In this episode of the "SCI Cultivating Connections" podcast, SCI Development & Program Manager Leah Mulrenan interviews David Crowley, President & Founder of SCI Social Capital Inc.. David shares about the origins of SCI, which formed to foster intentional community building across diverse backgrounds. The aim was and continues to be bridging differences and creating a stronger, more connected community.

David and Leah discuss the continued importance of building social capital in light of the current challenges we face as a nation. David recaps recent work by Bowling Along author Robert Putnam, and a recent New York Times interview with Putnam. Leah and David discuss several issues that have been following similar trends to social capital, according to Putnam’s recent book The Upswing, co-authored with Shalyn Romney Garrett. These adjacent issues include economic inequality, extreme partisanship and the diminishing sense that we are in this together.

David recently wrote an article entitled, “5 Ways To Build Bridging Social Capital & Develop a Sense of Common Purpose”. During his discussion with Leah, David highlights the importance of developing young leaders committed to building inclusive communities and helping them develop the skills to do so. He also emphasizes the importance of building on various innovative community building initiatives to create a movement working for more connected, inclusive communities in order to strengthen our democracy for the long-term.