Building Professional Social Capital for Black Learners and Workers

For Black learners and workers, who too often grapple with discriminatory systems and practices in education and the workplace, professional social capital can unlock opportunities for greater economic advancement and mobility, ultimately reducing racial income, employment, advancement, and wealth gaps. This brief identifies five elements designed to help Black learners and workers build professional social capital: elevating current assets, building relationships, making connections and introductions, career onboarding, and a continuous learning journey. The brief’s authors based their conclusions on in-depth research that included a dive into the history and context of professional social capital, a comprehensive look at the programs that are doing this work and the strategies they employ, and assessments of emerging trends and areas of opportunity.