Jeffry A. Will

Crime, neighborhood perceptions, and the underclass: The relationship between fear of crime and class position

Fear of crime and the underclass represent two of the more prominent topics of discussion within the realms of criminology and sociology over the past several decades. There is little research, however, tying these topics together. Recently, a call has been reissued for the further understanding of the relationship between crime and class. Such an examination is essential to the understanding of fear of crime as well. In this article, an attempt is made to meld the two seemingly divergent areas of fear of crime and the underclass in order to develop a more thorough understanding of neighborhood fear. With the use of secondary data, the extent to which this underclass offers a useful model for analysis of neighborhood issues is investigated. In particular crime, fear, and perceptions of victimization among members of the underclass are examined.

God helps those who help themselves?: the effects of religious affiliation, religiosity, and deservedness on generosity toward the poor

Universiry of South Fl^1s Few studies in recent sociological literature include detailed analysis of how religious affiliation and religiosity affect perceptions of the poor. In this paper, data from the 1986 GSS Factorial Survey Supplement are used to examine the effects of religious affiliation and religiosity on generosity toward poor famikes, and on factors which ffect such generosity . The analysis suggests iat religious affikation has a strong relationship with levels of generosity, and that indicators of deservedness vary among faith groups. This study examines the role of religious affiliation and religiosity in formulating levels of generosity toward the poor. A number of studies have been carried out which address perceptions and beliefs about the poor, but few have examined the influence of religious factors on issues of deservedness (cf. Kluegel and Smith 1985). In this paper we employ the 1986 General Social Survey and its accompanying Factorial Survey Component in order to better understand how religious affiliation and personal religiosity affect generosity toward the poor.

Toward an Understanding of Food Pantry Food Recipients and the Agencies that Serve Them

Second Harvest North Florida (Second Harvest) provides food for approximately 450 organizations/agencies covering 17 counties in North Florida. These organizations that receive food include meal providers (“soup kitchens”), food pantries, religious organizations, and small, independent groups. In 2011, Second Harvest distributed more than 20 million pounds of food, an increase of 162% since 2008 (Second Harvest 2012). While it is clear that Second Harvest provides a large number of agencies and providers with increasing amounts of food for distribution, much less is known about who is hungry and what the “profile” of these recipients looks like. Local news reports and anecdotes from providers cite the increased number and “changing face” of poor requesting food assistance, but a more in-depth analysis of recipients is very much needed. In this paper we reflect on the process and results of surveys conducted with approximately 250 North Florida agencies and with more than 500 people waiting in line at 26 food pantries across the seven-county Northeast Florida region. The findings from the surveys with the agencies and the clients are clear that a number of people are facing significant problems with regard to food security, and that little optimism exists that things will get better anytime soon.

Flower Power: Assessing the Impact of the Magnolia Project on Reducing Poor Birth Outcomes in an At-Risk Neighborhood

The past decade has seen tremendous improvements in the health status of children in the United States. In 1992, the infant mortality rate in the United States was at 8.5 per 1,000 live births. By 2002 that figure had declined to 6.9. However, the infant mortality rate for Jacksonville/Duval County in Northeast Florida has consistently remained higher than both the national and state rates, particularly for minority populations. The Magnolia Project was developed by a consortium of local health care providers and concerned community agencies to address racial disparities in birth outcomes. The Magnolia Project provides well-woman clinic and case management services to women in the childbearing years residing in the urban core, where infant mortality is highest. In this paper, we examine the Magnolia Project to assess the impact that this initiative has made on the target community in providing health services and prevention strategies to reduce poor birth outcomes. Included in such services are strategies aimed at reducing factors associated with infant mortality. These strategies have resulted in improved birth outcomes for women associated with the Magnolia Project, including a low incidence of infant mortality and low birth weight babies for participants.

Political Ideology and Political Action in the New Christian Right

In attempting to explain the recent prominence of politicized Evangelicalism, many researchers have used exposure to religious television as an important intervening variable between religious fundamentalism and the politicized attitudes of the New Christian Right. Using Tamney and Johnsons data (1983; 1984), we try to refine that model by distinguishing between televangelists with specifically political messages from those who emphasize a more traditional, salvation-oriented message. The resulting statistics, however, do not show any improvement in explanatory power. Some possible reasons for this, as well as an alternative conceptial scheme for studying American political ideology, are presented.

It's Not Just Black and White: The Emergence of the Hispanic and Asian Communities in Northeast Florida:

In 2005–2006 the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives carried out a series of research efforts with the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission (JHRC) to 1) understand how dramatic demographic changes will affect the local community in the future, 2) identify creative ways that the city could prepare for this opportunity, and 3) plan how to limit potential problems that other communities have experienced from demographic shifts. In this paper, we present a condensed version of our report to the JHRC.