The Kenosha Social Capital Study

The Kenosha Social Capital Study explores how people and communities at the social and economic margins of a small city survive and thrive after welfare reform and in a changing economy. Kenosha Wisconsin is an internationally recognized model for effectively revitalizing its economy after major employers left, supporting unemployed families, and creating a workforce development system that is sensitive to the needs of both government and families using the system. Kenosha was one of the models for U.S. 1996 welfare reform, but the county created a public/private partnership that provided wrap around supports beyond most current government programs. Kenosha is also the small city that chose "not to be like Flint, Michigan," (to quote a Kenosha business leader) the impoverished city made famous by Michael Moore's documentary Roger and Me, on what happens to a community after their major employer leaves. Instead, Kenosha worked with its banks to make sure people did not lose their homes, encouraged businesses to move to Kenosha and took other measures to create a mixed economy, and encouraged its faith communities and civic organizations to create a safety net of community based nonprofits that had not existed before its major unionized employers left. As a small city that is majority white, Kenosha is not only a model for communities in transition, but similar to much of the suburban and rural U.S. today. As such, it also has much to teach us about diversity outside of large cities.



This report shares findings from a study commissioned by Kenosha county government and its nonprofits and faith communities to understand the ways that families, community based nonprofits, and churches in the African American and Hispanic/Latino community respond to community members in need. It also analyzes the welfare to work system and business climate in Kenosha as a whole, comparing how African American and Hispanic/Latino families experience with government systems differs from that of white families. The study uses social capital - trust based connections that lead to resources, to understand why some families and organizations succeed in meeting their goals while others fail.



Initially published in 2001, the Kenosha Social Capital Study was featured in an interview by Cokie Roberts on National Public Radio and has been used by community planners, government, social service agencies, and faith community leaders as a model for creating support systems for families. It has also been used as a case study in urban studies, public administration, nonprofit studies, business, social work, urban ministry, and social science and political science classes. This new edition makes it available in both hard copy and kindle for the first time.



Do you want to involve community residents in understanding and solving the problems they face? If so, you've come to the right place. This report shows you, step-by-step, what to do and why. The lessons you'll learn will help you improve any community by working with those people most affected.

Dr. Richard Hoefer Director and Lead Trainer, Nonprofit Management Capacity Builder

Roy E. Dulak Professor for Community Practice Research

School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington



Jo Anne Schneider's Kenosha studies should be required reading for anyone interested in community nonprofits. In a world of survey research snapshots and organizational selfies, Dr. Schneider has painted the kind of detailed and convincing community landscape that can only be done by detailed and close observation and careful analysis.

Roger Lohmann, Emeritus Professor, West Virginia University