Anymore, the world can feel like there is no hope. Climate. War. Pandemic. Violence against anyone perceived to be “different” (depending on who is defining “different…”). The list goes on and on. And on. And on… That feeling as if we are drowning in what is wrong can stop us from doing anything at all … Read more
By Joyce Lee-Ibarra Who do you consider the most vulnerable members of society? For many of us, the young and the elderly spring to mind. In the context of volunteerism, youth and seniors are often thought of as the recipients, rather than the providers, of volunteer services. At-risk children, for instance, fill a common narrative … Read more
“Sometimes it feels like CPR. No one person can do it alone. You can do chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth for only so long, and then you need someone else to take over. In the meantime, you need to be able to call on someone to get the defibrillator, and someone else to call 911.” I … Read more
The popular wisdom is that the groups that create change are those that are large enough to make a real difference, and that significant social change is most often spearheaded by a rare, brilliant leader. But that thinking is misleading and counterproductive, says Geoff Mulgan, chief executive of NESTA, Britain’s National Endowment for Science, Technology … Read more
Social change advocates talk a lot about engaging conversation, about bringing people together. And yet, attend just one parent-teacher or chamber of commerce meeting where a contentious issue is being addressed, and you’ll know it’s not that easy. Bringing together groups with different opinions may mean only that they have the opportunity to yell at … Read more
Reality check: No one cares about your organization. If that’s a bit of an overstatement, it’s not by much. Yes, if you are the founder of a social enterprise, you obviously care a lot about the organization. And if you’re the owner of a socially conscious business, or the CEO of a traditional nonprofit – … Read more