Posts Tagged ‘social capital’

So, is it a “third place” or not?

July 29th, 2011

Does your community have a third place? A place outside of the home (first place) and work (second place) where people gather for conversation? A place where community is built? Whenever I mention to people that a coffee shop can be third places, people often jump to the conclusion that their local coffee shop is a third place. Maybe it is; maybe it isn’t; but how do you tell? Andrew Bernhardt and Linda Stoll offer some clarification on the subject. In their article title, titled “Creating Third Places: Places where communities gather,” they write:

Third places take many shapes. But, it is not the physical nature of the place that makes it a third place. Instead, a third place is characterized by social interaction. When people gather together, their social interaction can range from passive to active.”

They go on to define the two terms:

Passive social interaction is a shared experience wherein no direct interaction with other people takes place. Examples include dining in a public restaurant or gathering to watch live music, movies or a sporting event. Active social interaction involves direct interaction with other people. In the case of third places, this generally occurs with people you do not know very well or even at all. Active interaction includes introductions, discourse, and conversation. Truly successful third places promote active interaction. (source: “Creating Third Places: Places where communities gather,” Andrew Bernhardt and Linda Stoll, Downtown Economics, Dec. 2010.)

I like that distinction. A public place must have active social interaction to be considered a third place. And for me, the key is that this interaction must take place with people you do not know very well. Building conversations with people you don’t know very well is tough; but it is also vital for rural communities who want to build stronger social capital. In our work at the Rural Learning Center, we often discover that weak levels of social capital, especially bridging social capital, prevent rural communities from accomplishing their economic development goals. Simply put, when people in a community don’t trust each other, it is difficult to get things done. If that’s the case in your town, maybe developing a third place is part of the answer.

Tags: social capital, third places
Posted in Community Development, Rural | Comments (1)

Third Places: Is it time for a refresher?

July 27th, 2011

Say it ain’t so; has it really been over a year and a half since I last wrote anything substantive about the role of third places in rural communities?

I awoke to this reality a couple weeks ago when the urban place-making community began sharing one of my blog posts on Twitter. Titled “10 Reasons ‘Third Places’ matter to Rural Communities,” the article identifies why I think coffee shops, pubs, community centers, and other informal meeting places are important to the community and economic development of small towns. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of third places, I’d recommend you read the original article.

Is it time for a refresh?

Seeing others take interest in my article causes me to wonder if it’s time to refresh the article. To begin that process, I’ve started some online research. Here are a few of the articles I found worth sharing:

“Creating Third Places: Places where communities gather.” Published in Downtown Economics, a publication of the Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Agency, the article may offer the most concise description of third places and the value they offer communities that I have read. Without spelling it out, the authors also provide the framework for distinguishing between informal meeting places like coffee shops that are third places and those that are not. (More on that later.)

“The Restorative Qualities of an Activity-Based, Third Place Café for Seniors.” This article suggests that third places help improve the mental health of senior citizens by providing them a place to build relationships. Considering the aging population of many of our rural communities, this article adds credence to the argument that “third places help seniors age in place.”

“Back to the coffee house.” Written as a part of a special report on the changing nature of the news industry for The Economist, this article suggests that the rise of social media is a return to the days of when the news travelled by word of mouth, often in coffee shops and taverns. The article does not use the term to third place to describe social media, but anyone who understands the concept will recognize the implications.

Although these are quality resources on third places, I was disappointed that I didn’t discover anything that provided me an opportunity to update my article. I feel like I must be missing something. If you can offer any insights or links to articles and research that can help me update my perspective on how third places impact rural communities, I’d love to hear from you. If third places are as important to rural communities as I think they are, articles such as mine need to be refreshed once in a while. Photo credit: dyobmit - Flickr

Tags: coffee shop, social capital, third places
Posted in Community Development, Rural | Comments (0)

Why does your community need to talk about cats?

June 24th, 2011

Have you ever attended public hearing on a controversial topic? If you have, you’ll recognize the typical process. First, a person from one side of the issue rises to the microphone to make their argument. Then someone from the other side reciprocates. With each comment, tensions rise; too often the debate denigrates into a shouting match. The end result is that nobody is “listening” at the public “hearing.”

