This volume presents information from a social indicators project designed to shed light on factors affecting civic health in twenty-six communities where John S. and James L. Knight published newspapers and provided grants to improve quality of life. Seven chapters discuss research results: (1) "Listening and Learning" (e.g., growth of community indicators, putting indicators to use, and sharing with communities); (2) "Demographic, Economic and Social Context of Knight Communities"; (3) "Civic Engagement (e.g., volunteering, charitable giving, and attitudes about race/ethnicity); (4) "Education" (e.g., charter schools, perceptions of illiteracy, and influences on perceptions of local public schools and illiteracy); (5) "Well-Being of Children and Families" (e.g., perceptions of unsupervised youth, perceptions of child care, and involvement with youth development organizations); (6) "Housing and Community Development" (e.g., perceptions of safety, perceptions of homelessness, and perceptions of employment); and (7) "Vitality of Cultural Life" (e.g., perceptions of arts and culture, performance ratings of local public libraries, and attendance of nonprofit arts and cultural activities). Each chapter includes an overview, current community conditions, and survey findings. Three appendices present survey methodology, a bibliography, and data sources. (SM)