The Earth Charter Community Indicators’ Project, a citizen engagement effort to measure
quality of life in Tampa is currently being developed. Behavioral scientists know
that what gets measured is what changes over time.  So to improve the quality of life in
Tampa, the project will develop indicators to measure what would make Tampa an enjoyable
place to live and to work. What makes this project different from others is the planned large
scale involvement of over 20,000 citizens and the inclusion of the measurement of a “sense of
community” as one of the indicators based on the personal trust and connectedness of
people living in Tampa. Partners have stepped up to assure wide popular involvement. They
include media outlets, press, television and radio; ethnic associations, universities/colleges,
businesses, community and cultural arts organizations.

The Technical Team includes:

• John Holton, Ph.D., former site director for Harvard School of Public Health Neighborhood Study; that quantified “sense of community” and showed its importance in children’s reduced involvement in crime, improvement in school performance and health;

• Kathy Kline, M.D., Principall Investigator for report done by Commission on Children At Risk sponsored by Dartmouth Medical School, YMCA of USA and Institute for American Values that showed the importance of social connectedness for children and youth
  
• Susan Greenbaum, Ph.D., Applied Anthropologist and Professor at University of South Florida.

• Christian Layke, Global Associate at World Resources Institute that has developed community workbook for Earth Charter indicators.

This project  will produce a template for other interested Earth Charter cities.

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