Americans believe in their communities and want to help make them better. But new research from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation reveals a gap between that desire to contribute and people's confidence that their voices matter.
While seven in 10 Americans see their communities as places worth investing in, only 42% believe they have a voice in local decisions and just 34% believe someone would listen to their ideas. The findings reinforce that access to opportunity is shaped not only by individual circumstances, but also by whether people feel heard and able to shape the communities where they live.