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Tag: Community Capitals

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future Using Social Capital

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future Using Social Capital

By Kylee Harrison

What makes a community a desirable place to live?  You could ask 100 different people this question and get 100 different responses.  Things like resources, location, size or jobs might float to the top of the list.  However, people often forget the one aspect that links all those responses together which is social connection.  People want to feel connected and included.

 

Social capital is just one of the seven different ways that we can measure strengths of our communities and possibly, see where gaps may exist.  This measuring mechanism is referred to as community capitals.  Communities that make plans using these seven capitals will be able to see how they intertwine with each other and develop a comprehensive plan moving forward.

 

Social capital can be one of your community’s greatest resources.  Have you ever heard the phrase, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  Well in this instance, that might be partly right.  “Who you know” can become your network.  A well-functioning network in a community may be a resource for shared knowledge and ideas.  This makes almost all community efforts more effective.  When social capital is at its best, common goals and decisions are made and easier to follow because of the shared consensus.  In addition to networking, social capital also has other elements which makes it the cornerstone to your community.  Additional components include a sense of belonging, high morale, trust and reciprocity of favors.

 

Building of social capital can be done in a few different ways.  This can be done through closed social capital which is achieved when groups communicate and work on projects together.  Bridging social capital among communities is another way of boosting your overall social capital.  In rural communities, the pooling of resources is necessary to accomplish big goals.

 

Social capital amongst a community is dependent upon the quality of relationships that are formed within individuals and groups.  The process takes time, but the end result of making your community a desirable place to live is worth it.

Community Capitals Framework; Natural Capital

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future

By Kylee Harrison

From tiny towns to large cities, municipalities are looking for ways to push themselves towards future growth.  Many community leaders have said that if a town isn’t growing, it’s dying.  With that mindset, it’s no secret they are seeking growth.  However, many times, in order to achieve well balanced and sustaining growth, a community must first know where they stand and what resources they have.  The Community Capitals Framework (CCF) introduces the concept of measuring current successes and resources in communities based on seven dimensions called community capitals.  According to Cheryl Jacobs, Community Leadership Development Extension Associate with South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service, capital is defined as a resource that is capable of producing additional resources, therefore CCF provides a comprehensive way to categorize a community’s assets and explore the relationships among them.  Over the course of the next few months I’ll introduce each of the capitals, and give suggestions of how they can be used to measure.

In this article, we will be focusing on natural capital, which is defined as the environment, natural beauty, lakes, rivers and streams, forests, wildlife, soil and the local landscape.  Natural capital consists of all the natural resources available to a community, which could include water, air, fertile soil, biodiversity and landscape or wildlife habitats.  These are all resources that are not man-made and already exist.  Most all our natural capitals can be affected by things that are out of human control, such as drought.

Let’s look at an example of natural capital such as water.  If your community has a river this could positively affect your natural capital with the financial impact that it could create due to tourism and recreation.  In addition to financial capital, a river could also increase the quality of life for families who enjoy spending time outdoors, which could be considered social capital.  From this example, it is easy to see how the capital framework is intertwined.

When thinking about the natural capital that exists in your community, you must first consider who owns it or who has rights to it.  For instance, land usage could be the jurisdiction of local, state or federal entities.  Regulations and ordinances are often in place and must be studied before a community can move forward with a project.

What kind of natural capital exists in your community?  What are the benefits and what are the potential concerns?  These are questions that communities need to consider as they plan for their future, understanding that there is an interconnection between each of the capitals.

Group Dynamics

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Group Dynamics

By Kylee Harrison, Community Development Agent

In Kindergarten, we learn how to share.  It is a fundamental steppingstone of school.  With each passing year, we build those skills with things like group discussions, projects and grading.  Just when you think you have mastered group projects in school, one step into the real world it quickly becomes apparent that team work is all around us as adults also.  Whether it be co-workers, bosses, volunteer boards or elsewhere, working together with a group is inevitable.  However, there are some pieces that can make the functionality of the group more positive.  Here are a few simple steps to help your group understand different dynamics, and ultimately, make you more productive.

  1. Learning preferred communication styles – With today’s ever-changing technology, there are hundreds of ways to communicate. Anything from smoke signals to apps can get the job done.  Knowing what the preferred method is can be the key to getting your group together.  Many times, we have preferences based on your age, but this is not always the case.  No matter what your group chooses, make sure that everyone understands the technology and you commit to it!  If you say that email is the best way to communicate then darn it, CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
  2. Work style – Different ways of working and assumptions about work in general can create tension in the workplace. Understand the style with which you perform best, and share that with your team members. 

 

    3. Understand conflict – Conflict may arise as a result of a variety of        sources.  Sources on conflict include; information and/or sources, relationships, interests, values, structure and change.

Community Capitals

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future

A common chord that communities all over the United States share is they are actively looking to the future.  Whether it is a mid-level urban setting, or the smallest of “Small Town, USA,” leaders are trying to determine what the next steps are for their neighborhoods, counties or districts.  The Community Capitals Series introduces the concept of measuring current successes and resources in communities based on seven dimensions called community capitals.  According to Cheryl Jacobs, Community Leadership Development Extension Associate with South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service, capital is defined as a resource that is capable of producing additional resources.  Community capitals are also a useful way of identifying potential improvements.  In this article, we will be focusing on natural capital, which is defined as the environment, natural beauty, lakes, rivers and streams, forests, wildlife, soil and the local landscape.

Natural capital consists of all the natural resources available to a community, which could include water, air, fertile soil, biodiversity and landscape or wildlife habitats.  These are all resources that are not man-made and already exist.  Most all our natural capitals can be affected by things that are out of human control, such as drought.

Continue reading “Community Capitals” →