Building Social Capital @ CHQ
“Everything human is built in conversation… if we improve the quality of conversations, we strengthen social capital.” ~ Carlos Vignolo
What is social capital? Social capital can be described as the beneficial resources from your relationships with others. Through relationships, we gain new connections, valuable information, and opportunities as well as advice on how to access them.
At Chautauqua, there are many opportunities to build your social capital. This 19th-century Victorian village was designed with community engagement in mind. Its brick walks, large front porches, and numerous public spaces foster connection.
Your social capital network consists of the people who have an interest in your wellbeing. Building your social capital network is not simply about meeting more people; it’s about cultivating and strengthening relationships so they become ones of mutual trust and care.
Because many Chautauquans are open to making new friends, Summer Scholars can easily meet others who can offer helpful advice, information, and connections to support them on their educational and occupational journeys.
Conversations with new connections at Chautauqua can have a very beneficial effect on a Scholar’s path. Research shows that even weak social links can have a profound impact on one’s success. (The Strength of Weak Ties). As author and entrepreneur Richard Koch explains:
To get more information and different insight you need to move to more distant parts of your social world, and possibly outside it altogether. You need to talk to people who live on “different planets” – people with different occupations, different social backgrounds, different attitudes, different ways of thinking, and different geographical locations. They know things that you don’t.
Scholars feel like they’ve landed in a new & different world when arriving in Chautauqua. Yet they grow to love this special place and appreciate all the people they meet. They have lots of opportunities to become more confident in making connections.
We encourage Scholars to continue to cultivate their new friendships with those they meet here. Ongoing relationships can boost their success in realizing their educational and life goals.
Transfer Success Coaching
During and beyond their week at Chautauqua, Scholars meet with our Transfer Success coaches, a retired college president and a retired dean of students, who have numerous connections with senior administrators at four-year colleges and universities across the country.
These transfer advisors focus on helping Scholars identify and get into four-year schools with high graduation rates, excellent financial aid, and a connective culture which will help them to continue to expand their social capital network. They connect Scholars with senior administrators at these schools and coach them through the transfer application process to help ensure their success.
Summer Scholar Alumni Network
The Scholars’ social capital network is greatly enriched by their new connections with one another. Living together for a week and engaging in the programming together in this new place creates bonds that can last well beyond the Scholars’ time here.
After the program, Community Compact staff stay in touch with the Scholars and provide an online platform where alumni can stay connected and support each other with ideas, opportunities, and strategies to achieve their personal and professional goals.