How do you measure the strength of the connections in a community—the trust, relationships, and bonds that hold people together.

Social capital plays a powerful role in impacting everything from economic mobility to civic participation. But how do we actually quantify these unseen networks?

The Social Capital Atlas can answer that question, mapping out data across U.S. counties and zip codes to show where social capital is strong and where it is lacking.

Using sources like Facebook connections, census data, and voting records, the Atlas paints a picture of how connected communities really are.

It explores three distinct forms of social capital: economic connectedness, or how people from different income backgrounds interact; cohesiveness, reflecting trust and the strength of local relationships; and civic engagement, which looks at volunteerism and community participation.

In this episode, Drew walks you through how to use this tool effectively.

You’ll hear:

(03:19) What social capital actually refers to, including bonding vs. bridging social capital

(07:29) Why should nonprofits care about social capital

(09:33) What is the Social Capital Atlas and what exactly does it measure

(12:08) How to navigate the Social Capital Atlas

Download the Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit

Young people are facing an epidemic of loneliness. Despite being the most connected generation, students still feel isolated, disconnected, and uncertain.

This lack of connection impacts many areas of their lives—from school attendance and graduation rates to risky behaviors that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

For 35 years, Right Moves for Youth has been tackling this issue head-on.

Through weekly group meetings led by staff, school resource officers, and sometimes community volunteers, Right Moves provides teens with the opportunity to connect, build relationships, and gain the support they need to overcome life’s challenges.

Ryan Grammatico, from Right Moves for Youth, joins us to talk about how the organization is helping students not only achieve academic success but also become better employees, better citizens, and more prepared for the future ahead.

You’ll Hear:

(05:28) The challenges that youth in schools in Charlotte are facing right now

(08:03) What young people are sharing about their experiences with rising mental health challenges and feelings of disconnection

(14:06) What makes Right Moves for Youth so different from other after-school programs or youth mentoring programs

(22:26) How they demonstrate the impact of their work through measurable results

(33:23) A success story of a young girl who, after participating in the program, now works at the organization

Connect with Ryan and learn more about Right Moves for Youth.

Download the Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit.

Read the full show notes HERE.

As Election Day approaches, the importance of voting is at the forefront of many conversations.

However, a healthy democracy relies not just on ballots cast, but on active, connected, and informed communities—what we refer to as civic health.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the concept of civic health and how data—from voting rates to social trust—can reveal a lot about the strengths and challenges our communities face.

We’ll also discuss how nonprofits can help promote civic health without stepping into partisan territory.

You’ll hear:

(0:59) What civic health is and the challenges it faces

(03:57) National trends in civic engagement

(09:07) State-level insights from Georgia and North Carolina

(12:51) Five ways nonprofits can strengthen civic health

Every nonprofit has a story to tell, but how they tell it can make all the difference.

In an attempt to build a social presence, they may present complex issues too simply or stage moments for quick soundbites.

This is where powerful, story-driven video can create a better narrative.

Matt Pearl, founder of Pearl Impact Media, has years of experience in journalism. He now helps nonprofits amplify their impact through compelling video storytelling.

While storytelling can be complex, Matt shares his simple approach that emphasizes clarity, authenticity, and empathy.

You’ll Hear:

(04:15) Three key components that make a video story truly compelling

(11:08) The challenges nonprofits face when trying to embrace video

(14:29) An example of a successful nonprofit video campaign

(18:45) Matt’s advice for nonprofits who are just starting to explore video production

(22:51) What emerging trends in video production and digital storytelling nonprofits should pay attention to

(26:46) How to weave both data and personal storytelling into video content

Connect with Matt and learn more about Pearl Impact Media.

If you work with youth, especially in mental health and substance use, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is an invaluable resource.

This survey collects data from students in grades 9–12, revealing key health behaviors and experiences that significantly impact adolescent health.

When you understand these trends, you’ll get a clearer picture of what young people are facing, which makes it easier to create programs that address their specific needs.

In this episode, you’ll be guided through a virtual walkthrough of the YRBS website to show you how to navigate the site effectively so you can easily find the data you need most.

You’ll hear:

(02:36) What is the YRBS and why is it so important

(06:21) What new data from the 2023 release that professionals in the helping professions space should be aware of

(13:09) How to access the reports and explore the YRBSS online

Resources mentioned:

Check out the YRBSS

Download the Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit

The rise in mental health challenges among youth has reached alarming levels. Recent statistics show that 11% of North Carolina children aged 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety. This marks a significant increase from previous years.

The situation is worsened by the pandemic's aftermath and escalating community violence. Both factors have intensified feelings of isolation and insecurity among adolescents.

We’re joined by Ebony Rao, Senior Health Program Manager for the ReCAST II program at Mecklenburg County Public Health. We discuss how the program is approaching these issues and helping communities build their mental health capacity.

You’ll Hear:

(03:15) What strategies can be implemented to address and prevent community violence

(09:22) How rising youth mental health challenges are being addressed post-pandemic

(16:30) Why capacity building through initiatives like ReCAST is essential in the workforce, and how ReCAST approaches this issue

(35:09) How ReCAST tracks the progress and success of its mental health and violence prevention initiatives through data and community feedback

Connect with Ebony Rao and learn more about ReCAST II.

Get tickets to This is My Brave: "The Show" CharMeck 2024

Organizations find themselves asking similar questions when it comes to conducting a needs assessment: Where can I find reliable data? How do I know if it’s relevant to my community? Is the information up to date?

These are important concerns. Accessing meaningful data can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to make it applicable to the specific work you’re doing.

Today, we address these questions by giving you an overview of one key data source: the Kids Count Data Book, which provides state and county-level indicators on child and family well-being.

This resource is particularly valuable for organizations focusing on children, youth, and human services. We’ll walk through how this data can inform needs assessments and decision-making for programs and policies.

And stay tuned—this is just the start. Upcoming conversations will highlight additional data sources to support our assessments and the impact of our work.

You’ll hear:

(01:56) What the Kids Count Data Book is and why it’s relevant for nonprofits focusing on child and family services.

(03:52) What key trends and indicators in child well-being are highlighted in the 2024 Kids Count Report.

(12:19) How to navigate the website and access the data at both the state and county levels.

(17:30) What an example of using this data effectively at the state level looks like, featuring the Georgia Family Connection Partnership.

Watch the video version of the episode for the visual aids.

Collective impact—a framework where organizations across sectors come together with a shared vision—can play a big role in addressing complex issues like economic mobility.

This is especially important in cities like Charlotte, where decades of structural barriers have limited upward mobility for many residents.

Collective impact brings together nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies to work toward common goals, using data to measure progress and drive decisions.

Today’s guest, Khalil Salim, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation at United Way of Greater Charlotte, shares his expertise on how this collaborative approach is being used to address Charlotte’s challenges, and his thoughts on Raj Chetty’s latest research.

You’ll Hear:

(03:09) What is the United Neighborhoods program and how does it use collective impact

(06:01) What makes collective impact different from other collaborative approaches

(11:00) How to measure and document success from a shared goal

(17:53) The challenges of doing collective impact work

(20:45) How to balance broader indicators with community-defined success metrics

Connect with Khalil Salim and learn more about his work with the United Neighborhoods program.