Engaging Citizens and Building Social Capital:The Exceptional Civic Story of Portland Oregon

andthe Role of Information Technology.

  

Steve Johnson, Ph.D.Portland State UniversityPortland, Oregon USA

BackgroundBackground

Experiments with online communications Experiments with online communications early 1970searly 1970s

Social network project on Arpanet, 1978-Social network project on Arpanet, 1978- First NGO computer technical assistance First NGO computer technical assistance

network, late 1980snetwork, late 1980s

Where is Portland Oregon?Where is Portland Oregon?

Portland OregonPortland Oregon

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

Trends of Civic Engagement in Trends of Civic Engagement in AmericaAmerica

www.BowlingAlone.comwww.BowlingAlone.com

What is social capital?What is social capital?

If physical capital is wholly tangible, being If physical capital is wholly tangible, being embodied in observable material form, and embodied in observable material form, and human capital is less tangible, being embodied in human capital is less tangible, being embodied in the skills and knowledge acquired by an the skills and knowledge acquired by an individual, social capital is less tangible yet, for it individual, 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 neighborhood Example, a park that is safe in a neighborhood vs. having to secure it with policevs. having to secure it with police

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.

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

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)

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.”

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

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

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

Cooperative forms of behavior have declined more Cooperative forms of behavior have declined more rapidly than expressive forms of behavior (e.g. letter rapidly than expressive forms of behavior (e.g. letter writing)writing)

More citizens participate through issue focused groups, More citizens participate through issue focused groups, extreme views are overly representedextreme views are overly represented

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

3000 civic organizations3000 civic organizations 1 out of 15 people significantly involved in 1 out of 15 people significantly involved in

civic lifecivic life Current neighborhood system, 60 paid Current neighborhood system, 60 paid

staff, 600+ volunteer positions with staff, 600+ volunteer positions with neighborhood associationsneighborhood associations

Honors 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)

Best city for dogs Best city for dogs (Dog Fancy magazine)(Dog Fancy magazine)

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

Second best city for disabled citizensSecond best city for disabled citizens One of the most attractive for young creatives One of the most attractive for young creatives

(Rise of Creative Class)(Rise of Creative Class)

The Health of a Civic InfrastructureThe Health of a Civic Infrastructure

Elements of a Healthy Civic Elements of a Healthy Civic InfrastructureInfrastructure

OpportunityOpportunity EffectiveEffective actions actions Civic SpaceCivic Space Global & LocalGlobal & Local Facilitative leadershipFacilitative leadership Deliberative Deliberative

Democratic dialogueDemocratic dialogue Sustainable civic Sustainable civic

storystory

These AudiencesThese Audiences YoungYoung ElderElder New comersNew comers DisadvantagedDisadvantaged Challenging groupsChallenging groups Diverse populationDiverse population

Wisdom of CrowdsWisdom of Crowds

Wisdom of CrowdsWisdom of Crowds

Difficult choice facing American Difficult choice facing American democracy predicted by De Tocquevilledemocracy predicted by De Tocqueville

Many social and environmental problems Many social and environmental problems can’t be solved without participation can’t be solved without participation (chart)(chart)

Government becomes facilitator of Government becomes facilitator of community problem solvingcommunity problem solving

Citizens need new civic skills and Citizens need new civic skills and knowledge to be effective citizensknowledge to be effective citizens

The example of naming a candy barThe example of naming a candy bar

Hardware and Software SolutionsHardware and Software Solutions

Problem Hard solution Soft solutionDefensive 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 highwayscar pooling

Flex carMass transit

Property loss/ Insurance NeighborlinessHealth care Barn raising

Preventative healthSocial network supportcare giving

Civic Engagement and the Civic Engagement and the InternetInternet

Overview of Internet UseOverview of Internet Use

Internet and Broadband 1996--2006Internet and Broadband 1996--2006

Internet UsersInternet UsersDemographics of Internet UsersFebruary--April 2006 survey

Total Adults 73%GenderWomen 71%Men 74%Age18-29 88%30-49 84%50-64 71%65+ 32%RaceWhite 73%Black 61%English Speaking Hispanic 76%Type of CommunityUrban 75%Suburban 75%Rural 63%IncomeLess than $30,000/yr 53%$30,000-$49,999 80%$50,000-$74,999 86%$75,000- 91%EducationLess than high school 40%High school 64%Some college 84%

X

X

X

X

Growth of use of Internet by Growth of use of Internet by NGOsNGOs

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

yr. 2000 yr. 2002 yr. 2004

Access to Political Information and Access to Political Information and Public AffairsPublic Affairs

Americans Getting More News Americans Getting More News OnlineOnline

News: the double edged swordNews: the double edged sword

Internet features such as Internet features such as customization can narrow the customization can narrow the information obtained online.information obtained online.

