Sparking Social Capital in the 21st Century

Posted by Social Innovations Institute on March 26, 2018

Social capital is in decline. Community trust, networks of resources, and authentic communication systems are critical to the fabric of healthy and sustainable communities, as well as a bedrock source of individual opportunities. In low-income communities, this decline of social capital has particularly devastating effects. So how can we spark social capital in today’s transient and digital world? Join us to learn about the methods and model of Union Capital Boston – a rewards program for community and civic engagement that creates physical and digital spaces for building trust and pathways of opportunity.

In this webinar we will:

• Identify the key challenges of building social capital and trust in today’s world
• Analyze the methods and model of UCB, what has worked and what still needs to be learned and improved
• Discuss the future opportunities for new organizing models that seed social capital and weave a stronger community fabric that create opportunities for all

About the Presenter:
Eric Leslie, Founder/Lead Organizer of Union Capital Boston

Eric Leslie began his career as a community organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation in Baltimore and New York City. Eric joined Teach For America in 2004 and taught middle school in North Philadelphia, later serving as principal of KIPP Philadelphia Charter School from 2008-2012. Eric returned home to the Boston area to attend the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2013 with his wife, and now has two daughters, ages 5 and 2. In 2014 Eric founded Union Capital Boston (UCB), http://unioncapitalboston.org. UCB is a new organizing approach to increase civic engagement as a means of addressing inequity for families and communities.