What is better together?
We are all familiar with many measures of community life — real estate values; school enrollments, achievement and taxes; traffic statistics; acres of preserved open space; income; crime. But these statistics miss many quality-of-life factors such as how well you know and trust your neighbors, merchants, co-workers; how well we support our local non-profit organizations by volunteering; how often we just kick back and have fun with family and friends; and how engaged we are as voters and citizens in local affairs? The Central New Jersey Social Capital Benchmark Survey provides a new lens through which to view and understand ourselves.
What is social capital?
“Social capital” refers to the friendships, acquaintances, and working relationships that tie people together. The bonds of social capital make neighborhoods safer, schools better, and
people healthier. When individuals are invested in each other and their communities, they are more likely to vote, volunteer, care for one another, and cooperate even when they have
differences. Social capital has both individual and collective elements that affect our lives and the wellbeing of our businesses and towns.
Why does it matter?
A growing body of research * shows that communities with higher levels of social capital are likely to see more educational achievement, better performing governments, stronger economies, and less crime and violence. People living in these communities actually report being happier, healthier, and living longer. Where social capital is strong, it is easier to mobilize people to tackle problems. It is easier to take advantage of opportunities that benefit everyone.
How can we increase our social capital?
Did you know that each additional ten minutes a day spent commuting by car reduces by 10% a person’s engagement in community affairs — political and religious activities, volunteering, and social interaction? Things that free us from our cars can reverse that. So can anything that makes our towns more livable. That’s what planners mean when they talk about “Smart Growth” — achieving a unique sense of community and place through compact, walk-able, bicycle friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, and streets that work for everyone. As we know, space is tight in central New Jersey, and all our communities are being challenged to manage their future growth. Many important issues in the region, from transportation planning to residential and commercial development, touch people in more than one town. Having strong social capital ensures that all perspectives are heard and reflected in decisions that affect many people.
Kids are natural connectors. We can learn a lot from them. We can also make sure we are teaching them the fun of reaching out to others.
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