Latest surveys show that more people Latest surveys show that more people now only access standard news now only access standard news sources, just online now. sources, just online now.

E GovernmentE Government

E Government--Use ProfileE Government--Use Profile

97 million or 77% of internet users have gone 97 million or 77% of internet users have gone online to search for government information and online to search for government information and to communicate with them.to communicate with them.

More Americans contact government by More Americans contact government by telephone but the WWW is the second most telephone but the WWW is the second most popular meanspopular means

Internet users accessing government information online are more successful in achieving their purpose (65% to 53% margin)

Digital DividesDigital Divides

Most Important Digital Divides--in terms of civic engagement

Age. Highest along young, lowest among older Americans Educational Attainment. High among college graduates, low

without high school diplomas Income. Highest use with households with $75,000 or more

Disability Status—low with people with disabilities Language Preference—low among people with language other than

English Race and ethnicity—Highest among Whites and Asian-Americans,

lower among African Americans Community type—Highest in urban and suburban areas, lowest in

rural areas

Digital Divide: EducationDigital Divide: EducationHigh High Some College GraduateSchool School College Graduate SchoolIncomplete Graduate

A. Look for information you needed for your work? 42% 45% 56% 74% 84%B. Home finances or banking? 34 39 58 59 63C. Look for information about a product that you might want to buy? 74 71 80 88 86D. Actually buy something? 50 42 56 70 71E. Invest money in a stock or mutual fund? 6 9 14 22 21F. Tried to meet peoplefor social purpose 27 16 15 15 11G. Look for information about a health concern or medical problem? 57 55 61 66 69H. Make an airplane or other travel reservation? 24 25 42 55 55I. Locate someone’s phone number, email, or mailing address? 49 50 51 55 66J. Play a game with someoneon another computer 32 24 22 17 12K. Look for a new job orexplore career opportunities? 37 37 49 50 48L Go to chat room, newsgroup to discuss publicaffairs 32 20 19 20 22M. Go to a Web site to find info about political/policy issues, current affairs, or campaigns? 18 23 75 39 50 X

X

Civic Engagement GapCivic Engagement Gap

Internet does not appear to be increasing Internet does not appear to be increasing youth involved in civic lifeyouth involved in civic life

The youngest and least educated remain The youngest and least educated remain the least involvedthe least involved

Older and well education the most Older and well education the most involvedinvolved

Local Places and Non-Local PlacesLocal Places and Non-Local Places

Putnam on Importance of PlacePutnam on Importance of Place

“Technologies like the Internet mean that our connections with people around the country and around the world are getting closer, while our ties to our neighbors across the street are weakening.” (Putnam)

Loss of LocalLoss of Local

Citizens access more national but not local Citizens access more national but not local news onlinenews online

Some evidence suggests long distance Some evidence suggests long distance social networks strengthened at expense social networks strengthened at expense of local social networksof local social networks

Blogs, likewise tend to be about general Blogs, likewise tend to be about general news and information not localnews and information not local

Public Space and Deliberative Public Space and Deliberative DemocracyDemocracy

Public or Civic SpacePublic or Civic Space

Habermas linked the birth of the modern liberal Habermas linked the birth of the modern liberal democracy during the 18th century to the democracy during the 18th century to the emergence of public spaces, such as emergence of public spaces, such as coffeehouses, clubs, salons, societies, and coffeehouses, clubs, salons, societies, and voluntary associations, and the press where the voluntary associations, and the press where the public can organize itself as the bearer of public public can organize itself as the bearer of public opinion.opinion.

He also noted the current trend to privatize He also noted the current trend to privatize public space which undermines the role of civic public space which undermines the role of civic space.space.

Deliberative DemocracyDeliberative Democracy

The internet prompts more knee-jerk reactions than deliberative responses (Stephen Bates, Annenberg)

And when there is more interesting discourse, you can tell it's people who just love to hear the sound of their own voices. They're not really listening to other people.

It gives people a way to respond instantly and often angrily and aggressively without taking the time to mull something over.

The Blog WorldThe Blog World

30% (50 million) of all American Internet users visited a Blog site in first quarter of 2005

8% (12 million) adult users of the Internet have a blog 54% of bloggers say that they have never published their

writing or media creations More than half (54%) of bloggers are under the age of

30. bloggers are less likely to be white than the general

internet population.