Twenty years ago, such displays of disharmony only took place in face-to-face settings. Now we have to worry about blogs and social media. If you don’t like the stance of a public official on an issue, create your own blog or Facebook page and let the public official have it. Others, hiding behind the veil of anonymity, will quickly jump aboard with their comments. And the fight is on. Every community, large and small, has potentially divisive issues that can explode into these shouting matches. So, what can be done to reduce the chances of their occurrence? There is no simple answer to that question. But Michael Wood-Lewis offers some advice: start a Front Porch Forum and begin talking about lost cats, yard sales, and babysitters.

Think Front Porch Forum

I’ve written previously about how Wood-Lewis has created an online tool dedicated to connecting people in local neighborhoods. In a recent post on his blog, Wood-Lewis takes on criticism that his tool, the Front Porch Forum, can’t build “community” because conversations in the forums appear to focus on trivial matters, like a neighbor's lost cat. But Wood-Lewis makes no apologies for conversations of this nature. In fact, he calls them the bedrock for building relationships and increasing people’s sense of ownership of their community. He goes on to offer an example of a rural community with a Front Page Forum where one resident took county officials to task over road conditions. Instead of allowing the topic to denigrate into a shouting match, however, residents jumped on board and turned it into civil discourse. According to Wood-Lewis, there has even been talk about the community banding together for a “work day.” Although I’ve not witnessed the Front Porch Forum in action first-hand, I’m a big fan of its potential. And I think Wood-Lewis is right when he defends the seemingly trivial conversations as the base for more productive, serious discussions. It just might explain why some pretty good community blogs don't inspire more comments on serious topics, and why still other blogs inspire nothing but divisive comments. If you want to grow a stronger sense of community in your community, it's definitely something worth thinking about. Photo credit: CesarOntar - Flickr

Tags: Front Porch Forum, social capital, social media, Vermont
Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement, Leadership, Rural | Comments (1)

Should you be using the Front Porch Forum? Or will Facebook Work?

March 11th, 2011

Yesterday, I highlighted the Front Porch Forum as a great example of a social media tool that facilitates the growth of community. Initiated before the rise of online social networking, the tool enables neighbors to connect with each other via online forums. Here’s a video with its founder, Michael Wood-Lewis describing how it works.

(source: “Front Porch Forum Helps Build Community - One Neighborhood at a Time,” Champlain Initiative, Youtube, Sept. 4, 2009) In the video, Michael describes how the Front Porch Forum is different from other forums of social media, like Facebook, which brings up an interesting question: Should you be using the Front Porch Forum instead of Facebook?

Which tool should you use?

Regular readers know that I regularly encourage rural communities to use Facebook as a tool to create a sense of community among residents and to reach out to people who care about the community but might have moved away. In many ways, I’m recommending that people try to showcase the authentic relationships that already exist in rural communities in a way that helps market the community. The Front Porch Forum is different in that it is designed for local uses only. People have to live in the neighborhood in order to participate. It is also different in that its central purpose is to increase face-to-face interaction among residents. For instance, Erik Filkorn, from Richmond, Vermont, is quoted in a Yankee Magazine article saying:

The real feedback loop is on the main street of town. You'll be coming out of the store and someone will say, 'Hey Erik, I saw the thing you wrote. Here's what I think.' You're not just creating an avatar and hanging out in a singles bar in Second Life--not that I would do that. But this is very much grounded in the flesh-and-blood community." (source: "Vermont: Neighbors and Online Networks Local networks are bringing people together in Vermont," Bill McKibben, Yankee Magazine, March/April 2010)

That type of face-to-face interaction is possible on Facebook, but I doubt its common.

It’s about your goals

I think there is value in both approaches. If your goal is increase the face-to-face interaction among local residents, the Front Porch Forum approach will better facilitate conversation among local residents, leading to greater face-to-face interaction. If your goals also include connecting with people who have moved away from your community and people who might be interested in moving to your community, then maybe Facebook is your tool. There’s no perfect answer. The point is, be clear about your goals first. If you are, you have a much greater chance of success

Tags: community-citizen engagement, Facebook, Front Porch Forum, social capital, social media, Vermont
Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement, Quality of Life, Rural | Comments (1)

Front Porch Forum: Building Community

March 9th, 2011

A while back, a friend told me about an experience he had with his granddaughter and texting. He was taking her and a friend on a shopping trip. Except for the occasional giggle, his granddaughter and her friend sat in silence in the backseat. Instead of talking, they were texting.

