why not give me a bunch of money and I can get any group which is not part of the mainstream to look just as sad in the public's eye. The fact is life is hard for everybody. We just get over it and move on without whining about it.
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