Professional Community Development Roles promotes social capital as an integral part of the societal make up. The article points to social capital as a large part of the answer for the broken American societal system.
Where there is social capital there is a strong community. The article gave the example of Italian regions. Many of these regions used recreation to build social capital, often unintentionally. Recreation activities such as soccer clubs, choir groups and others, provided common ground, which eventually turned into a support system. As a eventual recreational professional the article was a good reminder of the effects that programming can have. It reminded me that being intentional with recreational programs could help create a foundation for American social capital to be rebuilt on. The article solidifies the need for community-building recreation activities and programs.
I found it interesting that the social capital formed in some Italian regions did not just touch small communities but the whole governmental system. Previous to reading this article I had seen social capital as a small-scale solution to community. It opened my eyes to the true power that strong social capital. I enjoyed the articles analogy of social capital as networks “organized horizontally, not hierarchically. To me horizontal …show more content…
What really strikes me about social capital is the fact that in order to create it everyone within the community must assume that people are inherently good. Without this assumption trust will not be given and relationships will not be created. Such a big movement toward collective acceptance and eventual community, takes time and commitment. With a basis of social capital the entire societal make up will be effected. Stronger social bonds build on each other. It is hard to trust that people will see the benefits and if not need to trust and learn form