Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Common Good Data! As we take a break this week to relax and enjoy time with family and friends, we’re excited to share one of our favorite interviews from 2024.

In this episode, we speak with Sil Ganzó, founder of Our Bridge for Kids in Charlotte, North Carolina, an organization that supports immigrant and refugee families through culturally responsive educational programs.

You'll hear Sil talk about the importance of community-centered practices such as organizing focus groups in the languages of the participants, and how the program fosters cultural pride and identity in students.

Read the original show notes HERE.

How do you measure the strength of the connections in a community—the trust, relationships, and bonds that hold people together.

Social capital plays a powerful role in impacting everything from economic mobility to civic participation. But how do we actually quantify these unseen networks?

The Social Capital Atlas can answer that question, mapping out data across U.S. counties and zip codes to show where social capital is strong and where it is lacking.

Using sources like Facebook connections, census data, and voting records, the Atlas paints a picture of how connected communities really are.

It explores three distinct forms of social capital: economic connectedness, or how people from different income backgrounds interact; cohesiveness, reflecting trust and the strength of local relationships; and civic engagement, which looks at volunteerism and community participation.

In this episode, Drew walks you through how to use this tool effectively.

You’ll hear:

(03:19) What social capital actually refers to, including bonding vs. bridging social capital

(07:29) Why should nonprofits care about social capital

(09:33) What is the Social Capital Atlas and what exactly does it measure

(12:08) How to navigate the Social Capital Atlas

Download the Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit

Young people are facing an epidemic of loneliness. With screens constantly in their hands and groups of friends around them, students still feel isolated, disconnected, and uncertain.

This lack of connection impacts many areas of their lives—from school attendance and graduation rates to risky behaviors that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

For 35 years, Right Moves for Youth has been tackling this issue head-on.

Through weekly group meetings led by staff, school resource officers, and sometimes community volunteers, Right Moves provides teens with the opportunity to connect, build relationships, and gain the support they need to overcome life’s challenges.

Ryan Grammatico, from Right Moves for Youth, joins us to talk about how the organization is helping students not only achieve academic success but also become better employees, better citizens, and more prepared for the future ahead.

You’ll Hear:

(05:28) The challenges that youth in schools in Charlotte are facing right now

(08:03) What young people are sharing about their experiences with rising mental health challenges and feelings of disconnection

(14:06) What makes Right Moves for Youth so different from other after-school programs or youth mentoring programs

(22:26) How they demonstrate the impact of their work through measurable results

(33:23) A success story of a young girl who, after participating in the program, now works at the organization

Connect with Ryan and learn more about Right Moves for Youth.

Download the Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit.

Read the full show notes HERE.