Community Capitals Framework:Community Capitals Framework:The importance of inclusionThe importance of inclusionCornelia Butler FloraCornelia Butler Flora

Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Agriculture and Life Sciencesof Sociology, Agriculture and Life Sciences

Iowa State UniversityIowa State University

cflora@iastate.edu

Jan L. FloraProfessor and Extension Sociologist

Iowa State UniversityAmes, Iowa

floraj@iastate.edu

CapitalCapital

Resources invested to create new resources

over a long time horizon

Political Capital

Cultural Capital

Natural Capital

Human Capital

Financial Capital

Social Capital

Built Capital

Economic SecuritySocial Well-Being

Healthy Ecosystem

Market

StateCivil Society

Natural Capital Natural Capital

• Air quality, wind and sun• Water• Soil and minerals• Biodiversity• Landscape• Temperature• Extreme events

Natural capital provides possibilities and limits to human action. It influences and is influenced by human actions.

Sustainable, healthy ecosystems with Sustainable, healthy ecosystems with multiple community benefitsmultiple 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

Cultural CapitalCultural Capital• Cosmovisión• Ways of knowing• Food and language• Ways of knowing

and being • Definition of what

can be changed

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

Cultural CapitalCultural 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.

Human CapitalHuman Capital• Education,

including distance

• Skills• Health• Self-esteem,

Self-efficacy

 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, Goal: Increased use of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of local peopleskills, 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 Social CapitalCapital

• Bonding– Tight, exclusive

networks

– Strong distinction between insiders and outsiders

– Single answer focus

• Bridging– Open and flexible

networks

– Permeable and open boundaries

– Legitimization of alternatives

Dimensions of Social Capital:Dimensions of Social Capital:Implications for schoolsImplications for schools

Bridging

+

-

Bonding - +

ClientalismOutsiders set the agenda for schools and English Learners

Progressive ParticipationCommunities, schools and families act together to set the agenda for positive learning

Extreme individualismRich solve problems through financial capital and private schools. Poor have few options

Strong BoundariesCommunities 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

Social CapitalSocial Capital

• mutual trust• reciprocity• groups• collective identity • sense of shared

future• working together

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 Goal: Improved community initiative, responsibility, and initiative, responsibility, and

adaptabilityadaptability• 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 CapitalPoliticAL Capital

• 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 Political Capital: Capital:

Increased voice & influenceIncreased 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.

Financial CapitalFinancial 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 Appropriately diverse and healthy economieshealthy economies

• reduced poverty

• increased firm efficiency

• increased firm diversity

• increased assets of local people.

Built Built capitalcapital

• Recreation centers• Roads, bridges and

trails• Community stores• School cafeterias• Day care centers• Play grounds• Sidewalks• Kitchen incubators• Wind farms

Human-constructed infrastructure that contributes to the other community capitals

BUILT CAPITALBUILT CAPITALPhysical infrastructure that

enhances natural capital because– It serves people with

disabilities– People with disabilities can

contribute to its local maintenance and improvement

– It links local people together equitably

– It links local people, institutions and businesses to the outside

Political Capital

Cultural Capital

Natural Capital

Human Capital

Financial Capital

Social Capital

Built Capital

Economic SecuritySocial Well-Being

Healthy Ecosystem