My friend found this disturbing. “How will they ever learn social skills if all they ever do is text each other?” I chuckled and replied he should be thankful. After all, he wouldn’t really want to know what they were talking about. Many people who resist technology think of it as a tool that disconnects people from each other. In other words, people are becoming less social because they are spending time on their computers or using their phones for texting. If true, it would serve as another reminder of the decline of community life. (see Bowling Alone for evidence of the decline in social capital) For the most part, I disagree with this line of thinking. And I’d like to lift up the Front Porch Forum as a case in point.

How connected are we in our small towns?

In 1998, Michael Wood-Lewis and his wife Valerie moved to Burlington, VT, a community of 42,417 residents. They looked forward to meeting their neighbors and participating in community events, like neighborhood picnics and other social events. Unfortunately, neither was forthcoming. In an interview on the Orton Family Foundation blog, Michael acknowledged that they have great neighbors. They are friendly and caring. But they are also busy, making it difficult for newcomers to experience a sense of community. In response to these difficulties, Michael created the Front Porch Forum. Launched in the pre-Facebook days, the Forum makes use of “forum” technology as a means for helping neighbors “connect and foster community within the neighborhood.” Once a resident becomes a member, they are able to participate in a neighborhood forum by posting comments and questions about their specific neighborhood. Members also receive e-mail updates highlighting what’s going on within the forum.

Why do people participate?

People participate out of self-interest. They want to know if anyone else heard the strange noise made late in the evening. Was it a burglar? They want to share their approval or disapproval with local city and school officials, just as they would in face-to-face conversation. And they want to ask their neighbors for help. Has anyone seen a missing cat or dog? I discovered a great example of this in action in a NewGeography article titled “Online Neighborhood: The Front Porch Forum.” Written by Pete Peterson, it told the story of Sharon Owens who was trying to organize a canoe outing for her daughter’s birthday. Afraid that she wouldn’t be able to rent the necessary canoes due to cost, she turned to The Front Porch Forum with a request for canoes. Her neighbors responded with all the canoes she needed. I find it interesting, however, that something else emerged out of Owen’s self-interest: she developed new relationships with her neighbors, which in turn led to a stronger sense of community. She is quoted in the NewGeography article saying:

Not only did my daughter have a great birthday and I saved a couple hundred dollars, but now I have a genuine connection to a half-dozen neighbors. Why didn't I know these good people years ago?" (source: "Online Neighborhood: The Front Porch Forum ," Pete Peterson, New Geography, Oct. 21, 2009)

This example points out that people are social creatures. We want to know and trust the people we live around. But life sometimes gets in the way. While many forms of technology, like the automobile, have hindered human interaction, online social technologies like The Front Porch Forum can increase it. The conversations that start online can and often are extended offline in real life situations.

Technology can build community

The next time you hear negative talk about social technologies, I hope you will think of the Front Porch Forum. And better yet, think about how your rural community can build a conversation online that leads to deeper conversation in face-to-face settings. If you do, I think your rural community will become a better place to live.

Tags: community-citizen engagement, Front Porch Forum, social capital, social media, Vermont
Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement, Rural | Comments (4)

Buy Asacol Without Prescription

July 23rd, 2010

Buy Asacol Without Prescription, The phrase, "Money can't buy happiness," may have just taken on a whole new meaning. According to a 2007 study done by Nattavudh Powdthavee at the University of London, when a person has less social interaction with neighbors and family members, it takes a much higher income to make him or her as happy as another person who interacts more often. Powdthavee says in her paper, "There is substantial evidence that social relationships promote happiness for the individual." "This paper explores...the satisfaction with life gained by an increase in the frequency of interaction with friends, relatives, and neighbors."

Powdthavee used completed British Household Panel Surveys from 10,000 randomly selected people for this research. She found the satisfaction level of the average person who is more socially active was equal to the satisfaction level of making an extra £85,000 ($127,500) a year for someone who didn't interact with friends or family often. But, "Actual changes in income," she clarifies, "buy very little happiness."

