Bowling Together: The Civic Story Bowling Together: The Civic Story of Portland Oregonof Portland Oregon

Portland State UniversityPortland State UniversityPortland, Oregon USAPortland, Oregon USASteve Johnson, Ph.D.Steve Johnson, Ph.D.

  

OutlineOutline

Where is Portland OregonWhere is Portland Oregon Civic Engagement in AmericaCivic Engagement in America The The exceptionalexceptional civic life of Portland civic life of Portland Community StoriesCommunity Stories The Wisdom of CrowdsThe Wisdom of Crowds

Where is Portland Oregon?Where is Portland Oregon?

Portland OregonPortland Oregon

Metropolitan population: 1.5 millionState of Oregon: 3.5 million98,000 square miles

www.BowlingAlone.comwww.BowlingAlone.com

Civic Engagement: DefinitionCivic Engagement: Definition

Civic engagement refers to activities by Civic engagement refers to activities by which people participate in civic, which people participate in civic, community and political life and by doing community and political life and by doing so express their commitment to so express their commitment to community community

Such activities include volunteering, Such activities include volunteering, voting, community organizing, political voting, community organizing, political advocacyadvocacy

What is social capital?What is social capital?

If physical capital is wholly tangible, If physical capital is wholly tangible, being embodied in observable material being embodied in observable material form, and human capital is less tangible, form, and human capital is less tangible, being embodied in the skills and being embodied in the skills and knowledge acquired by an individual, knowledge acquired by an individual, social capital is less tangible yet, for it social capital is less tangible yet, for it exists in the relations among persons.exists in the relations among persons.

Example, a park that is safe in a Example, a park that is safe in a neighborhood vs. having to secure it with neighborhood vs. having to secure it with policepolice

Civic engagement and TrustCivic engagement and Trust

A society characterized by generalized A society characterized by generalized reciprocity is more efficient than a distrustful reciprocity is more efficient than a distrustful societysociety

Frequent interaction among a diverse set of Frequent interaction among a diverse set of people tends to produce a norm of generalized people tends to produce a norm of generalized reciprocity. reciprocity.

Civic engagement and social capital entail Civic engagement and social capital entail mutual obligation and responsibility for action.mutual obligation and responsibility for action.

Character of Today’s Civic Character of Today’s Civic ParticipationParticipation

the more that activities depend on the actions of the more that activities depend on the actions of others, the greater the drop-off in participation. others, the greater the drop-off in participation.

in other words cooperative forms of behavior in other words cooperative forms of behavior have declined more rapidly than expressive have declined more rapidly than expressive forms of behavior (e.g. letter writing)forms of behavior (e.g. letter writing)

There is more single issue blare and declining There is more single issue blare and declining civility.civility.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

WorldWar I

GreatDepression

WorldWar II

AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS

1900-19971900-1997

AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS

1900-19971900-1997

Mean membership rate for the20th century

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

ATTENDANCEATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS AT PUBLIC MEETINGS ON LOCAL AFFAIRS COLLAPSESON LOCAL AFFAIRS COLLAPSES

ENTERTAINING AT HOME ENTERTAINING AT HOME BECOMES RARER 1975-1999BECOMES RARER 1975-1999

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Average times

entertained at home last year

TRENDS IN CHURCH ATTENDANCETRENDS IN CHURCH ATTENDANCE1940-19991940-1999

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

55%

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Average weekly church

attendanceas fraction

of adult population

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Generally ormoderatelyagree

DefinitelyAgree

Disagree

FAMILY DINNERS BECOME FAMILY DINNERS BECOME LESS COMMON 1977-1999LESS COMMON 1977-1999

“Our whole family

usually eats dinner

together.”(married

respondents only)

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE RISE AND FALL OF PHILANTHROPIC GENEROSITY PHILANTHROPIC GENEROSITY

1929-19981929-1998

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Total giving by

living individuals

as% of national income

FOUR DECADES OF DWINDLING FOUR DECADES OF DWINDLING TRUST-ADULTS AND TEENAGERSTRUST-ADULTS AND TEENAGERS

1960-19991960-1999

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Adults(multi-surveyaverage)

Highschoolstudents

Percent Who say “most people can be trusted” instead of you can’t be too careful in dealing with people.”

