By involving community leaders in decision-making, health officials in Alameda County, CA, were able to build trusting relationships with vulnerable populations. Among the results were lower than average death rates and higher than average rates of vaccination.
Cities and nonprofit groups are finding innovative approaches to increase the use of solar energy, often working with utilities to encourage community members to install solar. They have also worked to make it easier to use solar energy.
The ability of communities to create long-term health and well-being depends on the formal and informal relationships, networks and capacities that communities use to make decisions collaboratively and solve problems.
Communities are more likely to thrive when residents, businesses, and other stakeholders play active roles in shaping decisions and taking action. The notion that “government cannot do it alone” was an important part of de Tocqueville’s message, and it is increasingly evident in times of limited resources.
A growing number of communities are finding new ways to fully engage residents in efforts to promote sustainability, enhance livability and reduce the local ecological footprint.
