Who are "we the people" of your neighborhood or community? What is the racial and ethnic breakdown? What is the economic profile? Are there both homeowners and renters? How about educational levels of different segments of the population? Is there a retail or commercial strip with business owners who take part in community activities? Is everyone basically alike, or is there considerable diversity within the neighborhood? It's important both to offer your own impressions, as well as the actual statistics, which you can retrieve by census tract or Zip Code through the Census Bureau via the Internet. Does a gap exist between your perception of who lives in the neighborhood and who actually lives there?
Are there overt racial or ethnic divisions within the neighborhood? How do they manifest themselves? If the neighborhood is homogeneous, what would happen if people of a different race or ethnic background tried to move in? Would people accept them, or would they face a hostile reaction?
The HUD Fair Housing Division oversees enforcement of fair housing laws. Does your neighborhood or community voluntarily comply with this law, or would tough enforcement result in strong opposition? What does this suggest about your neighborhood's attitudes about "we the people?"
Are there overt economic divisions within the neighborhood? Do homeowners and renters get along? If the neighborhood is composed mostly of homeowners, would they protest if someone tried to introduce rental housing? Are there public housing units within the neighborhood? Are public housing residents treated as equal representatives of "we the people"?
How about people with physical or mental disabilities? Are they considered part of "we the people" of the neighborhood as well? What would happen if housing for people with physical or mental disabilities were proposed for the neighborhood? Assuming that it was consistent with other density and zoning requirements, would residents accept it or fight it? On what grounds?
What about people with varied sexual orientations? Is there evidence of prejudice or discrimination against them within the community? How does it manifest itself?
The Constitutional amendments that we highlighted under the "American Founding" remind us of efforts to secure full voting rights for all Americans over the past 200 years. Do people in your neighborhood or community vote? Are there active voter registration and turnout drives? Do most residents participate in civic associations and advocacy groups? If not, what steps would you take to all eligible residents to vote and to participate in groups serving the community?