Powdthavee goes on to say both a higher income and solid social relationships take a large investment and certain people will place a priority on either money or friendship based upon which one they feel with have a larger impact on their happiness.

So, what does this mean for small rural communities?

To me it firstly says that vibrant small towns have a opportunity to gain an advantage over suburbia and large, urban apartment buildings: we know and interact with our neighbors. Powdthavee's study found that happiness took a significant jump when people started talking with their neighbors at least once a week.

Secondly, where can i order Asacol without prescription, Asacol discount, our communities often have civic or volunteer groups that are always willing to add another member to their board or committee. Powdthavee also found many other studies have shown that people who socialize often with those outside of their household are the happiest; they have chosen to invest in social capital.

Lastly, a most importantly to me, Asacol in mexico, Delivered overnight Asacol, this study points out the downfall that occurs in many communities: If a person cannot connect to his/her neighbors, become part of a group in the community or have family close by, buy Asacol online cod, Purchase Asacol online no prescription, it takes a very large sum of money (found to be a sum up to 9x a person's annual income in the Powdthavee study) in perceived happiness to keep them in that community. If they have no one to connect to it is very easy for them to be lured away by a job with more money or the idea of a more welcoming community.

As we have mentioned before in this blog, connecting new comers to your community is vital. And I will admit this is probably one of the hardest things for a community to do. Is your community doing something to welcome and connect new residents? If so, Asacol craiglist, Sale Asacol, please share. Over the counter Asacol. Order Asacol from mexican pharmacy. Buy generic Asacol. Saturday delivery Asacol. Buying Asacol online over the counter. Asacol in uk. Buy cheap Asacol. Buy Asacol from canada. Order Asacol from United States pharmacy. Cod online Asacol. Buy cheap Asacol no rx. Asacol in australia. Asacol in australia. Asacol pills. Asacol tablets. Asacol gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release. Online buying Asacol hcl. Asacol prescriptions. Buying Asacol online over the counter. Where can i buy Asacol online. Buy Asacol no prescription. Purchase Asacol online. Asacol in usa. Asacol prices. Buy Asacol online with no prescription. Buy Asacol online without a prescription. Buy Asacol online cod. Sale Asacol. Buy Asacol from canada. Delivered overnight Asacol. Asacol in mexico. Asacol in uk. Asacol from canadian pharmacy. Buy generic Asacol. Order Asacol no prescription. Where can i find Asacol online. Where to buy Asacol. Where can i order Asacol without prescription. Order Asacol from United States pharmacy. Buy Asacol from mexico. Asacol in canada. Ordering Asacol online. Asacol san diego. Asacol trusted pharmacy reviews. Fast shipping Asacol. Purchase Asacol. Saturday delivery Asacol. Buy Asacol without a prescription. Asacol over the counter. Asacol overseas. Rx free Asacol. Buy Asacol online no prescription. Buy cheap Asacol no rx. Cod online Asacol. Order Asacol online overnight delivery no prescription. Asacol in us. Buy Asacol without prescription.

Tags: satisfaction level, social capital, social interaction
Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement | Comments (4)

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April 6th, 2010

Buy Naltrexone Without Prescription, Yesterday, Keloland TV in Sioux Falls featured Tea, SD and the Facebook page created for the community by its economic development director, Jenni White.

(Note: Thanks to Jonathan Garcia answering the "help request" I posted on Twitter last night. I initially had to post a link to the Keloland site because their embed code wasn't working. Purchase Naltrexone, Jonathan sent me this YouTube file, which I'm able to embed Thanks Jonathan!)

White says she created the tool as a way to share information with the community's residents. Even though it's only been around for a few months, order Naltrexone no prescription, Naltrexone in india, the page has attracted almost 400 fans. Nice job Jenni.

But Tea is not the leader in the pack of South Dakota communities using Facebook. I marvel at how effective Miller, next day Naltrexone, Online buy Naltrexone without a prescription, SD has been with their Facebook page. Any community of approximately 1500 residents that is pushing 1000 Facebook fans is doing a remarkable job. And there are others. I know of half dozen other communities that are using Facebook pretty effectively, Naltrexone discount, Buy Naltrexone no prescription, including Lennox, Miner County, buy Naltrexone without a prescription, Real brand Naltrexone online, Chamberlain, Webster, Naltrexone price, coupon, Buy Naltrexone online no prescription, Deuel County, and Oldham, Naltrexone trusted pharmacy reviews. Delivered overnight Naltrexone, But you know what? Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that so many communities using Facebook. After all, South Dakota a national leader in our percentage of Facebook users.

