Healthy Community I consider my community to be the Jordan Creek area, which is actually a little more diverse of a community than one would think. It’s a healthy community, but a confusing one. It’s part of Dallas County, the Waukee school district, and can also be incorporated with Polk County to somebody who isn’t sure where to place it. In this paper I will be discussing the types of community capital I believe exist in the Jordan Creek community, how social capital relates to making this community healthy, the community capital that is lacking in this area, and the four major contributors to community health. I can find several different types of each kind of community capital in my area. I think that some …show more content…
Every week I get a free copy of the West Des Moines Register, which informs me of things going on within my community and also things that have happened in my community. Once a month, we get a free copy of a magazine called, “West Des Moines Living,” which includes activities that have been coordinated within the community as well as exclusive advertising for West Des Moines local business. The magazine talks about accomplishments of individuals within the community and is also informative about upcoming sporting events, concerts, and other special interest events coming to the area. There are several classes you can take ranging from ballroom dancing to martial arts and this magazine tells you how to sign up for the classes, when and where they take place and whether or not you need to pay for them. It is also a great source of information for free children’s activities, such as enjoying free story times available for any young person’s enjoyment at the West Des Moines library, another example of the rich physical capital my community …show more content…
I know local law enforcement will come out and install car seats properly free of charge. I know the Dallas County courthouse is a good half hour drive from my house, but the city hall and West Des Moines Public Works are right down the street from me. My specific neighborhood belongs to an association, so there are private rules enforced that are usually formed with help from my neighborhood members by belonging to a committee and voting. The Waukee school system is known as one of the best in Iowa and is available for my community’s children to attend, adding strength to the political, human, and social capital of my community. My community has a great source of spiritual capital. There is the Lutheran Hope Church, which is located on Jordan Creek Pkwy, is always packed during worship times and I know it has the capacity to accommodate hundreds of people. There are also a lot of extra-curricular programs the church offers that many of the community’s youth take part in. A lot of the community’s youth also attend the school that is integrated with this church. The church is always doing stuff with sidewalk chalk and paint, putting up spiritual messages for the community to observe. I think this is also an example of cultural capital, because it does give an artistic impression as well. Cultural capital is probably the weakest source of community capital that contributes to the community health on the