Social connectedness Social connectedness DeclinesDeclines

decline in social visitingdecline in social visiting More entertaining at homeMore entertaining at home Less eating dinner togetherLess eating dinner together Less vacationing togetherLess vacationing together Less watching TV togetherLess watching TV together Less just sitting and talkingLess just sitting and talking Less attending religious servicesLess attending religious services Less Sending greeting cardsLess Sending greeting cards Card playing downCard playing down

Putnam’s Assessment of social capital and Putnam’s Assessment of social capital and civic engagement declinecivic engagement decline

Causes of Social capital and Civic Engagement decline

10%

25%

50%

10%

5%

Time and Money

Electronic entertainment

Generational

suburbanization

other

The The ExceptionalExceptional Civic Life of Civic Life of Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon

Photo courtesy of Portland Oregon Visitors Association

Depth of Citizen Participation in Depth of Citizen Participation in Portland and OregonPortland and Oregon

1975, 1 1975, 1 out of 200 State-wide involved in out of 200 State-wide involved in designing state-wide land use systemdesigning state-wide land use system

Albina Planning process, late 1980s, 140 Albina Planning process, late 1980s, 140 meetings, 4,000 citizens (population 23,000)meetings, 4,000 citizens (population 23,000)

Bike path planning, early 1990s, 2000 involvedBike path planning, early 1990s, 2000 involved Johnson Creek watershed over 10 years, 1 of 17 Johnson Creek watershed over 10 years, 1 of 17

involved in restoring streaminvolved in restoring stream Current neighborhood system, 60 paid staff, Current neighborhood system, 60 paid staff,

600+ volunteer positions with neighborhood 600+ volunteer positions with neighborhood associationsassociations

accolades Best Bicycling city Best Bicycling city (Bicycling magazine)(Bicycling magazine)

Best Walking City Best Walking City (Prevention magazine)(Prevention magazine)

Most Sustainable Policies Most Sustainable Policies (SustainLane)(SustainLane)

Most Vegan Friendly Most Vegan Friendly (Vegetarian magazine)(Vegetarian magazine)

Most Enlightened Most Enlightened (Utne Reader)(Utne Reader)

Most woman-owned businesses Most woman-owned businesses (SBA)(SBA)

One of the most attractive for young One of the most attractive for young creatives creatives (Rise of Creative Class)(Rise of Creative Class)

Research of Portland Civic LifeResearch of Portland Civic Life

Studied Portland’s Civic life for 5 yearsStudied Portland’s Civic life for 5 years Best dissertation, American Political Best dissertation, American Political

Science Association, 2001Science Association, 2001 Putnam’s steak dinner betPutnam’s steak dinner bet

Evaluating the health of a civic Evaluating the health of a civic infrastructure and Lessons from infrastructure and Lessons from

Portland’s Civic HistoryPortland’s Civic History

Traditional Civic Life declined Because:

Traditional civic groups in Portland died or became irrelevant

Traditional civic organizations declined because they were not inclusive, adaptive, or innovative.

Traditional civic organizations did not supply new forms of civic actions or processes, and no longer served as the sources of civic skills and knowledge for citizens to effectively participate in civic life.

Opportunity is not enough

If you create opportunity but do not invest in educating citizens, which includes both practical skills and knowledge as well as value system that rests on the principles of the commons, not individual liberty, then you may create a crisis of policy gridlock and unenlightened self interest articulation

opportunity without efficacy can create cynicism, mistrust, and policy gridlock.

The most effective leadership is facilitative, the relationship

symbiotic between leaders and citizens

Many of Portland’s civic innovations of came from citizens working with leaders who understood their role as facilitators

Civic InnovationsCivic Innovations

Supposed Leader CitizensPioneer Square Downtown Business Citizen advisory committeeUniversity District PSU Administration Student war protestMt. Hood Freeway Mayor Goldschmidt SE Portland Legal Defense FundUrban resettlement Planners "hippie" communesOregon Bottle Bill Governor McCall Oregon Environmental CouncilNeighborhood System Mayor Goldschmidt Corbett Terwilliger StudentsPublic Beaches Governor McCall Save our Sands (SOS)

Robert Straub

Engaged Schools and UniversitiesEngaged Schools and Universities

The civic health of a community depends on The civic health of a community depends on an education system that nurtures good an education system that nurtures good citizens as well as wage earnerscitizens as well as wage earners