Mashable give us the goods

Yes, fast shipping Naltrexone, Order Naltrexone from United States pharmacy, you heard me right. Yesterday, I learned about South Dakota's high adoption rate for Facebook in research posted by Muhammad Saleem on Mashable.

In short, buy Naltrexone from canada, Where can i buy cheapest Naltrexone online, the research tells us that South Dakota has the highest percentage of its population with Facebook accounts-coming in at 31.1%. (Get all the goods with the graphics below or at the Mashable article. )

I'm proud of this statistic, Buy Naltrexone Without Prescription. It wasn't all that long ago that I considered South Dakotans as social media/networking laggards. When we started ReImagine Rural in the fall of 2008, purchase Naltrexone, Naltrexone discount, I conducted an informal survey of rural community development leaders asking about their social media usage. I didn't find anyone with a Facebook account (myself included), and only 10% said they read blogs with any regularity.

Why should we care?

The Mashable research has me thinking about what this means for South Dakota. I'm actually perplexed by why our Facebook usage is so high, where can i order Naltrexone without prescription, Over the counter Naltrexone, especially when compared to our neighboring states. Why do you think that is, cod online Naltrexone. Naltrexone in usa, But the bottom line is that Facebook is a great tool for South Dakota communities to use as they attempt to "build community." In rural communities, we used to have stronger "third places" that helped build this sense of community.

In their absence, buy Naltrexone without prescription, Naltrexone medication, I think Facebook and other social networking tools offer an alternative for getting people together for conversations that helps build trust. That doesn't mean face-to-face conversation isn't important. Hopefully, communities with Facebook pages like Tea, Naltrexone in us, Buy Naltrexone online no prescription, Miller, and Chamberlain discover ways to use Facebook to generate more offline personal interaction, order Naltrexone from United States pharmacy. Naltrexone from international pharmacy,

It's when this starts to happen, that we will really be able to say "South Dakota is Tech Trendy."

Note: Thanks to Hugh Weber at Deep Bench for drawing my attention to this info.

(source: Muhammad Saleem , where to buy Naltrexone, Naltrexone pills, "By the Numbers: Facebook vs the United States (Infographic)" Mashable, April 5, where can i buy Naltrexone online, Buy Naltrexone without a prescription, 2010).

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Tags: Facebook, Mashable, Miller SD, social capital, social media, South Dakota, Tea SD, trust
Posted in Community Development, Economic Development, Rural | Comments (5)

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March 30th, 2010

Trust and connections. These themes ran deep in the presentations of Mitch Joel Buy Lotrisone Without Prescription, , Julien Smith, and Chris Brogan whose Trust Summit kicked off the OTA Sessions last Friday.

We get the importance of trust at the Rural Learning Center. Building strong social capital is at the root of our beliefs for creating strong rural communities. The Trust Summit guys, however, were talking about building trust through online relationship. It begs the question: what does this all mean for rural communities?

Hoping to better understand that issue, Lindsey and I interviewed Mitch, Julien, and Chris. Today, I'm posting the interview with Mitch Joel, but more will follow in the next few days. I hope you'll share any thoughts that inspire you as well.

