Our Quality of Life

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Welcome to Maximize NWMO's new Blog Campaign regarding "Our Quality of Life in Northwest Missouri!"

Each month we will be releasing news and research data relevant to maximizing the potential of our primarily rural 18-county region for those living, learning, working, and playing here. We excited to share what we are learning so you can gain a clear understanding of our region's current story. Hopefully, you find it helpful in envisioning what could be as well as take action through meaningful data driven decisions and collaborative efforts. We are always better when we act together!

The Missouri counties covered by any data we share here will include: . However, we are always balancing our focus on home while being as neighborly and possible with our bordering counties, states, and communities across the region - especially those we are learning alongside through our national partner Communities of Resilience & Excellence (C.O.R.E.), formerly Communities of Excellence 2026.


The State of Social Connections

December __, 2025 - The State of Social Connections


What do we mean when we use the term "quality of life?"

The short answer is that quality of life reflects the overall conditions that enable residents to live healthy, stable, and meaningful lives. The conditions, or aspects, can be defined in many way, yet together they encompass everything critical to supporting well-being, opportunity, and resilience.

Within The Maximize [My Community] Journey, the commitment to improve quality of life is defined through seven core, interconnected aspects of communities of place: health, natural environment, education, social connections, economy, built environment, and housing. These parts of our communities shape daily experience and long-term opportunity—and when one aspect or system falters or improves, the effects ripple in all directions. These aspects are not isolated. They interact and overlap in ways that either reinforce or undermine community well-being. This big interconnected picture is an example of how critical system thinking is for our future success. When communities actively work to improve quality of life together, they lay the foundation for long-term prosperity for all residents.

While every community will define, prioritize, and measure these differently, they serve as a shared foundation for better understanding the reality of life in a place and taking collaborative action:

  • Economy: The availability of good jobs, financial security, local business development, and equitable access to economic opportunity.
  • Education: Access to opportunities for learning from early childhood through adulthood. This includes quality, inclusion, attainment, equity, and alignment with workforce and community needs.
  • Health: The physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals and populations—including access to care, prevention, equity, and overall quality of health outcomes.
  • Social Connections: The strength of relationships, trust, belonging, and civic engagement among residents. These bonds are vital to resilience, inclusion, and collaboration—and they also shape collective outlook, shared efficacy, and the belief that communities can create a better future together.
  • Natural Environment: The condition and sustainability of air, water, land, and ecosystems—as well as access to nature, green spaces, and resilience to environmental threats.
  • Built Environment: The physical infrastructure of a community—including transportation, broadband, parks, and public spaces—and how accessible, safe, and well-designed it is.
  • Housing: Safe, stable, and affordable places to live, connected to opportunity, services, and community life—meeting the diverse needs of individuals and families.

In In The C.O.R.E. Guide, which is embedded as a key tool

This guiding principle shifts the focus from working on isolated projects and programs to the broader systems and conditions that influence outcomes for individuals and communities. It recognizes that true excellence is not achieved by any one sector alone, but through shared responsibility, aligned action, and sustained investment in what matters most to residents and other stakeholders.


Welcome to Maximize NWMO's new Blog Campaign regarding "Our Quality of Life in Northwest Missouri!"

Each month we will be releasing news and research data relevant to maximizing the potential of our primarily rural 18-county region for those living, learning, working, and playing here. We excited to share what we are learning so you can gain a clear understanding of our region's current story. Hopefully, you find it helpful in envisioning what could be as well as take action through meaningful data driven decisions and collaborative efforts. We are always better when we act together!

The Missouri counties covered by any data we share here will include: . However, we are always balancing our focus on home while being as neighborly and possible with our bordering counties, states, and communities across the region - especially those we are learning alongside through our national partner Communities of Resilience & Excellence (C.O.R.E.), formerly Communities of Excellence 2026.


The State of Social Connections

December __, 2025 - The State of Social Connections


What do we mean when we use the term "quality of life?"

The short answer is that quality of life reflects the overall conditions that enable residents to live healthy, stable, and meaningful lives. The conditions, or aspects, can be defined in many way, yet together they encompass everything critical to supporting well-being, opportunity, and resilience.

Within The Maximize [My Community] Journey, the commitment to improve quality of life is defined through seven core, interconnected aspects of communities of place: health, natural environment, education, social connections, economy, built environment, and housing. These parts of our communities shape daily experience and long-term opportunity—and when one aspect or system falters or improves, the effects ripple in all directions. These aspects are not isolated. They interact and overlap in ways that either reinforce or undermine community well-being. This big interconnected picture is an example of how critical system thinking is for our future success. When communities actively work to improve quality of life together, they lay the foundation for long-term prosperity for all residents.

While every community will define, prioritize, and measure these differently, they serve as a shared foundation for better understanding the reality of life in a place and taking collaborative action:

  • Economy: The availability of good jobs, financial security, local business development, and equitable access to economic opportunity.
  • Education: Access to opportunities for learning from early childhood through adulthood. This includes quality, inclusion, attainment, equity, and alignment with workforce and community needs.
  • Health: The physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals and populations—including access to care, prevention, equity, and overall quality of health outcomes.
  • Social Connections: The strength of relationships, trust, belonging, and civic engagement among residents. These bonds are vital to resilience, inclusion, and collaboration—and they also shape collective outlook, shared efficacy, and the belief that communities can create a better future together.
  • Natural Environment: The condition and sustainability of air, water, land, and ecosystems—as well as access to nature, green spaces, and resilience to environmental threats.
  • Built Environment: The physical infrastructure of a community—including transportation, broadband, parks, and public spaces—and how accessible, safe, and well-designed it is.
  • Housing: Safe, stable, and affordable places to live, connected to opportunity, services, and community life—meeting the diverse needs of individuals and families.

In In The C.O.R.E. Guide, which is embedded as a key tool

This guiding principle shifts the focus from working on isolated projects and programs to the broader systems and conditions that influence outcomes for individuals and communities. It recognizes that true excellence is not achieved by any one sector alone, but through shared responsibility, aligned action, and sustained investment in what matters most to residents and other stakeholders.

Page published: 12 Dec 2025, 01:50 PM