Community Capitals Framework: The importance of inclusion

Cornelia Butler Flora Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Agriculture and Life Sciences Iowa State University [email protected]

Jan L. Flora Professor and Extension Sociologist Iowa State University Ames, Iowa [email protected]

Capital

Resources invested to create new resources over a long time horizon

Natural Capital Built Capital Financial Economic Security Social Well-Being Healthy Ecosystem Capital Political Capital Cultural Capital Social Capital Human Capital

Market State

Civil Society

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Natural Capital

Air quality, wind and sun Water Soil and minerals Natural capital provides possibilities and limits to human action. It influences and is influenced by human actions

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Biodiversity Landscape Temperature Extreme events

Sustainable, healthy ecosystems with multiple community benefits

• • •

Human communities plan and act in concert with natural systems Place (context) matters and access should be available to all Those with alternative uses of the ecosystem seek common ground

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Cultural Capital

Cosmovisión Ways of knowing Food and language Cultural capital determines how we see the world, what we take for granted, what we value, and what things we think possible to Ways of knowing change. Hegemony allows one social group to impose its and being Definition of what symbols and reward system on other groups.

can be changed

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Cultural Capital

Cultural differences in meanings and use of all the capitals are recognized and valued Ancestral knowledge and language are maintained Communities are willing to take the time to understand and build on different ways of knowing and doing.

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Education, including distance Skills Health Self-esteem, Self-efficacy

Human Capital

The characteristics and potentials of individuals that are determined by the intersection of nature (genetics) and nurture (social interactions and the environment)

Goal: Increased use of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of local people

• • •

Identify the motivations and abilities of each individual & group to improve the community Increase the skills and health of individuals Recombine the skills and abilities of youth, families and community leaders

Social Capital

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Bonding

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Tight, exclusive networks

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Strong distinction between insiders and outsiders

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Single answer focus

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Bridging

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Open and flexible networks

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Permeable and open boundaries

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Legitimization of alternatives

Dimensions of Social Capital:

Implications for schools Bridging

Clientalism

Outsiders set the agenda for schools and English Learners Bonding -

Extreme individualism

Rich solve problems through financial capital and private schools. Poor have few options +

Progressive Participation

Communities, schools and families act together to set the agenda for positive learning +

Strong Boundaries

Communities ignore the well-being of youth and families and underinvest in schools. Often groups within the community don’t trust each other and do not cooperate

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mutual trust reciprocity groups collective identity sense of shared future working together

Social Capital

Interactions among individuals that occur with a degree of frequency and comfort. Bonding social capital consists of interactions within a specific group and bridging social capital consists of interactions among social groups.

• • • •

Goal: Improved community initiative, responsibility, and adaptability

Shared vision Building first on internal resources Looking for alternative ways to respond to constant changes Strong families as a basis for community participation

PoliticAL Capital

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Organization Connections Voice Power Political capital is the ability of a group to influence standards, regulations and enforcement of those regulations that determine the distribution of resources and the ways they are used.

Political Capital:

Increased voice & influence • • • •

Organized groups work together to improve the community for all residents People with disabilities feel comfortable around powerful people. Powerful people feel comfortable around people with disabilities Concern for access to all the capitals are part of the agenda in the regulation and distribution of resources.

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Financial Capital

Saving Income generation Earning for businesses Payment for environmental services Loans and credit Investments Taxes Tax exemptions User fees Gifts/philanthropy Forms of currency used to increase capacity. Financial capital is often privileged because it is easy to measure, and there is a tendency to put other capitals into financial capital terms.

• • • •

Appropriately diverse and

reduced poverty increased firm efficiency increased firm diversity

healthy economies

increased assets of local people.

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Recreation centers Roads, bridges and trails Community stores School cafeterias Day care centers Play grounds Sidewalks Kitchen incubators Wind farms

Built capital

Human-constructed infrastructure that contributes to the other community capitals

BUILT CAPITAL

Physical infrastructure that enhances natural capital because

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It serves people with disabilities

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People with disabilities can contribute to its local maintenance and improvement

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It links local people together equitably

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It links local people, institutions and businesses to the outside

Natural Capital Built Capital Financial Capital Economic Security Social Well-Being Healthy Ecosystem Political Capital Cultural Capital Social Capital Human Capital