If you know me, you probably know my story—growing up in the Bronx, where my mother ran a beauty salon in the Fordham Road section of the Boogie Down.
Every day, our place was filled with Black and Hispanic women—smart, connected, powerful in ways I didn’t understand at the time. Nurses, teachers, social workers, bankers, community leaders. The social capital in that room? Off the charts.
But I missed it. While I was out looking for jobs, the very people who could’ve helped me were sitting right there under the dryer. I didn’t know how to ask. I didn’t know what to say. And no one ever taught me that those conversations could shape my future.
What About Holding Your Child Back?
After 40+ years of working with youth programs, workforce organizations, and schools across the country, I’ve seen a clear pattern:
- 85% of young people can’t name where their aunt or uncle works—or what they do.
- 95% can’t name the profession of their best friend’s parent.
Most teens have never been taught how to tap into the social capital already around them.
Now here I am, full circle—working with programs that provide summer jobs to over 25,000 young people a year.
And still…
Not one of those programs is teaching kids how to build relationships with the very people supervising them at work.
Not one is showing them how to turn a summer job into a stepping stone.
I’m on a mission to change that.
Not on my watch.
But while I’m working with programs, I’m asking you:
Will you let me in? Will you hear this message?
Because here’s the deal—
If someone came knocking on your door offering to teach your kids financial literacy, you’d probably say yes.
So what about social capital literacy?
Do your kids know what it is?
Do you?
Because social capital is wealth, too.
And right now, your child might be missing out on it.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Today’s workforce is unrecognizable from the one many of us grew up in.
Affirmative action is being rolled back.
Job security is gone.
Referrals, relationships, and reputation are the new résumé.
And in this new world, the most powerful career-building tool isn’t money.
It’s not a degree.
It’s people.
That’s where you come in.
Parents: You Are the First and Best Teacher of Social Capital
You don’t need to be a CEO.
You don’t need a PhD.
You just need to be intentional.
Start with your own circle.
Tell your child what you do at work.
Share how you got your job.
Let them hear your story.
Ask questions and make statements like:
“Who we know that works in healthcare?”
“Do you think your Doctor could tell you how she got started?”
“You want to be an engineer? Then let’s tie your allowance to making moves—join a professional association, take someone out for coffee, attend an event, and follow up. Build real connections, and I’ll invest in the journey.”
Simple questions.
Whoa statements.
Powerful results.
These aren’t just conversations.
They’re confidence-builders.
They’re door-openers.
You’re not just preparing your child for the future.
You’re helping them believe they belong in it.
Let’s Break a Myth While We’re At It
Social capital isn’t just for rich families or Ivy League circles.
Every family—your family—has access to relationships that matter.
- Faith leaders.
- Barbers.
- Coaches.
- Bus drivers.
- Neighbors who work in city government or manage a store.
- And, yes, your child’s summer job supervisor.
It’s not about who’s “important.”
It’s about helping your child see that every relationship holds potential—if they learn to build it, nurture it, and honor it.
The Family Advantage: Building Confidence and Belonging
When kids grow up in homes that value social capital—where real conversations happen, where connections are shared, where stories are passed down—they develop a sense of purpose and belonging.
Researchers call it occupational self-efficacy—the belief that they can succeed in work, in life, and in places they’ve never been.
You don’t need to be a career counselor to give that gift.
You just need to be present.
Be curious.
Be intentional.
Want Help Getting Started?
We’ve created Social Capital Smart Parent for those of us whio know the power of the open hand that opens closed and hidden doors
No jargon. No fluff. Just real strategies that change lives.
Join us at the upcoming Father’s Day Legacy Social Capital Summit—a powerful gathering of dads, uncles, mentors, and father figures passing down more than just money.
We’re passing down wisdom.
We’re passing down connection.
We’re passing down social capital.
You’re the Hero. We’re Just the Guide.
Success isn’t just earned, it’s passed down. And you’ve already given your child so much.
But somewhere along the way, we got it twisted.
The Bible says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” And we’re not just talking about money. We’re talking about something even deeper:
The power of connection.
The doors that only relationships can open.
The legacy of being known, seen, and supported.
You have what it takes.
Now let’s use it.
Because when you pass down social capital…
You don’t just change your child’s future.
You extend the community. You give it life. You diversify it. You strengthen it.
That’s legacy.
That’s power.
That’s social capital.
Join us on July 13 at 7:00 PM for our Social Capital Smart Legacy Discussion (click the QR code below to RSVP) — and/or sign up for the Social Capital Smart Parent Membership to start taking powerful steps that will expand your child’s opportunities for a lifetime. https://socialcapitalsmart.ai/parents/