Creating Social Capital in Diverse Communities: The Formation Process and Related Social Outcomes Exhibited by Executive Leaders

This study elaborates a theoretical rationale for interracial dyad networks as a structural form of social capital that can facilitate interracial social capital formation and produce positive-sum outcomes across races. A purposeful sample of extreme cases of social capital developed between matched interracial pairs comprised of influential business and community leaders was used to obtain rich information on the interracial social capital formation phenomenon. The dyad interrelations were analyzed using a qualitative, phenomenological, multiple-case study approach. The study findings revealed social capital formation as a social process of both cultivating interracial friendships and bridging networks across races. The findings also revealed social currency to be the social system that acts as the social operating agent for social capital formation. As a result of this formation process, specific social outcomes were produced.;This study contributes to the knowledge base of both intergroup contact and social capital theories and offers a basis for the application of Blau's (1977) diversity opportunity network theory. The results can be used towards building social capital in diverse and multi-cultural communities, community and economic development, race relations, and professional training that incorporates diversity initiatives. Programs seeking to foster leadership through deliberate intercultural competencies, ethnic and cultural sensitivity, diverse collaboration, and collective creativity competencies can also benefit from the findings. Future research is recommended to compare purposeful samples of interracial dyads that were unsuccessful in the formation of social capital.