SATX360 Newsletter | Building Social Capital
President POV
What is social capital? Simply put, it’s who we know and how those social connections can open doors to greater economic and career success. What does this mean for the Greater San Antonio region? We believe that by investing in our people and place, we will continue to grow and attract more jobs to our region. Our people are our greatest asset in that equation. We must keep investing in our people and working to ensure that San Antonians have equitable access to the jobs, training, and connections needed to create economic mobility.
A recent study highlighted the impacts of mixed-income friendships as key to reducing poverty. Researchers have found that social ties to more educated or affluent people, starting in childhood, can shape aspirations, college-going, and career paths. The people you know, the study suggests, open opportunities, and the growing class divide in the United States closes them off. Unfortunately, we have a real challenge in San Antonio regarding economic segregation, but, greater:SATX is implementing, supporting, and delivering on a variety of workforce programs to increase social capital among young San Antonians and decrease the income segregation gap overall.
One of the researchers in the aforementioned study refers to how connecting the rich and poor can lift children from poverty. “It’s a big deal because I think what we lack in America today, and what’s been dropping catastrophically over the last 50 years, is what I call ‘bridging social capital’ — informal ties that lead us to people who are unlike us. And it’s a really big deal because it provides a number of avenues or clues by which we might begin to move this country in a better direction.” – Robert Putnam, political scientist at Harvard. The COVID pandemic only exacerbated these issues.
Our very own workforce team was established to start bridging that gap simply by providing more San Antonio youth with access to professional experiences through high school job shadows and internships. To date, SA WORX programs have reached more than 20,000 students throughout the region. Alamo Fellows, our talent retention program, will expand on this effort to reach first generation college students in our area and help build upon their professional and social connections here in our community. We’re proud to launch our first cohort of students in September.
These are only a few examples of how the San Antonio region is investing in social and economic initiatives that will have radical improvements for our residents. As a collective we can impact generational cycles of poverty when we invest in building social capital among our youth.
Regional Updates
Get to know our Greater Regional Partners: Boerne Kendall County
Kendall County is an eclectic mix of history, charm, and convenience with a pro-business environment. Destined for continued rapid growth, its ideal location provides an unparalleled quality of life with easy access to several metro areas across Texas.
Welcome to Greater SATX: Arrive Logistics
An Austin-based logistics company recently announced it plans to hire hundreds of workers as it expands into San Antonio. Arrive Logistics, a multimodal transportation and technology company, recently set up an office in a 27,000-square-foot facility in Northeast San Antonio.
Investor Spotlight – Mosaic Human Capital Solutions
Mosaic Human Capital Solutions is in the people business. Mosaic is an HR services firm that is operationally focused and highly diverse. Learn more about what they are doing to combat the great resignation and how they are innovating in their space, right here in San Antonio.
greater:SATX: Join Our Team
greater:SATX is hiring for three open positions on our Business Development and Brand & Communications teams. Join our team and help us further our mission of growing quality jobs in the Greater SATX region.
The Director of Business Development for Biosciences and Technology will focus on amplifying and growing two of our most important target industries and the Director of Business Development for Foreign Direct Investment will be charged with leading global business engagement, foreign direct investment, and trade.
The Director of Integrated Communications, Workforce leads the development of all internal and external Workforce communications, as well as the execution of all Workforce related creative content and campaign plans.
In the News
| San Antonio economic development group launches fund to entice more nonstop flights to the airport- San Antonio Express-News |
| greater:SATX program launches initiative aimed at growing employment in key industries – San Antonio Business Journal |
| Spirit Airlines Enters San Antonio Market – Routes Online |
| Leading SA: Ready to Work executive director Mike Ramsey – KSAT |
| Stay up-to-date with news from the region by subscribing to the News of the Day. |