Cultivating Connections

SCI Social Capital Inc.

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Cultivating Connections

The Cultivating Connections Podcast from SCI Social Capital Inc. highlights creative initiatives to bring communities together and strategies you can use to build bridges across differences. We will also highlight the latest research and news about the importance of social connection and trends on the topic. Hosted by SCI President & Founder David Crowley.

20/12/2024

Supporting Community Resilience and Collaboration with Liberty Mutual

In this episode, guests Katrina Shaw and Lindsay Mason engage in a thoughtful discussion about the community-focused initiatives of Liberty Mutual. They begin by sharing personal stories that shaped their commitment to philanthropy and volunteerism. The conversation then transitions to the mission of the Liberty Mutual Foundation, which aims to advance security and resilience for vulnerable communities. Katrina elaborates on the foundation's focus areas, including workforce development, youth homelessness, and climate change initiatives. She highlights a recent project called Impact Driven Collaborations, which funded 16 collaboratives with a total of $4.5 million to address complex social problems through collective efforts among various organizations. Lindsay also discusses Liberty Mutual's employee engagement program, Liberty Torchbearers, which empowers employees to volunteer in their communities based on their interests. Together, they emphasize the importance of community involvement and the need for adaptable volunteer programs in a post-pandemic world, showcasing how Liberty Mutual integrates social responsibility into its corporate identity.

29min
10/12/2024

The Power of Relationships in Philanthropy & Educational Access with George Greenidge

This Cultivating Connections podcast episode features a rich conversation with George “Chip” Greenidge, Jr., a veteran in philanthropy, education and nonprofit leadership. He shares his insights on the importance of mentoring, his passion for higher education access and promoting racial justice. The discussion with host David Crowley begins with a reflection on their long-standing relationship, spanning over two decades, and the early days of George’s career at the Boston Foundation. George shares his thoughts on the evolution of philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement through site visits. He highlights how these interactions foster genuine connections and demonstrate a commitment to understanding the needs of communities, contrasting this with the more transactional nature of modern philanthropic practices. George also delves into his motivations for pursuing a career in nonprofit work. He attributes his passion to his upbringing in the Greater Boston area, where he had wonderful mentors and access to prestigious educational institutions like Harvard and MIT. These experiences not only provided him with exceptional role models but also inspired him to advocate for college access and mentorship for young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. He discusses his founding of Greatest Minds, an organization designed to connect youth with mentors at various stages of their lives, reinforcing the idea that inspiration can come from peers as well as established figures. The conversation also touches on George’s current role at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University. He reflects on how this position allows him to engage with global scholars and contribute to discussions around civic participation and democratic values. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the significance of building relationships within philanthropy and the necessity of nurturing connections over time to cultivate trust and support. His insights into the changing landscape of philanthropy, coupled with his personal anecdotes, provide listeners with a profound understanding of the intersection between education, mentorship, and community engagement.

31min
15/11/2024

Partnerships and Mentoring for Boston Youth with Pedro Cruz

This episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast features Pedro Cruz, the Executive Director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) for the City of Boston. Pedro shares his inspiring journey into youth work, rooted in his experiences growing up in the Boston’s Villa Victoria community. He emphasizes the importance of relationships and community spaces that shaped his path, reflecting on how early jobs at local community centers ignited his passion for youth development. Pedro highlights the significance of mentorship in his own journey, and the importance of providing Boston youth with mentors today. Pedro provides an overview of OYEA’s pioneering efforts to engage Boston's youth aged 14 to 25 which focuses a great deal on creating partnerships with a wide range of youth serving organizations. He explains their mission to amplify young voices in local decision-making and connect them with resources and opportunities often inaccessible to them. He also shares successes such as building a network of over 1,100 individuals from nearly 400 organizations and reviving the Mayor’s Youth Summit after a 20 year hiatus, demonstrating the demand for dedicated spaces and programs for young people. The episode concludes with Pedro discussing the upcoming Youth Needs Assessment survey, aimed at understanding what young people require during their non-school and non-work hours, further underscoring the office's commitment to serving Boston's youth effectively.

22min
24/10/2024

Bridging Divides through National Service

In the latest episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast, guests Jennifer Leshnower and Tony Lucero engage in an informative discussion about "bridging work” intended to bring people of diverse views and backgrounds together. The conversation centers on how national service programs like AmeriCorps can serve as platforms for building connections across diverse communities. Tony articulates that bridging involves coming together across divides to foster understanding, collaboration, and dialogue. He emphasizes that national service provides a unique opportunity to cultivate these skills, particularly in a society increasingly characterized by polarization. Both guests share their personal journeys into national service, highlighting the transformative power of these experiences. Jen recounts her introduction to AmeriCorps during college, where she discovered the importance of service in fostering relationships among individuals from varying backgrounds. Tony shares his path from being a first-generation college graduate to becoming actively involved in community service, illustrating how mentorship and shared goals can bridge significant divides. The episode underscores the critical role of intentionality in bridging efforts and positions national service as a vital mechanism for addressing societal challenges through meaningful dialogue and connection. Tony and Jen highlight important work being done by their organizations and others in the Bridging Divides group to bring this issue to the forefront. They also cover studies of bridging outcomes being created by national service organizations, and curriculum and other tools available for those interested in furthering this work.

