an excerpt from Measuring The Effects of Community

Robert Putnam, professor of Public Policy at Harvard and author of the critically acclaimed book Bowling Alone, discusses the importance of community and the measurable effects it has on crime rates, the quality of school systems, the economy and our own personal health as individuals. Putnam points out that social isolation, being disconnected from family and friends, carries as big a risk factor for premature death as smoking. To find out more about the importance of connecting with others and the effects it has on our lives watch, “Measuring the Effects of Community.” (Length: 15 min.)