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Living & Trusting in the UC
How would you rate living in University City?
By Kevin Toomb
May 2006
More than 400 University City residents were asked this question in a recent telephone survey conducted by the
Urban Institute at UNC Charlotte on behalf of the University City Community Building Project (UCCBP). The results
of the survey demonstrated that perceptions about University City are changing, and not always for the better.
The mission of the UCCBP is to improve the sense of community in University City among those who live, work, learn
and worship here. Late in 2002, the UCCBP surveyed residents about social capital issues. In 2006, thanks to the
generosity and support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a follow-up survey was conducted.
In both surveys, people were asked about the image of University City (UC): Was it Positive, Negative, or Neutral?
In 2002, 82% of those surveyed reported a Positive image of UC. In 2006, the Positive percentage declined to 66%.
The percentage reporting a Negative image stayed about the same. The Neutral percentage increased from 16% in 2002
to 28% in 2006.
People in the survey were asked if living in University City had gotten Better, Worse, or stayed About the Same.
In 2002, 47% of the people surveyed felt living here had gotten Better. In 2006, this percentage declined to 31%.
Unfortunately, the percentage of people who think living here has gotten worse increased from 14% to 24%. What
could account for this change?
One clue might be found in how people responded when asked what could be done to make University City a better
place to live. The most frequently mentioned answer was: Reduce Crime and Improve Safety (18%). In 2002, this issue
was mentioned only by 7% of the respondents. Clearly there has been a shift in perception of crime and personal
safety. Additional research on UC crime trends will tell us if the changes in perception of safety have a basis
in fact.
Growing Diversity in UC
University City is the most diverse area in
the Charlotte Metro region. Based on 2005 estimates supplied to the author by the Urban Institute at UNC Charlotte,
the African American, Asian and Hispanic populations are growing faster than the overall population in University
City. In the year 2000, about 68% of the people in University City were White. In 2010, that percentage is projected
to be 55%. As diversity increases in University City, our attitudes about it gain importance.
The 2002 survey asked if diversity was a Strength, a Weakness or Neither, and 72% of the people surveyed believed
that diversity was a Strength. In 2006, that percentage declined to 62%. The percentage of people believing diversity
is a Weakness did not change. The percentage of Neither increased from 22% to 32%. Another drift into Neutral!
Who Do You Trust?
The strongest communities are those in which
we trust the people around us…the people at work, in church, next door, etc. When trust is wanes, our sense of
community suffers.
Generally, we tend to trust people who are just like us. Alternatively, trust tends to decline in diverse populations.
Sometimes we are uncomfortable with people who look, speak and act different than we do.
In the 2002 survey, 53% of the respondents said that Most People Can Be Trusted. This percentage was particularly
impressive given the strong diversity in UC. What a gift: Above average diversity coupled with above average trust!
Sadly, this appears to have changed. In the 2006 survey, the trust percentage dropped to 44%. Are we losing our
gift of trust?
What Can We Do?
Additional analysis is being conducted to help
us better understand the results and interpret the trends. Meanwhile, we don't have to accept the decline in trust;
we can find ways to bring our trust levels back up. One way you can begin is to Get Connected. Participate in activities
in your neighborhood, your church and your community. Get to know the good people in University City. If you want
to learn about ways that you can Get Connected in University City, visit the UCCBP website at www.uccbp.com.
Kevin Toomb, Ph.D. is the Marketing Director for First Charter and co-chair of the University City Community Building
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