47min
11/10/2024

The Connective Tissue Framework for Regenerating Social Connection

This podcast episode features a deep dive into the Connective Tissue framework for increasing social connection, with its author Sam Pressler. The framework includes recommendations as to what policymakers and others can do at federal, state and local levels to increase social connections. The Connective Tissue site is organized into four major categories: 1) Foundational Changes; 2) Community Institutions; 3) Life Transitions and 4) Enabling Conditions. During the conversation, Sam addresses the broader societal trends contributing to social disconnection. He identifies several key factors, including the decline of traditional institutions like religious organizations, civic groups, and unions, which historically provided stability and a sense of belonging. He notes that these changes disproportionately affect individuals without college degrees, who face higher barriers to civic engagement and social support. The data presented reveals alarming statistics about friendship and social networks, illustrating a growing divide in social capital based on educational attainment. Sam explores potential policy interventions aimed at strengthening social connections. He argues that while policy alone cannot solve these issues, it can play an important role in addressing the structural challenges that lead to disconnection. He advocates for a multi-faceted approach that considers local solutions tailored to community needs, rather than relying solely on top-down policies. Throughout the conversation, host David Crowley incorporates various ways the Connective Tissue framework relates to the work of Social Capital Inc. This episode serves as both an insightful exploration of the challenges surrounding social connection and a call to action for listeners to engage in fostering community ties in their own lives. Guest Bio: Sam Pressler is a Practitioner Fellow at the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, a Research Affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, and the author of Connective Tissue, a policy framework for the role of government in regenerating connection in American communities. In his past life, he founded and led the Armed Services Arts Partnership, America’s largest community arts organization serving veterans and their families. Resource links: Connective Tissue Framework: https://theconnectivetissue.us/framework Subscribe to the Connective Tissue Newsletter: https://theconnectivetissue.us/newsletter Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/disconnected-places-and-spaces/

50min
13/09/2024

From Service to Success: AmeriCorps and the Power of Community Engagement

In a conversation celebrating SCI's 20th anniversary, host David welcomes Roger Wong, the first AmeriCorps member with SCI. They discuss his journey with AmeriCorps, motivated by a desire for a meaningful career after dissatisfaction with his consulting job post-9/11. Roger shares his transformative experience managing the Youth Leadership Council, emphasizing youth empowerment and community engagement. He reflects on nearly two decades of professional growth since SCI, noting how the experience built his confidence and skills, leading to roles in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and partnerships with organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He underscores the importance of adaptability, partnership-building, and understanding community needs, especially in light of significant crises like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn More about SCI AmeriCorps at socialcapitalinc.org/americorps

23min
01/08/2024

Celebrating Cultures and Nurturing Neighbors

In this episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast, Woburn Memorial High School rising senior Luke Sheldon discusses the inspiring work of Inclusive Eats, an organization dedicated to advocating for cultural relevancy in food aid programs. Luke shares how Inclusive Eats addresses the traditional shortcomings of food donations, which often consist of items that donors no longer want rather than foods that are culturally significant and nutritious for the recipients. As a Brazilian American, Luke emphasizes the importance of providing food that resonates with people’s cultural backgrounds, fostering dignity and connection in diverse communities. The organization not only supplies culturally relevant food to over 20 food pantries but also conducts awareness campaigns, cooking classes, and community dinners to promote understanding and unity through shared culinary experiences. Luke recounts the personal journey and collaborative efforts that led to the founding of Inclusive Eats, including his brother's realization about the lack of culturally relevant food in pantries. He also discusses how participation in the SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest helped Inclusive Eats develop a plan for a series of cooking classes. Highlighting the impact of Inclusive Eats' cooking classes, he explains how these sessions serve as both educational and unifying experiences, bringing together people from different backgrounds to learn about and appreciate diverse culinary traditions. The success of the first Brazilian-themed class, which was covered by CBS News, exemplifies the powerful connections and sense of community that food can foster. Luke also shares his long-term goals for the organization to ensure its mission continues even after he graduates.

30min
19/07/2024

Building Bridges & Developing Leaders - Social Capital in 2024

In this episode of the "SCI Cultivating Connections" podcast, SCI Development & Program Manager Leah Mulrenan interviews David Crowley, President & Founder of SCI Social Capital Inc.. David shares about the origins of SCI, which formed to foster intentional community building across diverse backgrounds. The aim was and continues to be bridging differences and creating a stronger, more connected community. David and Leah discuss the continued importance of building social capital in light of the current challenges we face as a nation. David recaps recent work by Bowling Along author Robert Putnam, and a recent New York Times interview with Putnam. Leah and David discuss several issues that have been following similar trends to social capital, according to Putnam’s recent book The Upswing, co-authored with Shalyn Romney Garrett. These adjacent issues include economic inequality, extreme partisanship and the diminishing sense that we are in this together. David recently wrote an article entitled, “5 Ways To Build Bridging Social Capital & Develop a Sense of Common Purpose”. During his discussion with Leah, David highlights the importance of developing young leaders committed to building inclusive communities and helping them develop the skills to do so. He also emphasizes the importance of building on various innovative community building initiatives to create a movement working for more connected, inclusive communities in order to strengthen our democracy for the long-term.

19min

TRAILER

Introducing Cultivating Connections! A podcast by SCI Social Capital Inc.

SCI team members David Crowley and Leah Mulrenan discuss the Cultivating Connections Podcast and what listeners can expect from this new show from SCI Social Capital Inc.! This episode describes the show format and the reasons why SCI is launching this podcast.

15/02/2024

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The Cultivating Connections Podcast from SCI Social Capital Inc. highlights creative initiatives to bring communities together and strategies you can use to build bridges across differences. We will also highlight the latest research and news about the importance of social connection and trends on the topic. Hosted by SCI President & Founder David Crowley.

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SCI Social Capital Inc.
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2 mil
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