Community Building

Atlanta Regional Commission Supported Web Site

Community Building

Goal 1: Enhance the public's confidence in local government by coupling strong leadership with strict accountability.

Goal 2: Develop an active concern for community in our youth.

Goal 3: Encourage citizens to take a more active role in their communities.

Goal 4: Increase the role of citizens in making decisions that affect the community.

Goal 5: Build more partnerships between government and grassroots citizen groups.

Goal 6: Increase the level of partnerships among the private sector, government, nonprofit organizations and the community.

Goal 7: Create more political opportunities for people from disadvantaged groups.

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GOAL 3: Encourage citizens to take a more active role in their communities.

INDICATOR: Rates of volunteerism and charitable giving

Why is this important? Contributing freely to the common good - whether through hands-on work or monetary donations - is universally recognized as a vital part of community life. Individuals who volunteer through neighborhood associations, civic organizations or other social, cultural or faith-based groups contribute to community betterment for all.
	How are we doing? Consistent with previous surveys, we found that Atlanta-area residents like to volunteer. While approximately 68.5 percent of the region's residents have volunteered for some kind of community activity at least once during the past 12 months, 75 percent did the same in 2005. A more dramatic difference between the 2005 and 2006 survey is that in 2005 27 percent of those surveyed said they volunteered once a month. In 2006, only 6 percent of the respondents said they volunteered in the community once a month. Typically, 50 percent or more of volunteer work is in affiliation with schools and youth groups, places of worship and poverty/homeless organizations.