Framework
When community spaces become learning hubs for intentional relationship building, organizing, and civic engagement, interdependencies form and promote a collective wellbeing approach, where everyone can flourish.
Lead with relationships
Grounded in these theoretical underpinnings, our team adopted a relational approach each step of the way. We engaged experts across the fields of economics, the built environment, social psychology, community development, organizing, leadership, policy, education, healthcare, and movement building. Interviews and working sessions helped shape a draft framework, indicators, terminology, and a catalog of successful interventions. Local advisors in six cities guided us as we co-planned gatherings, visited third places, and learned the stories of each community. Residents, government leaders, and cross-sector partners explored the proposed materials in detail together, provided valuable input, and participated in sessions designed to foster connection through storytelling and activate groups to plan a follow-up gathering to explore next steps.
A Social Capital Framework for Change
The proposed framework, represented in the graphic below, incorporates a theory of change that calls for more than a financial investment in buildings, transportation, digital connectivity, and community facilities.. Investment is important, but additional change is necessary to get from those investments (on the left) to measurable improvements in social capital and economic mobility (on the right). We are calling for a movement of social connection across communities that encourages diverse cultures to build the collective will to work together to change systems so all people can thrive. This requires the slower, deeper work of relationship building, where people have opportunities to exchange stories, see each other’s humanity, and commit to advancing equitable systems and collective wellbeing.
The four quadrants in the middle represent necessary conditions in the way individuals, organizations, third places, and neighborhoods interact to intentionally support the empowerment of residents, the growth of networks, and the alignment of resources so that communities are working together to care for and ensure all residents are thriving.
The framework calls for an ongoing process for local government to invest in and support collaborative work with residents, third places, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic groups, associations, and others using the four-quadrant relational approach.
Infrastructure Investment
Investment in the built environment (buildings and spaces), transportation, digital connectivity, and community facilities.
Community Voice + Empowerment
Create and embed accessible programs in third places including storytelling, organizing, and community development to build the leadership, connection, and agency of residents and welcome them as partners in planning and decision making during all stages.
Cross-Sector + Community Partnerships
Build collaborative relationships across sectors, community associations, and organizations to better align support and connect community members to resources, opportunities, and networks.
Social Infrastructure
Coordinate and collaborate across neighborhoods, shared spaces and programs that intentionally increase trust, belonging, access to resources, and the formation of social groups.
Equitable, Aligned Policies
Incorporate social capital and connection considerations into policies, practices, and processes related to housing; benefits access; education; transportation; economic and community development; and other areas.
Common Measures
Ensure alignment and accessibility of common indicators measuring infrastructure investments; social and civic space activities and participation; social networks; and individual feelings of trust, belonging, agency, connectedness, and flourishing. Incorporate the use of lagging indicators connected to economic mobility.
Investment in the built environment (buildings and spaces), transportation, digital connectivity, and community facilities.
Neighborhoods that have places where people can gather and build their social network support economic mobility. Easy access to these places can help residents build friendships and also access resources that help them find jobs, training, and opportunity.(23 24) When a community supports community hubs like libraries, recreation centers, or even a playground in the park, they are supporting connections. These connections can provide gateways to digital access, job readiness, small business support, and healthcare navigation. Vibrant public spaces further enhance neighborhood vitality by attracting businesses, increasing safety, and supporting children’s long-term outcomes through stronger networks.(25 26)
Infrastructure Investment
Investment in the built environment (buildings and spaces), transportation, digital connectivity, and community facilities.
Neighborhoods that have places where people can gather and build their social network support economic mobility. Easy access to these places can help residents build friendships and also access resources that help them find jobs, training, and opportunity.(23 24) When a community supports community hubs like libraries, recreation centers, or even a playground in the park, they are supporting connections. These connections can provide gateways to digital access, job readiness, small business support, and healthcare navigation. Vibrant public spaces further enhance neighborhood vitality by attracting businesses, increasing safety, and supporting children’s long-term outcomes through stronger networks.(25 26)
Create and embed accessible programs in third places including storytelling, organizing, and community development to build the leadership, connection, and agency of residents and welcome them as partners in planning and decision making during all stages.
People in neighborhoods know best what they need to thrive. Often, however, they feel ignored or powerless, especially in communities that feel forgotten. In addition to providing social spaces for fun activities, third places can create programs where residents learn how government functions and how to participate in events like town halls and opportunities including participatory budgeting. Intentional activities in narrative storytelling, relational organizing, and community development nurture a sense of belonging and empowerment, and can build leaders who are better able to advocate for resources, attract investment, and influence policies that expand opportunity for all.(27)
Community Voice + Empowerment
Create and embed accessible programs in third places including storytelling, organizing, and community development to build the leadership, connection, and agency of residents and welcome them as partners in planning and decision making during all stages.
People in neighborhoods know best what they need to thrive. Often, however, they feel ignored or powerless, especially in communities that feel forgotten. In addition to providing social spaces for fun activities, third places can create programs where residents learn how government functions and how to participate in events like town halls and opportunities including participatory budgeting. Intentional activities in narrative storytelling, relational organizing, and community development nurture a sense of belonging and empowerment, and can build leaders who are better able to advocate for resources, attract investment, and influence policies that expand opportunity for all.(27)
Build collaborative relationships across sectors, community associations, and organizations to better align support and connect community members to resources, opportunities, and networks.
