Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Skip Burzumato

Degree Award Date

Spring 5-2-2026

Keywords

Mentorship, Social Capital, Sociology, Community

Disciplines

Civic and Community Engagement | Sociology

Abstract

Diverse communities often face complex challenges related to integration and collective action across different social, economic, and ethnic groups. Formal youth mentorship programs can be important institutions for addressing these challenges. This research examines how these programs act as intentional sites for cultivating social networks and relational trust necessary for successful civic engagement. Research for this project heavily relies on social capital theory explained through the lens of Robert Putnam. There will be special emphasis on the immediate community of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County, Virginia, due to its diverse population and rural-urban intersections. Through interviews with various directors of local youth-based mentorship organizations, the relationship between these initiatives and their impact on bridging and bonding social capital will be examined, along with their broader community impacts, such as integration, cross-cultural understanding, and civic participation.

Force Open Access

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