It is a public good that lowers the cost of It is a public good that lowers the cost of governancegovernance

Universities are incubators for innovative Universities are incubators for innovative community problem solvingcommunity problem solving

University as Incubator of Civic IdeasUniversity as Incubator of Civic Ideas

Students and artists precipitated development of Portland neighborhood system

College Housing Northwest, in a class, now multi-million operation

First Curbside recycling program Urban Greenspaces Program Alternative Transportation Program Food First and Diggable Cities Program

CIVIC CAPACITY MATRIX

Types of Capacity

Beliefs/Values Beliefs/Values KnowledgeKnowledge SkillsSkills

Levels of ActivityLevels of Activity

IndividualIndividual

Beliefs/values regarding Beliefs/values regarding self-interest, self-self-interest, self-confidence confidence Sense of personal efficacySense of personal efficacySense of personal responsibilitySense of personal responsibilityAttitudes regarding service to societyAttitudes regarding service to society

Theories of moral developmentTheories of moral developmentEthical Theories of care and justiceEthical Theories of care and justiceTheories of adult learningTheories of adult learningTheories of adult developmentTheories of adult development

Interpersonal communicationInterpersonal communicationCapacity for self-reflection Capacity for self-reflection

Group/TeamGroup/TeamBeliefs/values regarding efficacy of group Beliefs/values regarding efficacy of group activityactivityBelief/values regarding diversity Belief/values regarding diversity Self-confidence and sense of efficacy when Self-confidence and sense of efficacy when working in groups/teamsworking in groups/teams

Role theoryRole theorySmall group behaviorSmall group behaviorTheories of diversityTheories of diversityMotivation theoriesMotivation theories

CollaborationCollaborationConflict resolutionConflict resolutionTeam leadershipTeam leadershipGroup decision-makingGroup decision-makingGroup presentationGroup presentation

Organizational Organizational

Beliefs/values regarding role of organizations Beliefs/values regarding role of organizations in societyin societyEfficacy of organizational activityEfficacy of organizational activity

Organizational theory & behaviorOrganizational theory & behaviorTheories of organizational leadershipTheories of organizational leadershipComparative value of different types of Comparative value of different types of organizations (community groups, organizations (community groups, political parties, voluntary assoc., etc)political parties, voluntary assoc., etc)

PlanningPlanningCoordinationCoordinationProject managementProject managementCoachingCoachingMentoringMentoringFacilitatingFacilitating

Community/ SocietyCommunity/ Society

Beliefs/values regarding society, Beliefs/values regarding society, public/private domains public/private domains Beliefs/values regarding social change, i.e. Beliefs/values regarding social change, i.e. sense of fatalism, confidence about the future, sense of fatalism, confidence about the future, attitude toward politics, etc.attitude toward politics, etc.

Public governance Public governance processes/structuresprocesses/structuresTheories of community/societyTheories of community/societyOrigins of modern liberalismOrigins of modern liberalismUnderstanding of comparative role of Understanding of comparative role of economics, sociology, political science, economics, sociology, political science, anthropologyanthropology

Public participation Public participation Meeting facilitationMeeting facilitationUse of quantitative/ qualitative Use of quantitative/ qualitative techniques for decision-makingtechniques for decision-makingOrganizing and sustaining community- Organizing and sustaining community- centered activitiescentered activities

© Morgan, D., Williams, D., & Shinn, C. (2000).

Elements of a Healthy Civic Elements of a Healthy Civic InfrastructureInfrastructure

OpportunityOpportunity Innovative and effective practicesInnovative and effective practices Maintenance and creation of public or civic spaceMaintenance and creation of public or civic space Democratic dialogue that enhances the commons over Democratic dialogue that enhances the commons over

individualismindividualism Capacity to act locally while thinking globalCapacity to act locally while thinking global The ability for communities to create and control a civic The ability for communities to create and control a civic

story that is socially, environmentally, and economically story that is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainablesustainable

That key audiences on the edges are involved:That key audiences on the edges are involved:

Civic Engagement: Are these groups Civic Engagement: Are these groups effectively involved?effectively involved?

