The Saguaro Seminar from the Harvard Kennedy School of Harvard University encourages civic engagement and volunteerism as the new "hybrid health club for the 21st century." [sic]
The term social capital, has been used in mainstream articles and books for the last five decades, including by political scientist, Robert Salisbury, sociologist James Coleman, and in Robert Putnam's bestselling book, Bowling Alone. Referring to our community involvement as a stabilizing force toward general good health and well-being, the "tribal" mindset creates a way to insure what I like to call "Connection."
When we are connected, we are linked into a network of reciprocity consciousness. Communities, clubs, sports teams, church fellowships, arts councils, humanitarian organizations and the like are brought together through common goals and beliefs. For the purpose of pursuing these goals and beliefs, often these memberships (for lack of a better world) do not include the complication of financial goals as the end product. They are simply providing a way for people to connect and build trust while supporting a common cause.
It is through these connections that we strengthen our social capital.
The health benefits of social capital - of being connected to others - are documented in studies around the world. For a lengthy, but easy-to-read paper detailing the value of social capital, click on the Centre for Educational Research and Education.
Although we instinctively know the importance of social capital, the demise of neighborhood communities and our connections within them has greatly diminished the reciprocity consciousness that is an inherent part of sharing our lives with one another. Elders who volunteer after retirement are happier by far. Teenagers who have friends and are in orchestras or arts programs are more balanced overall. Adults facing difficult times because of loss of employment are able to get help through their church community or other social networks. Creating a life that includes these kinds of connections is priceless.
In this world where we can tend to sit in front of our computer screens all day electronically connecting, there is still nothing like real-life involvement with real people to boost our overall sense of well-being, create trust in the reciprocity of life, and cradle our sense of place in the world.
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