For the past generation, the ways that Americans live, work, and play have been dramatically transformed. They spend less time in groups, are less trusting, less civic-minded, and less participatory in the affairs of public life. The causes of this civic decline are many and a multi-pronged approach is necessary to reverse that decline. The causes include a major demographic shift in civic-minded people, entertainment television, women in the labor force, and the proliferation of suburbs. There are five categories of institutions that could generate broad social and political change. The first, employers, should allow their space to be used for forums, association meetings, and civic skill building. They should allow expanded leave for civic and family purposes; provide employees greater flexibility in work hours; and focus corporate philanthropy and community relations on building social capital, especially across socioeconomic groups. The second institution, arts' organizations, should strengthen their role as civic spaces, emphasizing community-based productions and citizen dialogue about important issues; collaborate across artistic disciplines and ethnic traditions; take a center stage in community planning and social problem solving; and offer their services to other community organizations working to build social capital. Government and elected officials must help revive and support intermediary institutions linking citizens to the state; finance local efforts to use technology for networking and community building; and provide incentives for citizens to discuss how to make public agencies work better. Faith-based organizations should step up their efforts to collaborate with one another and with nonreligious institutions on pressing social problems, and provide leadership in bridging cultural and ideological divides. The final institutions -- youth organizations, schools, and families -- should redouble their support for expanding community service, leadership opportunities, and extracurricular activities for young people; teach civics in a way that engages real-world issues; and provide social alternatives to television, computers, and video games.