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“The patterns illustrated on the maps reflect very complex social processes that we do not yet fully understand,“ Wilson said. “Before something can be understood, it must be visualized. These maps provide a first step toward understanding and improving the welfare of our community by helping us visualizes how the underlying parameters vary on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis.“ GIS allows the information about developmental assets to be combined with any other spatially based information, such as U.S. Census statistics or information about the physical landscape. Working with Binghamton University’s GIS center, Wilson has also developed a user-friendly Web interface that enables anyone to create maps of Binghamton. “This information can be analyzed from any theoretical perspective, but evolutionary theory is especially well suited for studying organisms in relation to their environment, including the human organism,“ Wilson said. “The important thing is to study people from all walks of life in the contexts of their everyday lives.“
EvoS establishes a multidisciplinary framework for studying evolution in biology and all human-related subjects. Wilson’s own research focuses on cooperation and altruism as behaviors that can be evolutionarily successful under certain conditions. The Binghamton Neighborhood Project dovetails perfectly with his prior interests, he said. But EvoS and its intellectual community of more than 50 faculty members are also well positioned to address a range of other important issues with the same database. And the University’s innovative Center City Coordination program, or C3, has the community partnerships to take the data and help residents act on it, said Allison Alden, director of C3. “When we look at community development, we like to consider from the residents’ perspectives what are their priorities, their goals, their strengths,“ she said. “And it’s very difficult to get that information.“ She sees the Binghamton Neighborhood Project as an important first step in bringing together comprehensive community information. It’s also an unusual chance to ask young people directly about what they want and need. “Youth in particular is an interesting age group to focus on right now, and this will help us do that,“ Alden said. “I’m interested in looking at meaningful opportunities for young people to become engaged in their community. Not just a volunteer project, but a way to really use their own talents.“
Search Institute has compiled the following list of 40 assets it considers essential for young people to be healthy, caring and responsible.
Family support, positive family communication, other adult relationships, caring neighborhood, caring school climate, parent involvement in schooling, community values youth, youth as resources, service to others, safety, family boundaries, school boundaries, neighborhood boundaries, adult role models, positive peer influence, high expectations, creative activities, youth programs, religious community and time at home
Achievement motivation, school engagement, homework, bonding to school, reading for pleasure, caring, equality and social justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility, restraint, planning and decision making, interpersonal competence, cultural competence, resistance skills, peaceful conflict resolution, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose and positive view of personal future
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