Cultivating Connections – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This Cultivating Connections podcast episode features a rich conversation with George “Chip” Greenidge, Jr., a veteran in philanthropy, education and nonprofit leadership. He shares his insights on the importance of mentoring, his passion for higher education access and promoting racial justice.

The discussion with host David Crowley begins with a reflection on their long-standing relationship, spanning over two decades, and the early days of George’s career at the Boston Foundation. George shares his thoughts on the evolution of philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement through site visits. He highlights how these interactions foster genuine connections and demonstrate a commitment to understanding the needs of communities, contrasting this with the more transactional nature of modern philanthropic practices.

George also delves into his motivations for pursuing a career in nonprofit work. He attributes his passion to his upbringing in the Greater Boston area, where he had wonderful mentors and access to prestigious educational institutions like Harvard and MIT. These experiences not only provided him with exceptional role models but also inspired him to advocate for college access and mentorship for young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. He discusses his founding of Greatest Minds, an organization designed to connect youth with mentors at various stages of their lives, reinforcing the idea that inspiration can come from peers as well as established figures.

The conversation also touches on George’s current role at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University. He reflects on how this position allows him to engage with global scholars and contribute to discussions around civic participation and democratic values. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the significance of building relationships within philanthropy and the necessity of nurturing connections over time to cultivate trust and support. His insights into the changing landscape of philanthropy, coupled with his personal anecdotes, provide listeners with a profound understanding of the intersection between education, mentorship, and community engagement.

This episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast features Pedro Cruz, the Executive Director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) for the City of Boston. Pedro shares his inspiring journey into youth work, rooted in his experiences growing up in the Boston’s Villa Victoria community. He emphasizes the importance of relationships and community spaces that shaped his path, reflecting on how early jobs at local community centers ignited his passion for youth development. Pedro highlights the significance of mentorship in his own journey, and the importance of providing Boston youth with mentors today.

Pedro provides an overview of OYEA’s pioneering efforts to engage Boston's youth aged 14 to 25 which focuses a great deal on creating partnerships with a wide range of youth serving organizations. He explains their mission to amplify young voices in local decision-making and connect them with resources and opportunities often inaccessible to them. 

He also shares successes such as building a network of over 1,100 individuals from nearly 400 organizations and reviving the Mayor’s Youth Summit after a 20 year hiatus, demonstrating the demand for dedicated spaces and programs for young people. The episode concludes with Pedro discussing the upcoming Youth Needs Assessment survey, aimed at understanding what young people require during their non-school and non-work hours, further underscoring the office's commitment to serving Boston's youth effectively.

In episode 5 of the Cultivating Connections podcast from SCI, host David Crowley talks with Ayele Shakur, President of the Redstone Family Foundation.

Ayele talks about how she centers relationship building in her work. Throughout her career,  she has focused on helping young people develop the social capital they need to flourish in school and beyond. Ayele also describes how she prioritizes intentional relationship building in her work to develop partnerships to support young people and address issues of racism and antisemitism.

We also learn in this way how a friend encouraged her to try teaching, launching a career in education. Tune into the episode to learn what Ayele initially planned to do after graduation from Boston University, and about what she has learned in her journey to ignite the potential of youth from underserved communities.

In this Cultivating Connections podcast episode, guest Guy Ben-Aharon joins host David Crowley to discuss the mission and unique approach of "The Jar," an organization fostering connections among diverse Bostonians through shared cultural experiences. The jar's unique Convener Model™ model, encourages participants to bring diverse groups together to share art, food, and conversation. 

Guy emphasizes the importance of intentional relationship-building and creating inclusive spaces, aiming to combat segregation often found in cultural institutions. He shares stories of transformative experiences and invites listeners to engage in upcoming events to take personal actions toward positive change in their communities.

This episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast features Dr. Michael Curry, Esq. interviewed by host David Crowley. Michael is the President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Michael emphasizes the importance of understanding history and the context of societal disparities. He discusses the critical role of community health centers, which originated from the civil rights movement, in providing accessible and culturally competent care. He also delves into the Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity, highlighting the urgency of addressing health disparities and advocating for policy changes. Throughout the conversation, Michael stresses the significance of self-education, consciousness, and active participation in driving meaningful change in society.

Through his words, Michael inspires listeners to become informed, engaged citizens who actively work towards promoting health equity and social justice in their communities.

In this episode of the SCI Cultivating Connections podcast, host David Crowley welcomes Nora Moreno Cargie, President of the Point32 Health Foundation and Vice President of Corporate Citizenship for Point32 Health. 

