Welcome to our “resource archive,” a growing library of presentations and other materials aimed at sharing a deeper understanding of the challenges our community is facing, and how the Community Foundation is responding.
Neighborliness & Building Connections
Everyone loves a good neighbor. And yet, it’s no secret that record high levels of political and economic polarization continue to drive people apart in ways that undermine relationships and tear at the fabric of civic life.
An equally disturbing, and related, trend is the rising sense of isolation that many people feel. During his first term as U.S. surgeon general (2014-17), Dr. Vivek Murthy identified loneliness as a public health issue. At the time – well before the pandemic and its isolating effects — various studies pegged the nationwide rates of loneliness from 22 % to 50+% percent of adults, with particularly high rates among young adults.
Data – Articles, Assessments, Surveys & Statistics
U.S. Surgeon General: Social Connection
Pew Research: How Partisans View Each Other
Three in Ten Americans Named Political Polarization as Top Issue Facing the Country
Pew Research: America is Exceptional in the Nature of its Political Divide
Cigna Study: Loneliness Epidemic Persists; Post-Pandemic Look
American Survey Center: The State of American Friendship
Greater Good Institute: What is the Cost of Polarization in America
Neighborly resources
Surgeon General: Connection Resources
Readers Digest: Good Neighbor Lessons from Mr. Rogers
4-H
AARP Foundation: Tools to Overcome Social Isolation
Carnegie Endowment: Ideas to Reduce Political Polarization and Save America from Itself
Learn about your implicit biases
50 Ways to be the Best Neighbor Ever
60 Ways to Build Community
You Tube Video: Look Up
Economic Opportunity | Economic Mobility Starts at Birth
Economic opportunity begins at birth. And even though everyone wants to give their children more and better opportunities than they had, the deck is stacked in favor of babies born to higher-income families who are white, college-educated and thus steeped in “social capital,” i.e., the relationships that give people the ability to act on their aspirations as well as the ability to access benefits. These are the essential factors that predict educational attainment, financial security and even life expectancy.
Data – Articles, Assessments, Surveys & Statistics
Food Insecurity
As of June 2022, an estimated 1 in 5 people in Whatcom County is considered “food insecure,” which is defined as a “lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.” Since the child tax credit expired last December and inflation continues to affect gas and food prices, many families are back to choosing between rent, medicine, childcare, work transportation and food – food being the most flexible area to cut. Whatcom food banks are struggling to keep up, experiencing higher than typical use and are facing increased costs related to inflation.
Here’s a list of Whatcom County Food Banks with links to give.
Data – Articles, Assessments, Surveys & Statistics
Youth Mental Health
In a class of 30 Whatcom County 10th graders, 21 are dealing with anxiety; 12 are dealing with depression; 6 have contemplated suicide, 5 have made a suicide plan; 2 have attempted suicide. (Healthy Youth Survey 2021).
Rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide had been rising steadily for at least a decade before the pandemic, when isolation, uncertainty and grief exacerbated the problem, which has been declared a national emergency by leading pediatric groups and merited a rare advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General in December 2021. Here are some resources from Whatcom County mental health providers and other experts.
November 2021 | Youth Mental Health Community Briefing
April 2022 | Whatcom County Health Youth Survey Highlights
April 2022 | Spotlight Briefing: Youth Mental Health (updated)
May 2022 | Local Organizations Supporting Youth Mental Health
October 2020 | Engaging Teenagers in Public Spaces
Data – Assessments, Surveys & Statistics
Tools & Resources
Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Recovery
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and last year’s historic floods, people in government, nonprofits, healthcare, as well as countless good neighbors across our community have done heroic work. And yet? We can do better.
As the Community Foundation, along with government and nonprofit partners, navigates the remaining relief and recovery processes related to the pandemic and the floods, we are also working to improve preparedness and coordination in anticipation of future events, knowing that different types of disasters require varied response.
March 2022 | Flood Recovery Snapshot
March 2022 | Flood Relief Funds Distributed
March 2022 | Resilience Fund Update: Lessons Learned & What Comes Next
Resource Library
The Whatcom Community Foundation produces its THRIVE newsletter 6-8 times annually, using this platform to provide topical updates on crucial topics impacting out communities.
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