Ways That Groups and Individuals Can Foster Civic and Personal Ties

By JENNIFER MOORE

Dozens of community foundations are adding a new phrase to describe the work that they do: building social capital.

The term, which refers to trying to create a new sense of civic spirit and involvement

among Americans, has been given currency by Harvard professor Robert Putnam through his book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.

In the book, Mr. Putnam documents various ways the personal ties that link people to society and to one another have deteriorated in recent years, and he encourages nonprofit groups to take a lead role in rebuilding those connections.

One organization that is trying to answer that call is the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, which has created a checklist of specific steps — large and small — that nonprofit groups, businesses, government agencies, and individuals can take to become better connected to other people. In addition to listing specific suggestions, the foundation left several spaces on the checklist blank to encourage people to come up with their own ideas.

Among the recommendations for what organizations can do:

–Invite local government officials to a lunchtime discussion with your staff and volunteers.

— Host a blood drive for employees, volunteers, and clients.

–Provide release time to employees for volunteering on community activities.

— Provide meeting space for local community organizations.

–Think about how to involve different types of volunteers. If you serve the elderly, how can you bring in kids? If you serve kids, how can the elderly help?

–Form social groups — softball teams, hiking clubs, bridge circles, theater clubs.

— Have a barbecue picnic for staff and nearby residents.

–Log on to http://www.bettertogether.org and learn more about the growing national discussion around strengthening social capital.

–Participate in your local United Way Day of Caring.

— Have a movie night at your organization — with popcorn during and discussion afterward.

— Establish a matching-grants program: Match charitable contributions by your employees.

— Set up a voter registration table in your organization.

— Invite school groups to have a field trip at your site.

–If a plow clears the snow from your lot, offer to plow the lot of the local daycare center.

–Invite kids from a community or school art program to paint a “community mural” on the side of your building.

Among the ideas for what individuals can do:

–Organize a social gathering to welcome a new neighbor.

–Attend your town meeting.

–Buy a big hot tub.

–Volunteer your time anywhere.

–Take dance lessons with friends.

–Help someone with a flat tire.

–Organize or participate in a sports league.

–Attend your children’s athletic contests, plays, and recitals.

–Join the local Elks, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus.

–Get involved with Brownies or Cub/Boy/Girl Scouts.

–Start a monthly afternoon tea group.

–Speak at or host a monthly brown-bag lunch series at your local library.

–Sing in a choir.

–Attend a PTA meeting.

–Audition for community theater or volunteer to usher.

–Organize a community garden.

–Participate in a charitable walk-a-thon.

–Volunteer in your child’s classroom/chaperone a field trip.

–Give to your local food bank.

–Attend a play put on by your local high school.

–Form a neighborhood/town outdoor activity group.

–Participate in political campaigns.

–Help coach Little League or other youth sports — even if you don’t have a kid playing.

–Help run the snack bar at the Little League field.

–Form a “tools cooperative” with your neighbors — to share ladders, rototillers, etc.

–Join a baby-sitting cooperative.

–Start a series of lunch gatherings with your co-workers.

–Plan a walking tour of historic areas in your town.

–Eat breakfast out on Saturday morning at a local gathering spot.

–Host a block party or a holiday open house.

–Start a “fix-it” group — friends who are willing to help you clean, paint, garden, etc., and you help them in turn.

–Offer to serve on a town committee.

–Hold lunchtime discussion groups at your workplace.

–If you grow your own tomatoes, plant extra for the woman who lives alone two doors down from you — or better yet, ask her if she can teach you and three friends how to can the extras.

–Persuade your local restaurant to have a designated “meet people” table.

–Host a potluck supper before a town meeting.

–Give a weatherproof chess or checkers board to your town park.

–Fight to keep essential local services in the downtown area — your post office, police station, school, etc.

–Gather a group to clean up a local park or cemetery.

–Join a bowling team — or form one.

–Turn off the TV and talk with your family.

–When somebody says “government stinks,” suggest they help fix it.