Social Capital

Community indicators of social capital

- Acceptance of controversy - Increased participation in civic and governmental organizations - Fair reporting of community issues (newspaper) - Local initiatives that take risks, attempt real change - Local initiatives that apply lessons from the past and look toward the future - Inclusive and diverse networks

"Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam

- Fewer bowlers participating in leagues - Thesis: American communities have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures Because... the majority of free time we have in a day to build social capital is being spent watching TV and on our laptops - Generational effects: WWII generation was very active in local organizations - Now seeing growth in advocacy oriented organizations rather than in local orgs - Role of membership

Defining social capital in communities of place...

- Social relationships within a particular place - Social structure (trust, norms, and social networks) that facilitate collective action - Norms = behavior or way of doing something that is usual or expected within the community

Measuring social capital in two ways:

institutional infrastructure: 1. The presence and quality of neighborhood organizations 2. Voting by residents 3. Volunteer efforts 4. Visibility of the neighborhood to city officials (use surveys and organizational records) sociocultural milieu: 1. The feeling that the community is spatially distinct 2. The level of social interaction among residents 3. The degree to which residents work and socialize in the community 4. The degree to which residents use neighborhood facilities (use survey methods, community dialogue, community records)

Community development & social capital

Bring Cultural, Social and Political Capital together - Legitimization of Alternatives - Inclusive and Diverse Networks - Resource Mobilization - Willingness to take risks for local projects or amenities - Community's willingness to invest in itself begets outside investments

Bonding capital

Bringing people together who already know each other with the goal of strengthening the relationships that already exist. - Strong Ties: investments of time and energy; gain access to emotional support and in case of emergencies getting help - Weak Ties: acquaintances; can aid in finding jobs or housing

Linking capital

Bringing together people and local community organizations.

Bridging capital

Bringing together people or groups who did not previously know each other with the goal of establishing new social ties to provide new information, access additional social networks.

Measuring social capital

Common indicators used to measure social capital within a community: 1. Voter turnout 2. Newspaper readership 3. Participation in local voluntary organizations 4. Attendance at meetings of local organizations example = ECOS Project Indicators: civic engagement and social connectedness https://app.resultsscorecard.com/Scorecard/Embed/8502

Social Capital

Social relationships and ties that facilitate collective action in a community. - It is the features of social organization, such as networks, norms, and trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit