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Creating Block-Level Sense of Community in Urban Neighborhoods

Year Awarded: 2002
Project Leaders:
John Schweitzer, MSU Urban Affairs Program; Rene Rosenbaum, MSU Department of Resource Development; Annalie Campos, MSU Urban Affairs Program; Judy Gardi, Citywide Network Center.
$28,624

Project Description:
This collaborative study will examine how a sense of community can be created or strengthened in urban areas, one block at a time.

While there is a body of research showing the negative consequences of community breakdowns on youth and families, little work has been done to demonstrate how struggling communities can regain cohesion, promote civic participation, and improve the overall health and quality of life for families. This project will provide valuable practical information for community specialists, neighborhood leaders and residents, and will generate knowledge about the best kinds of interventions that foster community vitality.

"Residents living among neighbors who share a sense of community are more likely to engage in pro-social activities such as voting, recycling, and volunteering. They have less fear of crime and their adolescent male children are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior," said John Schweitzer, project co-leader and professor in Urban Affairs.

These pro-social activities often lead to the creation of strong local networks that are essential for developing social capital. Understanding what drives these activities will provide key insights for groups trying to promote not only the unity, but also the social mobility of communities and their members.

"Findings could be used by community developers, neighborhood leaders, and other community activists to build social capital in urban neighborhoods, block by block," said Schweitzer.

Researchers will work in selected Lansing neighborhoods, implementing interventions that range from passing out neighborhood handbooks to organizing meals and social events for residents. They will use pre-test and post-test surveys to examine which of these techniques best fosters the growth of pro-social behaviors that have been demonstrated to promote happier, healthier living environments.