Our social networks shape a lot of things in our lives: from the amount of support we have, to how we feel about our lives, to the types of opportunities that are available to us. There’s two kinds of social networks: those made up of bonding relationships, and those made up of bridging relationships. Bonding relationships are the connections we have with people a lot like us: friends or family where there’s loyalty and shared understanding. Bonding social capital is important for us feeling like we have a safe place in this world. Bridging relationships are the connections that “bridge” us to new people or places that are outside our zone of familiarity. Bridging relationships help us to gain access to fresh opportunities. They unlock doors. We need both kinds of relationships in our lives, and that means we need communities that make it easier to meet and get to know different people.
That’s where Kudoz fits in. We’re all about bringing different people together through our catalogue of experiences, and strengthening bridging social networks. Reducing stigma and increasing employment for people with disabilities requires stronger bonds between diverse community members. If we all stay in our familiar boxes, we will never increase opportunity for all.
Want to know more about bridging social capital? Here’s an article we like on the topic!volume_up
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