A healthy civic structure depends on A healthy civic structure depends on continual continual renewal of the contractrenewal of the contract between citizens and between citizens and government, and the innovative and effective government, and the innovative and effective involvement of several key populations that involvement of several key populations that define the cutting edge or frontlinedefine the cutting edge or frontline

YouthYouth ImmigrantsImmigrants Challenging groupsChallenging groups EldersElders DisadvantagedDisadvantaged Diverse populationDiverse population

Importance of DiversityImportance of Diversity

Involvement of the diverse populations of a community is also critical, but not just because it is the just or right thing to do, but because when a community can create an inclusive democratic dialogue it is most likely to promote the most innovative solutions to community problems, and create ownership that will reduce government regulations and expenditures.

Understanding a Community’s StoryUnderstanding a Community’s Story

The Role of Story in Building The Role of Story in Building CommunityCommunity

Influence of story on the way we live our livesInfluence of story on the way we live our lives Dominate cultural stories, community, and individualDominate cultural stories, community, and individual

Assessing progress toward long term goals, e.g. Assessing progress toward long term goals, e.g. sustainability (costs and benefits)sustainability (costs and benefits)

Constructed social knowledge, made up of rational Constructed social knowledge, made up of rational science and experiential knowledgescience and experiential knowledge

Lowering the cost of governance and distributing costs of Lowering the cost of governance and distributing costs of constructing/maintaining the commons and public sphereconstructing/maintaining the commons and public sphere

Goal is to maintain or create an inhabitation pattern that Goal is to maintain or create an inhabitation pattern that is sustainableis sustainable

Telling Stories to Illustrate Community Telling Stories to Illustrate Community Narrative ApproachNarrative Approach

Valuing the generalist knowledge about a place (Bob Valuing the generalist knowledge about a place (Bob Benson)Benson)

The knowledge to over come rather than learning to The knowledge to over come rather than learning to work with (Columbia River)work with (Columbia River)

White Wolf in the AmazonWhite Wolf in the Amazon Sand Maps in the Australian outbackSand Maps in the Australian outback BeavergateBeavergate

Portland’s Civic StoryPortland’s Civic Story

Over 30 year period Portland created a Over 30 year period Portland created a civic story, in part myth, in part realitycivic story, in part myth, in part reality

It dictates civic behaviorIt dictates civic behavior Citizens expect to be involvedCitizens expect to be involved Bureaucrats and elected officials expect Bureaucrats and elected officials expect

citizens to be involved.citizens to be involved.

Example of Story Telling, Brisbane Example of Story Telling, Brisbane AustraliaAustralia

What is the Story?What is the Story? Where did it come from?Where did it come from? If it is a good story how do you maintain it?If it is a good story how do you maintain it? Is it sustainable (socially, economically, Is it sustainable (socially, economically,

environmentally)environmentally)

The Wisdom of CrowdsThe Wisdom of Crowds

From Public Works to the From Public Works to the Public that WorksPublic that Works

DeToqueville accurately predicted that America would face a criss. If people did not work together to solve problems then the government would need to create more and more rules, more and more bureacycy.

The most expensive governance involves governing individuals who only look out for themselves

The leaders in the next stage of democracy will need to be facilitators: helping to bring people together to solve community problems

Many problems today are not solvable without citizen participation We need an education system that helps individuals know how to

work together There are hardware and software solutions Software that processes information generated by “crowds”—

example naming a candy bar

Community Problem Solving: Community Problem Solving: hardware and software solutionshardware and software solutionsProblem Hard solution Soft solution

Defensive spending

Crime Police Community policingSecurity systemsPrisons

Water pollution Sewer system Storm water disconnectWaste Collection/ Recycling

incinerationWar Pentagon spending Diplomacy

“welfare” spendingChild care Private providers extended family

NeighborsCommuting More/better highways car pooling

Flex carMass transit

Property loss/ Insurance NeighborlinessHealth care Barn raising

Preventative healthSocial network supportcare giving

Wisdom of Crowd SoftwareWisdom of Crowd Software

WikipediaWikipedia Del.icio.usDel.icio.us--bookmark --bookmark

sharingsharing

FacebookFacebook YoutubeYoutube PodcastsPodcasts Bit torrentBit torrent--data --data

sharing/shared bandwidthsharing/shared bandwidth

FlickrFlickr--photo sharing--photo sharing

Digg-Digg--published stories -published stories voted on by membersvoted on by members

Friendster.comFriendster.com Meetup.comMeetup.com Flash of Brilliance.orgFlash of Brilliance.org

(Johnson’s Domain)(Johnson’s Domain)