ConclusionConclusion

Social and Political Characteristics of Social and Political Characteristics of Online World--organizationsOnline World--organizations

Organizational membership may be loose, drive by, quick to form and quick to dissolve

Increase in intra-organizational communication Local groups can have more national and global

ties and perspective Social networks displacing traditional group

membership, “networked individuals” Strengthening affinity groups at expense of

cross-differences

Social and Political characteristics--Social and Political characteristics--IndividualIndividual

May increase expressive forms of citizen participation

Individual actions may have more power Fosters weak ties at a distance Citizens may retreat to comfort zones Community moves in doors may be hard

to detect

Broadband GrowthBroadband Growth

73%

42%

88%84%

71%

32%

66%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Internetusers

broadband 18-29 30-49 50-64 over 65

20062005

Crowds of Wisdom Crowds of Wisdom SoftwareSoftware

WikipediaWikipedia RSS feedsRSS feeds Del.icio.usDel.icio.us FacebookFacebook PodcastsPodcasts YoutubeYoutube

Bit TorrentBit Torrent FlickrFlickr DiggDigg FlashofBrilliance.netFlashofBrilliance.net

It’s a “Long Tail” world – It’s a “Long Tail” world – Chris Anderson notionChris Anderson notion

Tra

ffic

Content

20%-40% of traffic or salesin the “long tail”

NGOs and the Long TailNGOs and the Long Tail

The increasing willingness of individuals to make The increasing willingness of individuals to make online transactions plus the significantly lower online transactions plus the significantly lower transaction costs of online giving has flipped this transaction costs of online giving has flipped this longstanding rule on its head. As a result, longstanding rule on its head. As a result, organizations and campaigns are experiencing organizations and campaigns are experiencing an increase in the number of smaller an increase in the number of smaller contributions. contributions.

For example, Dean for America raised more For example, Dean for America raised more money than any Democratic presidential primary money than any Democratic presidential primary campaign in history, all with donations averaging campaign in history, all with donations averaging less than $100 each.less than $100 each.

Civic Democracy--InnovationsCivic Democracy--Innovations

Democracy Portal--SeattleDemocracy Portal--Seattle Open Politics, CanadaOpen Politics, Canada Moveon.comMoveon.com Popandpolitics.com and Rock the VotePopandpolitics.com and Rock the Vote Meetup.comMeetup.com

http://dowire.org/ Democracies online Blog

AdvokitAdvokit

ChangeEverythingChangeEverything

Sponsored by large credit union/bank in Sponsored by large credit union/bank in CanadaCanada

People list their social and environmental People list their social and environmental goalsgoals

Others share theirs, support groups form Others share theirs, support groups form to help individuals meet their goalsto help individuals meet their goals

Civic Engagement and Internet Civic Engagement and Internet ScorecardScorecard

Opportunity IncreasesAccess to Information IncreasesCivic Innovation IncreasesPublic and civic Space Critical ProblemDeliberative democracy Critical Problemmobilization of resources increasesthink global act local IncreasesLocal knowledge and stories Critical ProblemAudiences Young Mixed New Comers uncertain Elder Critical Problem Disadvantaged Mixed Diverse population uncertain

EXTRA SLIDESEXTRA SLIDES

The Digital NativesThe Digital Natives

NPO ComputingNPO Computing

General support, General support, http://www.501c3cast.com/#

PACE, Philanthropy for new style of NPOPACE, Philanthropy for new style of NPO E-Volve Foundation, support for online E-Volve Foundation, support for online

civic engagementcivic engagement Craig’s List Bay Area Boot CampCraig’s List Bay Area Boot Camp Community Technology Center’s Network Community Technology Center’s Network http://www.ctcnet.org/

What to Do in the Civil Society What to Do in the Civil Society SectorSector

Design connective strategiesDesign connective strategies Push power to the edgesPush power to the edges Meet them where they areMeet them where they are Learn from and with the grassrootsLearn from and with the grassroots Membership alone is not enoughMembership alone is not enough Need for organizational flexibility Need for organizational flexibility (like Dell Computer)(like Dell Computer)

Develop New sets of civic skillsDevelop New sets of civic skills Take advantage of spontaneous Take advantage of spontaneous intelligent mobsintelligent mobs

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 Information Citizens AccessWhat Information Citizens Access

Got information from government WWW site 66%Conducted research 41%Tourist information 34%Health and safety information 28%Sent email to government employees 27%Government benefits 23%