Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg

In this episode, Eric takes the lead in expounding on the book Palaces for the People written by Eric Klinenberg in 2018. Klinenberg is a sociologist at NYU who coined the term "social infrastructure" to capture the idea that shared physical places shape the way people act and the relationships people develop. He has studied how the presence of social infrastructure or the lack thereof can have direct implications on the well-being and resiliency of our local communities. His early research discovered that during the Chicago heat wave in the 90s, when controlling for neighborhood demographics, communities with more thriving public spaces fared better than those without because neighbors knew one another and kept tabs on the health of each other.

Klinenberg contends that libraries, in particular, have played a valuable social infrastructure role in our local neighborhoods. Unfortunately, government budget cuts have discounted the value of these places and libraries are increasingly going by the wayside. He argues that we would be wise to invest in these places of social infrastructure, such as libraries, parks, schools, and churches because they are accessible to everyone and provide tangible resources to the community while encouraging the formation of social bonds. Investing in places like these presents an effective place-based solution for the crime, disconnection, and polarization we are experiencing in our current cultural climate.

Access more Show Notes with pictures and resources related to this episode.

More information about this podcast and helpful church and urbanism resources can be found on The Embedded Church website.

Related Resources

Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg

99% Invisible Podcast interview with Eric Klinenberg

Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America by Chris Arnade

The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community by Ray Oldenburg

"Learning Virtue Through Public Transit" by Sara Joy Proppe

Defensible Space Theory by Oscar Newman

Broken Windows Theory by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling

Andrew Carnegie - a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist who made his wealth by leading the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century. He is one of the most prominent philanthropists in the history of U.S. and funded the building of numerous public libraries across the country.

John 4 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well story

Find these Key Terms on The Embedded Church website:

Social capital

Social infrastructure

Third Place

Show Credits

Hosted and Produced by Eric O. Jacobsen and Sara Joy Proppe

Edited by Adam Higgins | Odd Dad Out Voice Productions

Theme Music by Jacob Shaffer

Artwork by Lance Kagey | Rotator Creative