Since the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. dissolved a decade ago, there has not been an annual effort to analyze the local quality of life and recommend actions to improve the score.
Founded in 1974 to bring together a diverse group of about 100 community leaders, JCCI’s objective was to identify priority issues to improve the quality of life in the community. The organization’s stated mission was “to bring people together to learn about our community, engage in problem solving and act to drive positive change.”
That hiatus is ending with the launch of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida’s Catalyst Northeast Florida project.
On its website, the Nonprofit Center says the project “is grounded in the belief that everyone has the power to be an author in the ever-changing story of our community. Using both data and the collective wisdom of the nonprofit sector, Catalyst Northeast Florida is where leaders in our community come together to tell the story of who we are today – and who we want to be.”
The project seeks to involve nonprofits, businesses, government agencies and community volunteers. The process and data also will be a valuable tool for people who want to use their financial resources to enhance the community, Nonprofit Center CEO Dawn Lockhart said.
“Philanthropists can use the current data to help them decide what to do with their grantmaking.”
Technology available to gather and analyze data has greatly improved in the past 10 years so Catalyst will allow a much more comprehensive analysis of the various factors that comprise quality of life.
“We will take public data and create a custom database. We can sort the data geographically and demographically down to individual ZIP codes. The goal is to use the data to build partnerships and create alignment among the nonprofits to increase their scale. As organizations, we have to align for impact,” Lockhart said.
The Catalyst project focuses on six community topics:
Youth and education
The well-being of children and youth is linked to the quality of life of a community. The opportunity for every child to meet their full potential is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in the future of a community.
Health and wellness
Health and wellness indicators are tools for assessing the overall well-being of a community. These indicators provide insights into the health status of residents, shedding light on prevalent health issues, identifying at-risk populations and tracking trends over time.
Prosperity and opportunity
A prosperous community has a strong economy, a well-educated population, good health, social equity, safety, environmental sustainability, cultural vibrancy and effective governance. Measures of employment, income and poverty levels point to the community’s standard of living and greater opportunities for individuals and families.
Housing and neighborhoods
A vibrant and thriving neighborhood is a dynamic and diverse community that offers a high quality of life for its residents. It is a place with opportunities for decent and affordable housing, education, employment, recreation and cultural enrichment. By tracking these indicators, communities can identify areas where they need to invest in housing and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Older adults and people with disabilities
People age 65 and older and people with disabilities are important members of the community. By tracking relevant indicators, Catalyst can identify disparities, create inclusive environments and ensure that infrastructure, services and facilities meet the specific needs of these populations.
Community and civic vibrancy
Community and civic vibrancy refers to the dynamic and thriving nature of a community, characterized by active engagement, diverse participation and a sense of shared purpose. It encompasses a range of factors that contribute to the well-being and vitality of a community.
Lockhart said the performance goals for the first year of the project are to identify all of the available data sources, complete an analysis of all the data relevant to each focus area and encourage nonprofits in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties to participate in the process.
The first committee sessions will convene Nov. 5-8. The public is invited to attend.
Visit CatalystNEFL.org to view the Catalyst Northeast Florida dashboard.
Visit tinyurl.com/4cvu57n6 to subscribe to email updates about Catalyst.
