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"In his pioneering study, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (Simon & Schuster, 2000), Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam wrote: 'Henry Ward Beecher's advice a century ago to 'multiply picnics' is not entirely ridiculous today. We should do this, ironically, not because it will be good for America — though it will be — but because it will be good for us.' Putnam is not suggesting here that we must expand an already stable level of networking and civil interaction. He has found an overall decline in social capital in America over the past fifty years, a trend that may have significant implications for American society."
Summary of Community Living
The Community Living Committee recommends:
- Stark County will increase the number of collaborative and countywide efforts.
- All Stark County youth will belong to a safe and healthy place during off-school hours.
- People in Stark County will have many and varied opportunities for interaction with people of different cultures, races, religions, socio-economic status, sexual preferences and abilities.
Overview of Recommendations...The delivery of services, both in the private and public sectors, is fragmented. Currently, Stark County has seven public library districts, six cities, 17 townships, 18 school districts, four health departments, 10 Chambers of Commerce, multiple park districts and departments, 89 separate tax districts and an ever increasing number of non-profit organizations. See the complete recommendation For some time, the leaders of Stark County have recognized the importance of off-school-hour youth programming and participation for the successful development of youth. Research has established that youth involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to be successful. In recent years, there has been an increasing concern regarding the lack of physical activity among youth and the increasing rate childhood obesity. See the complete recommendation Social inclusion is achieved when everyone has the opportunity and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural activities. Efforts to bring about community change are hampered if they do not include representatives from all involved constituencies. The Fund for Our Economic Future states that the indicator for racial inclusion and income equity is the only indicator that has a statistically significant association with measures of economic growth. |