Too often, organizations across communities and even departments within government agencies operate in silos. Research shows that collaboration among government, nonprofits, associations, and residents can lead to better health outcomes and enhanced services in education and employment, especially when it’s sustained, well-resourced, and aligned with community needs.(28) Partnerships also strengthen and expand resources for a community and strengthen chances for funding from a variety of sources. When supported with leadership, shared metrics, and long-term investment, cross-sector partnerships can expand pathways to opportunity and reduce inequality.(29)
Cross-Sector + Community Partnerships
Build collaborative relationships across sectors, community associations, and organizations to better align support and connect community members to resources, opportunities, and networks.
Too often, organizations across communities and even departments within government agencies operate in silos. Research shows that collaboration among government, nonprofits, associations, and residents can lead to better health outcomes and enhanced services in education and employment, especially when it’s sustained, well-resourced, and aligned with community needs.(28) Partnerships also strengthen and expand resources for a community and strengthen chances for funding from a variety of sources. When supported with leadership, shared metrics, and long-term investment, cross-sector partnerships can expand pathways to opportunity and reduce inequality.(29)
Coordinate and collaborate across neighborhoods, shared spaces, and programs that intentionally increase trust, belonging, access to resources, and the formation of social groups.
Communities with strong social infrastructure have physical places and community systems that work together to promote trust, belonging, and mutual support. Schools, libraries, universities, and food pantries may all work together to organize after-school tutoring or support families as they navigate the education system. Faith-based institutions may partner with housing programs to build accessible housing and socially connected communities for residents experiencing a housing crisis. When investments are made to strengthen these connections, residents are less likely to experience loneliness and isolation and more likely to thrive, even during times of crisis, when existing relationships support emergency response and recovery.(30)
Social Infrastructure
Coordinate and collaborate across neighborhoods, shared spaces, and programs that intentionally increase trust, belonging, access to resources, and the formation of social groups.
Communities with strong social infrastructure have physical places and community systems that work together to promote trust, belonging, and mutual support. Schools, libraries, universities, and food pantries may all work together to organize after-school tutoring or support families as they navigate the education system. Faith-based institutions may partner with housing programs to build accessible housing and socially connected communities for residents experiencing a housing crisis. When investments are made to strengthen these connections, residents are less likely to experience loneliness and isolation and more likely to thrive, even during times of crisis, when existing relationships support emergency response and recovery.(30)
Incorporate social capital and connection considerations into policies, practices, and processes related to housing; benefits access; education; transportation; economic and community development; and other areas.
Even with investments in places and programs that are created to build connection, policies and practices that do not consider all residents fail to meet the desired impact. Consider a sprinkler park created to provide a cooling space for children and a meeting place for families in an urban setting across neighborhoods. It’s in a location that is hard to reach without a car and also requires a parking fee. The park isn’t accessible for all. Policies and processes that embed social connection and prioritize equity help ensure that third places function as genuine bridges to opportunity.(31 32) When city, county, and state policies are coordinated, third places can serve as hubs where resources, networks, and civic engagement intersect.(33 34)
Equitable, Aligned Policies
Incorporate social capital and connection considerations into policies, practices, and processes related to housing; benefits access; education; transportation; economic and community development; and other areas.
Even with investments in places and programs that are created to build connection, policies and practices that do not consider all residents fail to meet the desired impact. Consider a sprinkler park created to provide a cooling space for children and a meeting place for families in an urban setting across neighborhoods. It’s in a location that is hard to reach without a car and also requires a parking fee. The park isn’t accessible for all. Policies and processes that embed social connection and prioritize equity help ensure that third places function as genuine bridges to opportunity.(31 32) When city, county, and state policies are coordinated, third places can serve as hubs where resources, networks, and civic engagement intersect.(33 34)
Measurable improvements in levels of trust, belonging, civic engagement, and growth of diverse networks of individuals and organizations (social capital) across all demographics, particularly as related to economic success, power and autonomy, and being valued in community.
Ensure alignment and accessibility of common indicators measuring infrastructure investments; social and civic space activities and participation; social networks; and individual feelings of trust, belonging, agency, connectedness, and flourishing. Incorporate the use of lagging indicators connected to economic mobility.
Economic mobility and social capital measures are available at the Census level from organizations including The Opportunity Atlas and The Social Capital Atlas. The indicators that make up these analyses may seem far removed from neighborhoods. While they are important numbers to monitor longterm, neighborhoods benefit from tracking social capital indicators that can contribute to a better understanding of how people across income and geography experience their community. Surveys of neighbors and of patrons to third places can ask about feelings of trust, belonging, civic participation, voice in local government, and perceptions of safety and neighborhood stability. Communities that can agree on common surveys that are transparent to residents, easy to collect, and relatable encourage the community to invest in tracking progress together.
Common Measures
Ensure alignment and accessibility of common indicators measuring infrastructure investments; social and civic space activities and participation; social networks; and individual feelings of trust, belonging, agency, connectedness, and flourishing. Incorporate the use of lagging indicators connected to economic mobility.
Economic mobility and social capital measures are available at the Census level from organizations including The Opportunity Atlas and The Social Capital Atlas. The indicators that make up these analyses may seem far removed from neighborhoods. While they are important numbers to monitor longterm, neighborhoods benefit from tracking social capital indicators that can contribute to a better understanding of how people across income and geography experience their community. Surveys of neighbors and of patrons to third places can ask about feelings of trust, belonging, civic participation, voice in local government, and perceptions of safety and neighborhood stability. Communities that can agree on common surveys that are transparent to residents, easy to collect, and relatable encourage the community to invest in tracking progress together.
[We can] take steps to return power to ordinary people…[and it involves] putting more decision-making power and responsibility for fighting poverty in the hands of local communities.
—Danielle Allen