Fragile Neighborhoods
Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time
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Fragile Neighborhoods
Narrated by:
Ron Butler
Buy Now for $21.99
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Narrated by:
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Ron Butler
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By:
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Seth D. Kaplan
About this listen
The neighborhoods we live in impact our lives in so many ways: they determine who we know, what resources and opportunities we have access to, the quality of schools our kids go to, our sense of security and belonging, and even how long we live.
Yet too many of us live in neighborhoods plagued by rising crime, school violence, family disintegration, addiction, alienation, and despair. Even the wealthiest neighborhoods are not immune; while poverty exacerbates these challenges, they exist in zip codes rich and poor, rural and urban, and everything in between.
In Fragile Neighborhoods, fragile states expert Seth D. Kaplan offers a bold new vision for addressing social decline in America, one zip code at a time. By revitalizing our local institutions—and the social ties that knit them together—we can all turn our neighborhoods into places where people and families can thrive.
Readers will meet the innovative individuals and organizations pioneering new approaches to everything from youth mentoring to urban planning to keeping families intact: people like Dreama, a former lawyer whose organization works with local leaders and educators in rural Appalachia to equip young people with the social support they need to succeed in school; and Chris, whose Detroit-based non-profit turns vacant school buildings into community resource hubs while also organizing local volunteers to repair homes and beautify streets in neighborhoods across the city.
Along the way, Kaplan offers a set of practical lessons to inspire similar work, reminding us that when change is hyperlocal, everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
Critic Reviews
“In an era of remote work when it seems like place is becoming less relevant, Seth Kaplan shows us that where we live really does matter: It shapes our lives, our careers, our opportunities, our beliefs, our friendships, our opportunities and those of our children. But communities in America are under threat. An expert in ‘fragile states,’ Kaplan exposes the increasing fragility of the neighborhoods where Americans live. His book is an essential and engaging read for everyone who wants to better understand the challenges facing our cities, towns and our nation writ large.”
—Richard Florida, bestselling author of The Rise of the Creative Class
—Richard Florida, bestselling author of The Rise of the Creative Class
“Why is the U.S. experiencing a mental health crisis of unprecedented proportions? Seth Kaplan's superb new book has the diagnosis: A breakdown of community. As Gen X'ers and Boomers who grew up before the days of social media remember, our earliest, most meaningful relationships used to be rooted in our neighborhoods. Kaplan reminds us that these relationships are the social glue that holds our families and communities together.”—Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., author of Generations and iGen
“A necessary and realistic vision for reversing the social forces that disadvantage our nation’s children. Full of inspiring stories, Fragile Neighborhoods reveals how the relationships within and between schools, families, and communities empower students to succeed. It should be required reading for anyone who believes that we all have a role to play in creating learning environments that extend beyond the four walls of the classroom.” —Geoffrey Canada, President, Harlem Children’s Zone
“Americans are fortunate that Seth Kaplan, one of the world's leading experts on preventing conflict in fragile states, is now applying his unique skillset to the many neighborhoods in the U.S. that are fragile despite decades of federal spending. He reminds us that physical communities shape individuals as much as individuals shape them, and require tending.” —Yuval Levin, founding editor of National Affairs and author of A Time to Build
“Discussions about public policy in America too often paint a portrait of individuals and families isolated from each other, moving through their own independent worlds. Seth Kaplan provides a different view, presenting a vision for how the networks and institutions that form the foundation of our neighborhoods can link us together. Anyone who cares about the decline of community life in America must read this.”—Patrick Sharkey, William S Tod Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
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