Mitch Joel Interview

The key takeaway from Mitch's talk was "find the people who are interested and build a relationship with them." So what does that mean for small, rural towns with virtually no marketing budgets? I think it suggests the importance of creating a Facebook Page or a blog and writing about the interesting stuff that happens in your community. If you don't know where to start, buy Lotrisone online no prescription, Lotrisone to buy, take a look at my favorite community Facebook Page showcasing Miller, SD or maybe check out a blog like Lost Fort Collins. And remember key to your success is your ability to be interesting, Lotrisone in india. Lotrisone buy. Buy generic Lotrisone. Buy Lotrisone without prescription. Buy Lotrisone online without prescription. Where to buy Lotrisone. Lotrisone tablets. Cod online Lotrisone. Lotrisone for sale. Rx free Lotrisone. Sale Lotrisone. Lotrisone in canada. Delivered overnight Lotrisone. Lotrisone in usa. Where can i order Lotrisone without prescription. Over the counter Lotrisone. Free Lotrisone samples. Order Lotrisone online overnight delivery no prescription. Where can i find Lotrisone online. Lotrisone overseas. Lotrisone price, coupon. Buy Lotrisone online with no prescription. Lotrisone to buy online. Purchase Lotrisone. Buy cheap Lotrisone no rx. Lotrisone paypal. Lotrisone san diego. Buy cheap Lotrisone. Lotrisone medication. Next day Lotrisone. Ordering Lotrisone online. Lotrisone craiglist. Lotrisone in japan. Order Lotrisone online c.o.d. Lotrisone in usa. Next day Lotrisone. Buy no prescription Lotrisone online. Real brand Lotrisone online. Where can i buy cheapest Lotrisone online. Fast shipping Lotrisone. Lotrisone to buy. Sale Lotrisone. Buy Lotrisone online without a prescription. Lotrisone over the counter. Lotrisone price, coupon. Lotrisone from international pharmacy. Lotrisone trusted pharmacy reviews. Online buying Lotrisone hcl. Order Lotrisone from United States pharmacy. Lotrisone in uk. Lotrisone for sale. Order Lotrisone no prescription. Lotrisone discount. Buy Lotrisone online cod. Lotrisone overseas. Lotrisone prescriptions. Buy Lotrisone online without prescription. Where to buy Lotrisone. Buy Lotrisone without a prescription.

Tags: Mitch Joel, OTA 2010, social capital, Trust Summit
Posted in Community Engagement, Economic Development, Rural | Comments (3)

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February 11th, 2010

Build or buy? That's the central question asked in the article titled "Building a winning team" that recently appeared in computing.co.uk Buy Erimin Without Prescription, . More specifically, the article uses a professional sports analogy to question whether IT companies should invest in developing their staff (build from within) or hire professionals from outside the company (buy talent) when filling leadership positions.

The article has me thinking about how this issue applies to rural communities; what's the best way for rural communities to fill job openings such as economic development directors, city managers, utilities managers, and even educators.

One study says build from within

Back in 2001, purchase Erimin online, Saturday delivery Erimin, I read an article recommending that community development organizations hire local residents for job openings because a study had shown that hiring from within the community produced better long-term results. The study claimed that local hires tended to be more committed to the cause, stayed longer in their jobs, order Erimin online overnight delivery no prescription, Erimin in uk, and often tapped into existing relationships within the community to get the job done. The study stuck with me because I was newly hired from within the community to work on economic development and housing issues.

While I believe the study has merit, I also have witnessed many rural community development organizations benefit from talented economic development professionals who moved into the community for job openings. It causes me to wonder if there really is a perfect answer.

I wish I had saved that article citing the advantages of hiring locally; if some is aware of similar research, order Erimin from United States pharmacy, Erimin gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, I hope they will share it.

Personally, I think the success of a job candidate, Erimin trusted pharmacy reviews, Cod online Erimin, regardless of occupation, probably depends most on their passion and determination - two characteristics that also say a lot about the success of a community.

Where's the magic?

But I want to throw out one more point for consideration that moves us back to the professional sports analogy. The success of professional teams often depend less on whether the team builds its own players or hires free agents than on the blend of talent that is assembled and how they interact. It's a sort of magic that emerges when talented teammates bond with each other.

I think the dastardly New York Yankees (sorry I'm a Minnesota Twins fan) are a good example. The Yankees won the 2009 World Series because they had the money to blow assembling the best free agents possible, Erimin craiglist. Erimin in japan, But that same strategy has not always yielded the same success for the Yankees, as evidenced by their dry run over the last decade.

Rural communities are in a race for talent. Buy or build, Erimin prescriptions, Erimin discount, I'll let you decide. But at the end of the day, I think the relationships that exist between the newly hired, buy no prescription Erimin online, Buy Erimin online with no prescription, their coworkers, and community members adds something special to the mix that helps produce outstanding results.

Sociologists call it social capital...and most preach that it's a critical part of building a winning community.

