Putting Social Capital to Work in Kansas!

Stephen B. Fawcett

Work Group for Community Health and Development

University of Kansas

An Important Truth

Our ability to change things is bound up in our relationships with others.

Today’s Conversation

1. The idea of social capital2. Change through relationships3. Personal reflection and planning

The Idea of Social Capital

• Story of Overbrook—Change through relationships

After-school program (safe places)Senior Dance for youth and elders

(caring relationships)Community Service Club for 1st – 3rd graders

(opportunities to serve)

The Idea of Social Capital

Definition—Resources that flow from our relationships with others

Relationships contribute to:Material resourcesEmotional resourcesAbility to change things

Social Determinants of Health and Development :

1. Social connectedness2. Efficacy—ability to change things

Path of Change

See

Connect

Change

Through Relationships

Seeing—Focuses Attention on…

What is (assessment) What ought to be (vision)

Seeing—A Common Vision in Overbrook

• Caring relationships between children and adults

• Safe places• Service to others• Youth as change agents

Personal Planning for Change—Reflection on “Seeing”

• What do you want to see in your community?

• Consider: the groups to benefit; the issues that matter to you

• If your vision were realized, what would things look like?

Path of Change

See

Connect

Change

Through Relationships

Connecting

• Strengthening social networks and ties• Building bridges across groups

Personal Planning for Change—Reflection on “Connecting”

• Who will you connect with to make what you want to see happen?

• Consider the social networks and ties that may be important; the needed bridges to those outside the group

• What additional connections are needed to fulfill the vision?

Path of Change

See

Connect

Change

Through Relationships

Five Strategies for Change

1. Providing information and enhancing skills

2. Modifying access, barriers, and opportunities

3. Enhancing services and support4. Changing the consequences5. Modifying policies and broader systems

Personal Planning for Change—Reflection on “Changing”

• What specific change will you seek to address your vision?

• Consider the different strategies• For this change to occur, what

relationships need to be in place?• If this change occurred, what would it

mean to you? To the community?

Why change things?

“We are connected in an inescapable web of mutuality.” --Martin Luther King, Jr.

What affects any of us, affects all of us.

Discernment—Communicating Our Change Plan to Others

1. Does this plan for change feel right to you?

2. Does it seem right to others who care about you and your community?

3. Do you have the opportunity?

Path Toward Building Healthier Communities in Kansas

Seeing Connecting

ChangingFor an electronic copy of the “Personal

Plan for Making a Difference”, go to the KU Work Group’s website http://ctb.ku.edu/wg/

Building a Path

Seeing

Connecting

Changing

Healthier Communities