What Makes Communities Thrive

How well are we all aware of the activities in our neighborhoods that contribute to their thriving? A recent report sheds some light on the underpinnings of thriving communities based on a study conducted in Boston, Massachusetts.

When researchers asked residents across four diverse Boston neighborhoods what thriving communities look like, they shared vivid examples: a greenhouse in East Boston that provides free vegetables every Wednesday, a neighbor in Roxbury who rescued a discarded punching bag for neighborhood kids to use, residents in South Boston who treasure waterfront access as a natural resource for meditation and peace of mind.

These examples, drawn from focus groups conducted by the Harvard Kennedy School's Program in Criminal Justice, reveal something important: residents don't just think about thriving communities in abstract terms. Instead, they point to concrete, everyday activities and spaces that foster connection, mutual support, and collective well-being.

Photo: Adobe

Through 22 focus groups conducted in the summer of 2022, the research team uncovered a surprising consensus about what makes communities flourish. Despite significant demographic and socioeconomic differences across Roxbury, Dorchester, East Boston, and South Boston, residents shared remarkably similar visions of what makes a community truly thrive.

Key Findings

• Community cohesion and collective efficacy were identified as essential elements - residents emphasized the importance of neighbors knowing each other, shared expectations, and the ability to work together to solve problems

• Freedom from harm was equally vital - violence, particularly gun violence, was seen as not just dangerous but as actively eroding community bonds

• Multiple resources required - residents highlighted the need for significant investments in:

  • The built environment (green spaces, clean streets, well-maintained infrastructure)

  • Human capital development (education, job training, economic opportunities)

  • Housing stability and affordability

  • Mental health and substance use treatment

• Varied perspectives on policing - while opinions about police varied, this was just one aspect of a much broader conversation about community well-being.

  
  

Key Implications

The study offers several critical insights for policymakers and community leaders:

• Thriving requires comprehensive investment: Creating healthy communities demands attention to physical spaces, economic opportunity, housing stability, and health services.

• Community cohesion is fundamental: Strong social bonds and the ability to work collectively toward shared goals emerged as crucial for both safety and thriving.

• Environmental factors matter deeply: Residents highlighted how clean, well-maintained neighborhoods with green spaces foster physical and mental well-being.

• Economic opportunity creates stability: Access to education, job training, and meaningful employment was consistently identified as essential for community health.

• Community voice must guide solutions: Residents' lived experiences provide a nuanced understanding that should inform policy and resource allocation decisions.

  
  

This research reveals that community thriving is a complex, interconnected ecosystem requiring investment across multiple domains. Rather than focusing narrowly on any single factor, the findings suggest the need for holistic approaches that strengthen communities from multiple angles simultaneously.

Source:

"This Is What Thriving Communities Look Like: Insights from Residents of Four Boston Neighborhoods." Prepared by Amisha Kambath, Noor Toraif, and Sandra Susan Smith for the Roundtable on Racial Disparities in Massachusetts Criminal Courts.

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Building on this research, we're conducting an anonymous survey to gather more insights about what makes communities thrive.

The survey takes approximately 8 minutes, and all responses are completely anonymous. We do not collect email addresses or any personally identifying information. Your responses will be analyzed in aggregate, and no individual responses will be identified in any reporting.

The results will be compiled into a comprehensive report to be released later this year. The findings will be shared here on ThrivingCommunities.org. Subscribe to stay connected with our work.

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For more information about this survey and research, please contact survey@thrivingcommunities.org.

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