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Tags: community development organizations, social capital
Posted in Community Development, Economic Development, Rural | Comments (0)

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January 26th, 2010

Buy Lipothin Without Prescription, Admittedly, I go a little overboard on emphasizing the importance of "third places" to the future of rural communities, but my gut tells me they play a more vital role in the social and economic wellbeing of our rural communities than most people give them credit for.

For those who haven't heard of them before, third places are where people meet and socialize outside of their homes (first places) and their work (second places). Sociologist Ray Oldenburg is credited with drawing attention to third places through his influential book, buy Lipothin online without prescription, Online buy Lipothin without a prescription, The Great Good Place. Back in January 2009, I wrote this post titled "Does your Community need a Coffee Shop and other Third Places?" It's still one of our more popular posts here at Reimagine Rural.

Lacking in any of my previous writing about third places, online buying Lipothin hcl, Lipothin in canada, however, is a comprehensive explanation of how third places impact the economic wellbeing of small, buy Lipothin without a prescription, Order Lipothin no prescription, rural communities - or any community for that matter. For that reason, I've produced the following resource guide to illuminate why rural communities must get serious about their efforts to develop strong third places in their communities.

10 Reasons Third Places Matter to Rural Communities

1. Third places are cool...and rural places could stand a little cool. It's no secret that young people today crave "cool" environments to live and hang out, sale Lipothin. Where can i order Lipothin without prescription, What receives less attention, however, real brand Lipothin online, Buy generic Lipothin, is research that suggests Gen Yers often choose where to live before seeking permanent employment; and that "coolness" plays a role in this decision making process. If true, purchase Lipothin online, Buy Lipothin online without a prescription, this tells us that for rural communities to attract young people, they need to develop some cool places young people crave, where to buy Lipothin. Lipothin in usa, And what better way to do it than by creating a place where young and old can get together. (Another article on the subject can be found here.)

2. Third places introduce new people to the community, Buy Lipothin Without Prescription. I've noted in previous posts, Lipothin in mexico, Lipothin from canadian pharmacy, how important it is for new residents and visitors to feel welcomed by a community. Wall Street Journal writer Gwendolyn Bounds offers a personal perspective of how Guinans, an Irish pub, Lipothin from international pharmacy, Delivered overnight Lipothin, welcomed her into the Garrison, purchase Lipothin, Lipothin in india, NY community and played a critical role in her choice to move there. As Bounds came to frequent the pub, Lipothin in uk, Order Lipothin from mexican pharmacy, "regulars" at Guinans taught her (a former NYC resident) a great deal about how to live in a rural community (i.e. use a chain saw, Lipothin tablets, Buy Lipothin without prescription, fix the plumbing, and deal with the snow), Lipothin san diego. Lipothin craiglist, It's possible that new residents can become a part of a community without a third place, but third places seem to make the process a lot easier.

3. Third Places improve the quality of life in a community. Quality of life means different things to different people, Lipothin in us. Buy Lipothin Without Prescription, Some say quality of life requires a community to have a strong "night life." Other, say it requires safe environments. Free Lipothin samples, But as this research suggests, people who live in communities with third places perceive the quality of life in their community as being higher than those who live without them.

4. Third Places are good for tourism. When people go on vacation they are typically looking for a unique experience, Lipothin medication. Buy Lipothin online with no prescription, More and more, they also want that experience to be authentic, where can i buy cheapest Lipothin online. Lipothin gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, In other words, they want to get a sense of a community's character, where can i find Lipothin online, Buy no prescription Lipothin online, rather than an image developed by a corporate marketing department. If your community has a scenic wonder like the Grand Canyon, buy Lipothin from mexico, Buy Lipothin from mexico, or man-made attraction like the Mall of America, you may not need to worry about a third place, free Lipothin samples. But as tourism expert Roger Brooks of Destination Development Inc, Buy Lipothin Without Prescription. Buy Lipothin online no prescription, notes, third places are a part of each community's "brand" and can become places where locals and visitors meet each other, buy generic Lipothin. Rx free Lipothin, If you want further proof on the importance of third places to tourism, just look at what the Irish pub has done for tourism in Ireland.

