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Social capital SOCIAL CAPITAL | A closer look
- The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation defines social capital "as human connections that make for healthier people, neighborhoods, communities and society."
- Those connections or relationships are considered part of what generates a sense of belonging, which fosters an entire list of options for building a strong community.
- Research indicates communities rich in social capital tend to have desirable attributes - higher achievements in education, better performances in government, faster economic growth and less crime and violence.
What can you do?
Plenty. The strategies for building social capital seem relatively easy.
- Volunteer.
- Go for a walk, invite a neighbor.
- Ask friends to go for a hike or take a class together.
- Write personal notes when inspired by friends or neighbors.
- Be real, be humble, acknowledge others.
- Say hello as you pass people.
- Volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels.
- Raise funds for a new town clock or the library.
- Read to your children.
- Go to or organize community bandstand events.
- Build a neighborhood playground.
- Organize a community garden.
- Attend a local play.
- Coach a youth sports group.
- Participate in political campaigns.
- Run for public office.
- Help rake a neighbor's yard.
Source: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
For more info<br>
Try online resources for more information.
- www.communitygiving.org
- www.bettertogether.org
- www.bowlingalone.com
- www.indivisible.org
Social capital survey
The social capital telephone survey reached 560 Brainerd lakes area residents in October while the written survey reached 52 students at Central Lakes College.
Partners in the survey were Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp., Brainerd Lakes Chamber, Central Lakes College and the Brainerd Dispatch. The Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, assisted with funding for the survey.
UpFront Consulting of St. Joseph conducted the survey.
Reader response
Comments on this series are welcome by mail to Newsroom, Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401 or e-mail renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com.
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