Nora brings extensive experience in nonprofit and philanthropic work to the conversation. They delve into Nora's background and pivotal moments in her career, particularly her realization about the importance of community-based insights versus external directives from funders. Nora emphasizes the need for funders to be proximate to the work and to honor community knowledge. The conversation explores the essence of creating great places for people to grow up and grow old, highlighting the importance of inclusivity, engagement, and listening in community-centered initiatives. 

Nora shares insights on challenges and opportunities in philanthropy, advocating for humility, active listening, and building bridges that facilitate two-way communication. Through their discussion, Nora underscores the value of authentic storytelling and the significance of recognizing shared humanity amidst diverse experiences.

This episode was produced by Leah Mulrenan and Sierra Dearns.

SCI team members David Crowley and Leah Mulrenan discuss the Cultivating Connections Podcast and what listeners can expect from this new show from SCI Social Capital Inc.! This episode describes the show format and the reasons why SCI is launching this podcast. 

In this episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast, SCI Founder & podcast host David Crowley welcomes Jean Dolin, the visionary founder and president of the newly launched Boston LGBTQ+ Museum of History, Art, and Culture. Delving into Jean's journey, they explore the origins of his activism, shaped by personal experiences and a deep commitment to community empowerment. This included serving as an SCI AmeriCorps member earlier in his career! 

Highlighting projects like Portraits of Pride and Rainbow Tales, Jean discusses the transformative power of the arts in building social capital and driving social change. Jean offers invaluable lessons for aspiring changemakers and underscores the importance of building authentic relationships to have a meaningful impact. He also shares his vision for his latest project, Boston LGBTQ+ Museum of History, Art, and Culture.

In the latest episode of the Cultivating Connections podcast, guests Jennifer Leshnower and Tony Lucero engage in an informative discussion about "bridging work” intended to bring people of diverse views and backgrounds together. The conversation centers on how national service programs like AmeriCorps can serve as platforms for building connections across diverse communities. Tony articulates that bridging involves coming together across divides to foster understanding, collaboration, and dialogue. He emphasizes that national service provides a unique opportunity to cultivate these skills, particularly in a society increasingly characterized by polarization.

Both guests share their personal journeys into national service, highlighting the transformative power of these experiences. Jen recounts her introduction to AmeriCorps during college, where she discovered the importance of service in fostering relationships among individuals from varying backgrounds. Tony shares his path from being a first-generation college graduate to becoming actively involved in community service, illustrating how mentorship and shared goals can bridge significant divides. The episode underscores the critical role of intentionality in bridging efforts and positions national service as a vital mechanism for addressing societal challenges through meaningful dialogue and connection.

Tony and Jen highlight important work being done by their organizations and others in the Bridging Divides group to bring this issue to the forefront. They also cover studies of bridging outcomes being created by national service organizations, and curriculum and other tools available for those interested in furthering this work.

This podcast episode features a deep dive into the Connective Tissue framework for increasing social connection, with its author Sam Pressler. The framework includes recommendations as to what policymakers and others can do at federal, state and local levels to increase social connections. The Connective Tissue site is organized into four major categories: 1) Foundational Changes; 2) Community Institutions; 3) Life Transitions and 4) Enabling Conditions. 

During the conversation, Sam addresses the broader societal trends contributing to social disconnection. He identifies several key factors, including the decline of traditional institutions like religious organizations, civic groups, and unions, which historically provided stability and a sense of belonging. He notes that these changes disproportionately affect individuals without college degrees, who face higher barriers to civic engagement and social support. The data presented reveals alarming statistics about friendship and social networks, illustrating a growing divide in social capital based on educational attainment.

Sam explores potential policy interventions aimed at strengthening social connections. He argues that while policy alone cannot solve these issues, it can play an important role in addressing the structural challenges that lead to disconnection. He advocates for a multi-faceted approach that considers local solutions tailored to community needs, rather than relying solely on top-down policies. Throughout the conversation, host David Crowley incorporates various ways the Connective Tissue framework relates to the work of Social Capital Inc. 

This episode serves as both an insightful exploration of the challenges surrounding social connection and a call to action for listeners to engage in fostering community ties in their own lives.

Guest Bio:
Sam Pressler is a Practitioner Fellow at the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, a Research Affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, and the author of Connective Tissue, a policy framework for the role of government in regenerating connection in American communities. In his past life, he founded and led the Armed Services Arts Partnership, America’s largest community arts organization serving veterans and their families.

Resource links:

Connective Tissue Framework: https://theconnectivetissue.us/framework 
Subscribe to the Connective Tissue Newsletter: https://theconnectivetissue.us/newsletter
Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/disconnected-places-and-spaces/