Social disconnection/isolation has emerged and been documented in recent decades as a significant, foundational threat to human health.  Prior to the pandemic, which exacerbated the situation dramatically, Brown County residents were not sufficiently connected.  In 2019, Brown County scored 14 out of 20 regarding social relationships, below the benchmark 17.5 score considered “good” at the national scale. (Wello (2020). Community Health and Well-Being Survey: Brown County, Wisconsin, 2019 Survey Results. Retrieved from www.wello.org/measure).  At the neighborhood scale in particular, Brown County residents are not as connected as they might be, with only 67% of residents rating Brown County good or excellent “in terms of living together as neighbors” (Brown County LIFE Study 2021).  The question is heightened when we take into consideration the diversity of our population: only 33% of residents rate the county good or excellent “as a place where people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds get along well” (Brown County LIFE Study 2021)

There are many reasons why people may be less connected than is good for their health, across several broad factors:

Social/Economic/Cultural Conditions

• Racial/cultural/gender identity/sexuality differences
• Transience (short-term rental housing)
• Kids not playing out in their neighborhood because they are in enrichment/care programs and/or out-of-neighborhood schools
• Overwork/underpay leaving little time for connection
• Nuclear family demands leaving little time
• Culture of individuality over culture of community
• Decline in service and other organizational membership
• Greater connection to online communities vs. in-person social groups

Planning/Urban Design/Systems

• Housing design
• Neighborhood demographic segregation
• Transportation barriers
• Lack of public spaces or “third places”
• Consumerism as the primary way to acquire goods and services

Current Events

• Pandemic
• Widening/sharpening ideological differences
• Economic constraints (inflation, job loss, fewer discretionary dollars available)

However, there are long-standing systems and cultural forces, as well as focused efforts, moving against this grain to encourage social connectedness at the neighborhood or grassroots level.  Some of these include:

• Natural proximity of neighbors
• Active neighborhood organizations focused on relationship-building
• Diverse neighborhoods where they exist and neighbors are actively connecting
• Social media interest-based connections
• Pro-sharing initiatives
• Community events that promote interaction
• Walkability and trails
• Food-related initiatives that promote social connection
• Fund investment that targets neighborhood thrivability

Current partners include organizations that are working directly to support social connection activities as neighborhood or grassroots level:

• WELLO
• Brown County United Way
• Brown County Public Health
• City of DePere
• City of Green Bay
• Green Bay Neighborhoods
• Neighborhood Partners program of NeighborWorks Green Bay

Prospective partners include grassroots organizations and informal, voluntary groups that rely on relationships to thrive, as well as additional institutions with a stake in supporting social connectedness. For example:

• Neighborhood associations
• Cultural/Identity organizations
• Interest-based groups (e.g., causes, recreation, hobbies)
• Voluntary associations embedded within institutions (e.g., PTOs, religious organization committees,
• Social connection groups (e.g., block clubs, weekly morning men’s group at McDonalds)
• Institutions (social service organizations, civic organizations, schools, health systems, government entities)

Asset Based Community Development.  In the 1980s, researchers from Northwestern University undertook a study of more than 3,000 people across 300 American neighborhoods to learn what works in building strong, healthy communities, identifying two critical ingredients: the ability of a neighborhood to (1) discover and make use of the gifts residing in its people, associations and institutions, and (2) connect people in mutually-supportive relationships (e.g. teaching, sharing) and productive formal and informal associations (e.g., block clubs, babysitting cooperatives, community gardens).  This research launched the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) methodology that has been demonstrated effective across both rural and urban communities across the globe.  Pursuing an asset based community development strategy to strengthen our communities is inherently grounded in social connection work. 

Activate connectors.  Whether on the neighborhood or community scale, activating people whose role is to help people to make connections to one another, whether one on one or in associations, is a core methodology of ABCD proven in its impact on community-building initiatives.  The Abundant Community model is employing connectors to weave the social fabric of the entire 1 million resident population of Edmonton, Canada. 

Making voluntary associations visible. Voluntary associations (people who come together for any productive purpose, such as interest-based clubs, citizens working together for a cause, neighborhood associations, volunteer committees of local institutions, identity groups, social groups, social media-based affinity groups, and more) are, as Robert Putnam identified in his landmark text Bowling Alone, a bedrock of social connection at the grassroots of our communities.  As we look across the landscape of Brown County, some of these groups are well-known and formally organized while many, many others are known only to those who are connected to them.  How many new social connections might be made possible for people in our communities if the associational life of the community were more visible and accessible to all?

Capacity Building for Voluntary Associations.  Voluntary associations run on people and relationships rather than on money and paid staff.  Many such organizations could benefit from building their capacity to form and foster a broader and deeper network of relationships to accomplish their purposes – which would also benefit the individuals who increase their store of social connections.   Such capacity building might include: mastering the art of the one-on-one conversation, establishing methods of engagement that foster participation and relationship, leadership succession planning, recruitment strategies, and more.

Activating public spaces.  Encouraging the democratization of programming for public spaces such as parks, street corners, libraries, community gardens.  The more people who feel empowered to make things happen, to create activities and experiences for themselves and others, the more connected we will be.  People are conditioned to be consumers – of goods, services, entertainment, recreation, knowledge, and so much else.  When people become producers many more opportunities for connection emerge, and many of those will involve activating public space. 

Tell the stories.  Social connection is a human good that most people recognize they need, and stories resonate and motivate.  Neighborhood Partners’ Great Neighbor Shout-Out is one example of a storytelling initiative to surface great examples of kind and caring neighboring. 

The partners' core strategy is to Foster socially connected people, neighborhoods, and communities.

Two action items have been identified for this work:

1.  Build community awareness of social connection as a public health priority

2. Foster inclusive and accessible places and spaces

Towards these ends, the team is working on a three-pronged strategy:

1.  Building Awareness: Communicating the value of social connection and belonging and sharing great stories.  This strategy will involve messaging through a website and social media presence, public art, public space signage, and messaging through aligned community organizations.

2. Learning Together: Convening the community for greater understanding and impact.  This strategy will develop a local learning culture around social connection and belonging that grounds and encourages individuals and organizations to take action and create opportunities for people to celebrate and learn from one another's connection stories.

3. Connecting: Supporting people and organizations undertaking neighborhood scale social connection and belonging activities.   This strategy will offer seed money and other supports for innovative, high impact, replicable actions that promote social connection and belonging, including project funding to organizations and incentives for individuals to connect with others on their block and in their neighborhood.