Our Community: Assessing Social Capital
Overview of the Our Community Tool
Rural communities have a history of thriving because of the
ties among people who live and work there. How can these ties
be used and strengthened in modern times, when new economics
and demographics have changed rural life?
A community can start by looking at its strengths. The positive
effects of community ties have recently been identified in
both community development practice and research. The term
“social capital” was coined by social scientist
James Coleman to describe these ties, and Robert Putnam furthered
and popularized this research in his book Bowling Alone.
Assessment tools can help communities get an accurate picture
of the ties among its people and organizations. Our
Community was designed by the University
of Minnesota Extension Service, in collaboration with
Yellow Wood Associates especially with rural communities in mind,
building upon rural strengths and assessing conditions specific
to rural culture. As communities look at the future, findings
from an Our Community survey can
focus their efforts – using an accurate picture of what
is going on when its people and organizations work and live
together.
Who can use this tool?
- Local governments who want to mobilize the community to
address public issues.
- Economic and community development professionals who want
to assess the strength of a community.
- Chambers of Commerce and other local associations who care
about community spirit
- Nonprofits and associations who work for the public good
- Academic researchers and Extension professionals
What types of questions can the tool answer?
- What are the norms of community behavior?
- How safe do people feel in our community?
- Do people trust each other?
- Who feels included and who feels excluded?
- Is our community diverse in its attitudes, opinions and
cultures? Do we bond with people who are different than
ourselves?
- How involved are our members in civic activities?
- And more…
Using Our Community in Minnesota
In Minnesota, sponsoring organizations can work with a Leadership and Civic Engagement Educator to administer the tool and analyze the results for their community. Trainings helps communities successfully recruit diverse survey participants and implement the survey. After the survey is administered, a Community Report is generated, summarizing findings from each area of measurement. The Extension Educator can present the summary and facilitate discussion about the implications of the survey findings.
Look at the Social Capital Reports from communities who have completed the assessment process:
For more information about using the tool in Minnesota, contact: Jody Horntvedt, 218-463-0296 or Email: hornt001@umn.edu
Purchasing Our Community for use
in other states
Non-Minnesota organizations can purchase either an annual
license to print an unlimited number of surveys themselves,
or to purchase packages of surveys from the University of
Minnesota Extension. Organizations can also receive coaching
or training from the University of Minnesota Extension staff
to support successful administration of the tool. A template
of the report is provided with the license agreement. This
analysis can be prepared by the sponsoring organization or
through a contract with the University
of Minnesota or Yellow
Wood Associates.
For more information about the survey tool,
licensing agreements or acquiring survey forms, call or email:
Joyce Hoelting
612-625-8233
jhoeltin@umn.edu
