Learning the Lingo
This brief identifies three broad forms of engagement that are important to any community: 1) help-giving behavior; 2) help-seeking behavior; and 3) civic involvement.
This brief, which utilizes survey results gathered from 10 Making Connections sites, aims to understand how residents relate to one another and to local institutions. Readers will examine these social connections from a variety of angles, including across sites, within the scope of broader municipalities and through the lens of various socio-economic factors.
Research indicates that resource-poor communities experience higher rates of social isolation. Yet, survey results from 10 Making Connections sites suggest that quite the opposite is true. On a wide variety of issues — everything from networking for a new job to seeking out a few extra bucks to make ends meet — residents in these communities report frequently connecting with one another for support.
