How Building Diverse, Inclusive Communities Can Help Lift Children Out of Poverty
The New York Times August 1st issue of The Daily focused on “friending bias” and the ways in which growing up in a diverse, inclusive community—along with other factors—can help kids growing up in poverty achieve “upward mobility” across class, race, and other lines.
The piece focused on a recently published study in the scientific journal Nature that examined how various social capital indicators and their ability to foster economic mobility and improved outcomes for children growing up in poverty were impacted by forming friendships across class lines.
Economic Inequality and Community
Over the past few decades the US has moved deeper and deeper into a state of general economic inequality. The widening wealth and opportunity gap in American society has received a tremendous amount of attention in the media and in political discourse, but little has happened to close the gap or even slow its widening. In fact, the pandemic and its disproportionate impacts have only served to exacerbate the situation.
Lack of opportunity for upward mobility is a dividing force in our society and keeps us from forming community across demographic lines. But, building community intentionally, including a mix of people of all incomes, can work to subvert this trend directly.
Our Values as a Community
Cathedral Park Cohousing was conceived by a group of individuals intent on building a diverse cohousing community that welcomes people of all ages, incomes, and abilities. Diversity, accessibility, and equity are core values, woven into the fabric of this community and will continue to deepen as we grow. We are working to be a part of the change we’d like to see—building a community that embraces all and benefits all. Come see what we’re all about at our next Learn About session.