COMMUNITY LIFE

	OUR VISION
	We envision a regional community where citizens are connected, caring, and involved.

	GOALS
	The KEYS region offers ample opportunities for citizens to offer volunteer community service. The KEYS region has an informed citizenry with a high rate of voting in local, state and national elections. KEYS citizens have opportunities to connect with one another. KEYS citizens have a high level of religious involvement in a diverse and dynamic faith community.

	NEXT STEPS
	Inventory volunteer opportunities and volunteer rates in KEYS communities Increase exposure to volunteer opportunities Identify and partner with local voter participation initiatives Inventory local religious involvement

REGIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

United Ways of York County and Greater Seacoast launch web based, volunteer action centers.
KEYS voting rates are strong.
The KEYS Region gets its own newspaper: The Weekly Sentinel (2005)
The KEYS region has an active faith community.

IT'S ALL CONNECTED

Creating a community that values and promotes neighbor helping neighbor and civic involvement can significantly influence the quality of life in our region, including:

preventing substance abuse
increasing educational attainment
reducing crime
improving environmental conditions.

Resources

Volunteerism

United Way York County www.buildcommunity.org

United Way Greater Seacoast www.uwgs.org
Diversity: York Diversity Forum
More Resources

community indicators

The quality of community life, also called "social capital," is measured in a variety of ways that you can learn more about here: Read More about the Indicators.

We are researching data for the following measures:

1. rates of volunteerism

Our two United Way agencies collect data on volunteers who come through their Volunteer Action Centers.

2. Change in voter participation, voter registration

State of Maine, Secretary of State, Elections

http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/index.html

3. Connecting

We have not done a social capital survey for our region, but will consider doing one in the future.

4. religious involvement

http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/maps/map.asp?state=22&variable=611

York County ranks 4th highest of Maine's 16 counties in this survey of Rates of Adherence Per 1000 Population (2000), reported at the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) website.

citizens say...

"Some stores are a community center..."

(KEYS Region Forum participant, 9/29/2005)