5. Third places can help improve the business climate in your small town. Increasingly entrepreneurs need to work from anywhere and at anytime, sale Lipothin. Where to buy Lipothin, That's why cell service, broadband internet, over the counter Lipothin, Buy Lipothin online cod, and wifi accessibility are vital infrastructure to any rural community. But does your community have a place where entrepreneurs can meet with clients and business partners, Lipothin over the counter, Lipothin price, coupon, take advantage of technology, and remain connected to the office, buy Lipothin no prescription. Buy Lipothin Without Prescription, If not, your community may be frustrating entrepreneurs more than you realize.

6. Third places stimulate creativity. I work from home quite a bit. Buy no prescription Lipothin online, Sometimes, the solitude becomes deafening, Lipothin buy, Where can i find Lipothin online, and I need to be around people. I've discovered that in addition to combating isolation, Lipothin in us, Lipothin tablets, third places help stimulate both my productivity and creativity. Surprisingly, order Lipothin from United States pharmacy, Ordering Lipothin online, I'm not alone. I recently learned that J.K, where can i buy Lipothin online. Rowlings turns to cafés for inspiration while writing her monumental Harry Potter books, Buy Lipothin Without Prescription. Lipothin trusted pharmacy reviews, Now she's creative. (And just think what would happen if a third place in your community inspired the next Harry Potter series.)

7, online buying Lipothin hcl. Order Lipothin no prescription, Third Places help people age in place. Back in the 1990s, the Rural Learning Center focused on developing senior housing options (like independent and assisted living) in our community because we learned that helping seniors age in place was important to their quality of life, buy cheap Lipothin. Lipothin pills, F. Kaid Benfield recognized that same issue in this blog post Buy Lipothin Without Prescription, where he emphasized that communities who follow smart growth principles should develop third places for seniors that they can walk to. The point here is that seniors need to be active and engaged, buy Lipothin online without a prescription. Buy Lipothin online with no prescription, That could be accomplished with a senior citizens facility. But a more efficient use of resources would involve developing third places where all generations visit.

8, Lipothin craiglist. Purchase Lipothin online no prescription, Third Places can help create jobs. Cooltown Studios has published numerous blogs posts about third places in urban areas. I particularly like this post, which highlights how third places help build conversations that lead to entrepreneurial thinking, Lipothin paypal, a requirement for growing our economy. On one hand, saying that third places lead to job growth is a bit abstract for me, but I do believe it's a good reminder that entrepreneurs need places to network and build conversations in order to generate new ideas that will hopefully lead to job growth.

9. Third Places will never be replaced by social networking sites like Facebook. There's a school of thought suggesting that physical third places are being replaced by virtual ones, Buy Lipothin Without Prescription. In other words, Facebook is the new third place. Now let me be clear: I believe rural communities should consider developing an online social networking strategy as a part of their economic development work. It's a great way to connect with people both inside and outside your community. But as Mary Newsom writes on Citiwire: online social networks as third places are "mere metaphors for the real thing."

10. Buy Lipothin Without Prescription, Third Places help build conversation .... and conversation leads to trust. One of the beautiful things about quality third places is that they bring together people of all socio-economic backgrounds. As conversation emerges in a third place, people begin to know, understand, and trust each other. Sociologists call this bridging social capital and have recognized its importance in community and economic development in rural places. (As this paper suggest, bridging social capital is the entry point for strengthening your community socially and economically.) On a basic level, most of us can appreciate that whenever people come together for open conversation, they begin to trust each other. And when people trust each other, it's a lot easier to get things done in our communities.

I've been thinking and writing about the importance of third places in rural communities for a couple years now, and I've really noticed the growth of good resources being published online. In addition to sharing some of those resources as links above, I've attempted to save my favorites to my Delicious account. Even though I've saved over 60 recourses, I know the list is incomplete.

That's why I'd like to ask for your help. Feel free to check out my list of favorites on Delicious, but just as important, please share your favorites with me. And don't think that my "10 Reasons Third Places are important to Rural Communities" list above is complete either. I plan to revise the list in the near future, and include your thoughts and new discoveries in it.

Photo Credits:

Top Right: Calamity Sal - Flickr

Middle Left: Shannonmcneise - Flickr

Bottom Right: powerbook -- Flickr

Tags: Gwendolyn Bounds, people attraction, social capital, third places, tourism
Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement, Economic Development, Quality of Life, Rural, Uncategorized | Comments (10)

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