Development Note #1
Back
It seems that many of our major social and intellectual institutions have lost our trust—and it doesn’t take a genius to see the effects this has had on our national politics and local communities. I asked an “impartial” observer, ChatGPT, what Americans distrust most. The list offered no surprises:
- Government and politics
- Media
- Corporations and businesses
- Law enforcement and the justice system
- Healthcare system
- Science and public health
- Education system
- Institutions of faith and community
Trust is the foundation of nearly every relationship-based human activity. We trust that money has value, that water will flow downhill—but we no longer trust the very institutions society depends on to function. And increasingly, it seems we don’t trust—or care for—each other as much as we once did.
Americans have a trust problem. It’s serious. And it’s almost absurd: how essential trust is to daily life, yet how easily we take it for granted. We rarely talk about trust until it’s broken. Losing it—suddenly or slowly—can be devastating. And once it’s gone, caring often goes with it.
What happens when we stop trusting one another?
- A teenager who believes there’s no one to trust withdraws into isolation, leaving themselves vulnerable to anger and self-harm.
- An older adult, suspicious of doctors, refuses life-saving or life-enhancing care.
- A child who fears their caregiver won’t protect them hides crucial information about a dangerous situation.
- An employee convinced that coworkers are backstabbers becomes unproductive, or perhaps aggressive toward other employees.
A nation that doesn’t trust itself makes its citizens feel unsafe—and when people feel unsafe, they stop looking out for one another. “Everyone for themselves” becomes the rule, breaking the social contract that allows communities to thrive and societies to function.
Today, there is plenty to feel unsafe or uncertain about: political dysfunction, economic instability, healthcare, war, street violence, child safety, climate change, the rise of artificial intelligence. Faced with so many threats, we can turn inward, losing our willingness to understand one another or to support the institutions we should trust.
So what’s the answer?
Again, I asked ChatGPT for ideas (I certainly have my answers—see all of onespace.org—but in some cases I want an aggregated opinion, a probabilistic output). It suggested “improving transparency, accountability, and open communication.” A good answer—but here’s the problem: can we rely on the very institutions we distrust to make those improvements? That’s the feedback loop we’re trapped in, and it needs to be broken. If top-down reforms can’t rebuild trust, perhaps the solution lies where trust begins—in our communities.
Improving local community life may not just be our best chance, but perhaps our last and only chance, to reestablish a sense of trust in society. Starting with local institutions, communities can lead us back to a place where we trust not only one another, but our shared ability to manage how we live. Strong communities are the foundation of a trustworthy society—or at least, they once were.
Not long ago, people had reliable spaces where trust could take root—places of worship, social clubs, local news, small businesses, neighbors, and yes, even local politicians or police officers. It was a different era, and even if people didn’t talk about trust, they could feel it.
We are calmer and happier when we trust—and when others trust us. Local communities have a unique advantage: they are human-scale. They make it possible for people to meet, talk, and connect—to form the relationships that build belonging. Feeling that you belong means being accepted for who you are, having your efforts appreciated, and knowing others are there when you need help. This is community spirit—the sense of belonging born from trust.
There are many organizations working to strengthen community life and rebuild trust. Here are a few examples:
- ABCD Institute: “Relationships are the core of flourishing communities. Relationships create trust and activate gifts and power.”
- Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions: “We envision a future where communities create their own vibrant and lasting solutions to the social and economic problems they face.”
- Center for Rural Strategies: “We strive to create better opportunities for small towns and rural communities by building coalitions, partnerships, and strategies that strengthen connections between rural and urban places.”
- Smart Growth America: “Each of us can live in a neighborhood that’s beautiful, affordable, and easy to get around—a healthy community with strong local businesses, good schools, and jobs that pay well.”
- Transition Network: “Working for a low-carbon, socially just future with resilient communities, active participation, and a caring culture focused on supporting one another.”
Nonprofit organizations can provide helpful perspectives and insights on developing effective community functions. They can help remove obstacles to improvements and create opportunities for genuine social connections—creating a safe space that promotes greater civic participation and a desire to cultivate the kind of place people will want to live.
Development programs should enable citizens to lead the way in a bottom-to-top creation of trust. Local citizens have insights on how to best integrate various organizations’ efforts into their community. Together, they can make a community what it should be: a socially interactive group who care about one another and the society they live in.