On Day 1 of last week’s Expedition, “Team Unchained” had settled on the problem of formerly incarcerated people who had been unjustly convicted of crimes they had not committed.

On Day 2 they brainstormed a vast number potential of solutions, then chose a direction.

On Day 3 they began to prototype their idea, but with the CEO panel the next day they wouldn’t have enough time to do deep research.

Enter social capital.

Our core value of pluralism leads [1] to an atmosphere rich with social capital. So when “Team Unchained” ran into the research dilemma, one of our assistant coaches from the St. Joe’s University Haub School of Business recommended that Team Unchained check out Greyston Bakery, which pioneered “Open Hiring,” a strategy to help formerly incarcerated people. Another assistant coach recommended they check out “After Innocence,” a re-entry program and advocacy group for the wrongly convicted. And yet another facilitator offered to connect them to the GreenLight Fund, which has scaled successful re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated people.

When it came time for the CEO panel, Team Unchained got encouraging feedback and more rich recommendations. One panelist, an attorney who formerly worked for the NJ Department of Corrections, offered ideas around partnerships with law schools for pro bono clinics. A different panelist, a health care expert, also encouraged Team Unchained and recommended designing for exonerees’ mental health needs.

When we treat learning as a single-player sport, we reinforce social inequalities. It’s a zero sum world of winners and losers. It’s also a cynical context for the growth and development of the human being.

When we treat learning as a team sport, we activate untapped social capital and create the conditions for each student to thrive. 1 + 1 can = 3 if we choose that abundance mindset.

How will you design for social capital this year? [2]

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[1] Pluralism shapes the environment of each Expedition in many ways. For starters, cohorts are diverse-by-design. We also use a strengths-based assessment and reflections to understanding each member of the community. So from the moment participants convene for the first time, their natural differences have been framed as superpowers that will be unlocked through our shared sense of mission.

[2] One immediate option: encourage students to apply for our MLK Jr. Day Weekend Expedition, January 15-18. Details below. Application here.

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