Category Archives: social capital
Physical vs. Virtual Tools for Building Community
The Town Paper has a list of hundreds of mixed-use neighborhoods from across the United States and elsewhere. They write…
The acronym TND stands for Traditional Neighborhood Development, a comprehensive planning system that includes a variety of housing types and land uses in a defined area. The variety of uses permits educational facilities, civic buildings and commercial establishments to be located within walking distance of private homes. A TND is served by a network of paths, streets and lanes suitable for pedestrians as well as vehicles. This provides residents the option of walking, biking or driving to places within their neighborhood. Present and future modes of transit are also considered during the planning stages.
Public and private spaces have equal importance, creating a balanced community that serves a wide range of home and business owners. The inclusion of civic buildings and civic space — in the form of plazas, greens, parks and squares — enhances community identity and value.
In a way, Front Porch Forum is all about nurturing via the internet what these places try to do with bricks and mortar… a great sense of community.
Front Porch Forum Earns Grant
The Case Foundation announced the final tallies for its Make It Your Own Awards today. We’re delighted that Front Porch Forum finished sixth out of almost 5,000 entrants, earning a grant of $10,000. A remarkable 25% of the 15,000 voters cast a ballot for Front Porch Forum. We’re especially proud of our showing given our small population base (projects in major metro-areas claimed the top five spots).
In describing their program, the Case Foundation writes today…
Contrary to research that showed a decline in civic health and increasing social isolation, we saw that people want to connect with their neighbors, identify shared concerns, make their own decisions, and shape their own course of action.
Thanks to the 3,870 people who voted for us and to the Case Foundation for its support of Front Porch Forum!
Steven Clilft… neighborhoods online
Steven Clift offers an interesting post about neighborhood-level online efforts, including Front Porch Forum. We’re looking forward to participating in a May 7 session he’s convening in Washington, DC, at the Case Foundation.
Social Capital Lesson for Journalists
Steve Yelvington has a thought-provoking piece on social capital today… I think his intended audience is old-school journalists. Coupled with Robert Putnam’s fascinating talk at the University of Vermont the other day, and my everyday exposure to Front Porch Forum, ideas are peculating for me!
Building Community in an e-State
Vermont is working to become the first “e-State” with availability of broadband internet and cell phone coverage across 100% of the state… by 2010. The “100% of the state” bit is ambitious and lots of people, organizations are businesses and contributing toward the realization of this goal.
The State of Vermont justifies this ambition saying it will be good for economic development, healthcare, education, public safety and more. And part of the “and more” usually includes a vague reference to the e-State being good for society and civic engagement. Can the internet and cell phones enhance the sense of community in a town? Many people feel these tools actually turn people’s attention away from local community.
The Snelling Center is stepping in to address this issue with a one-day event on May 29, 2008…
Explore public policy issues, opportunities, and potential obstacles that will arise as Vermont becomes fully connected.
- How might civic life change in a fully connected state?
- How will we master emerging technologies so they unite us and strengthen communities?
- How will we address issues of privacy, equity, resistance to change, ownership, and cost?
- How will local and state governmental units ensure that all citizens have equal access to information and participation?
Details, agenda, and registration.
The keynote speaker will be Lewis Feldstein, Co-Author of Better Together, which he wrote with Bowling Alone author, Robert Putnam. Putnam will be speaking at UVM on April 28, 2008.
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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