The Social Opportunity Gap

This chapter reviews principles and examples of social capital, as well as linking the theory into the model of youth social entrepreneurship. Like other forms of capital, an unequal distribution of social capital is associated with other gaps and with reduced chances for change in the future. In fact, social capital is tied closely to social mobility, the central American belief that one’s birth status is not a predetermination of wealth. Not only is there a yawning gap in the social capital of youth from high-income versus low-income households in America, but low-income youth of color also are disproportionately less likely to be able to participate in upward social mobility. This chapter connects social capital, collective hope, and youth social entrepreneurship.