Bettertogether

Report of the Saguaro Seminar on Civic Engagement in America, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA: 2000)

Why Social Capital Matters

Research has begun to show how powerfully social capital, or its absence affects the well being of individuals, organizations, and nations.

Economics studies demonstrate that social capital makes workers more productive, firms more competitive, and nations more prosperous.

Psychological research indicates that abundant social capital makes individuals less prone to depression and more inclined to help others.

Epidemiological reports show that social capital decreases the rate of suicide, colds, heart attacks, strokes, and cancer, and improves individuals' ability to fight or recover from illnesses once they have struck.

Sociology studies suggest that social capital reduces crime, juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy, child abuse, welfare dependency, and drug abuse, and increases student test scores and graduation rates.

From political science, we know that extensive social capital makes government agencies more responsive, efficient, and innovative. And from our own personal experience we know that social capital makes navigating life a whole lot easier: Our friends and family members cheer us up when we're down, bring us chicken soup when we're sick, offer job leads when we're unemployed, baby sit our kids when we're away, joining us at the movies when we're bored, give us loans when we're broke, and remember our birthdays even when we forget them.

It is becoming increasingly clear that social capital has an enormous array of practical benefits to individuals and to communities.

What is more, social capital has what economists call "positive externalities." That is, networks of trust and reciprocity not only benefit those within them, but also those outside them. Consequently, when social capital is depleted, people suffer in clear and measurable ways, and there is a ripple effect beyond a scattering of lonely individuals. Shoring up our stocks of social capital, therefore represents one of the most promising approaches for remedying all sorts of social ills.

Yet the national stockpile of social capital has been seriously depleted over the past 30 years.

By virtually every measure, today's Americans are more disconnected from one another and from the institutions of civic life than at any time since statistics have been kept. Whether as family members, neighbors, friends, or citizens, we are tuning out rather that turning out.

The Saguaro Seminar

"The Saguaro Seminar is composed of leaders of institutions that have been struggling, each in its own way, to rebuild civic bonds and restore connections among individuals.
We are a diverse group of about three dozen people who, for three years, have met several times a year to deliberate about the state of social capital in America and to debate proposals for reinvigorating civic life.
Our group includes young adults at the beginning of their careers and older adults heading into retirement.
We come from a wide variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds and hold a range of religious beliefs.
We represent small towns and large cities; East, Midwest, and West; and North and South.
Among us are clergy members and political leaders, union officials and businesspeople, non-profit executives and philanthropists, professors and community organizers, artists and youth workers.
In the course of our professional and extracurricular lives, most of us have moved in and out of several different fields (from for-profit to non-profit work, for example) and straddled dual roles (such as preacher and charity executive) at given time.
We are Republicans and Democrats who share a concern about frayed social bonds and the cynicism and alienation souring our public lives.

In the Report there are five institutional arenas in which the business of rebuilding social capital must take place. In each chapter, we discuss the particular advantages of each category f institution in reengaging Americans; outline historical trends relevant to building social capital in each institutional arena; and offer guiding principles and specific recommendations in the five arenas for turning around our civic decline.

The Arts.
This chapter examines the potential of artists and cultural organizations to unite people in creative endeavors that build and celebrate community.

Politics and Government.
This chapter examines troubles plaguing American democracy and suggests ways that citizens and political leaders can enhance civic interest and participation.

Religion.
This chapter examines the role of houses of worship and other faith-based organizations in addressing spiritual, cultural, and social problems.

Schools, Youth Organizations and Families.
This chapter examines ways to engage America's young people, who are the next generation of social capitalists.

Follow this link to the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey website to read the full report (opens a new browser window)

For further information

Contact	:	Thomas Sander
Address	:	Cambridge
Phone	:	617-496-2764
Fax	:	617-495-1589
Email	:	tom_sander@harvard.edu

WWW

:

http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro/staff.html