Emerging New Society

Community building may be defined as those activities that foster increased grassroots participation, expand ownership of institutions, and encourage public discussions about issues that have immediate relevance in the lives of residents. Some hold that there is increased civic participation in America, as evidenced by developments in the following areas: local schools; community-based environmental initiatives; health institutions; community-strengthening forms of economic development; and court, policing, and penal programmes. For example, in 1984, 9% of U.S. high schools offered service-learning opportunities; in 1999, 83% did. Recycling rates increased from 6.6% in 1970 to 28% in 2002.

Published in 2002, this report has a two-fold purpose. First, it highlights 34 such local-level programmes, many of which focus on creating close neighbourhood communities and fostering increased democratic participation. Second, it explores ways in which these programmes can together, as a part of a larger trend reshaping the United States, effect change.