Social Innovation

Why business can be good at solving social problems... This is an interesting TedTalk from a business school professor - he works with businesses to make money.  He applies his perspective to applying business perspectives to non-government and social organizations.  The problem he sees is that we are not making fast enough progress.  The progress is incremental, but they aren't scalable. Things can be made better, we are helping, but we can't make large scale impact because there's not enough money to make enough impact.

We know that money doesn't buy happiness, but it can buy security, which can make room in our lives to be happy and fulfilled.  And more money provides opportunities to be able to help others. 

 In order to be able to help others, our needs need to be met.  As in the preflight instructions recited by every flight attendant on every flight - we are to put on our own oxygen mask before we can help others.  We can do no good, we cannot help others, if we are losing consciousness because we don't have air to breathe.  This applies in many facets of our lives, to our spiritual growth, to our ability to care for others, and in our ability to lift others. 

While there are many facets to the question:

What does it take to make changes in the world?

Ideas, passion, help, are all important, but it all takes money.  Money is required to pay rent, to make photo copies, to allow a social innovator to eat and have a place to live so that they can go do good things.  And money is needed to create a presence, to share ideas, to grow the ideas, to scale the passion and the innovation.  There is money out there, but a common phrase - applicable in business as well as in social innovation is that "It takes money to make money."  There is very little impact that can be made without funding and a source for revenue to make a difference. 

Child and Family Advocacy INSIGHTS:  As you seek to understand and promote the truth about children and families, you will need to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern errors in science and reason. The Holy Ghost's role is to testify of truth, and He is no respecter of sources, meaning, whether a truth comes from scripture or a research study, He will testify of it because it is truth. President Russell M. Nelson summarized it well in his talk, Let Your Faith Show,   when he boldly declared:

"I had such a test decades ago when one of my medical faculty colleagues chastised me for failing to separate my professional knowledge from my religious convictions. He demanded that I not combine the two. How could I do that? Truth is truth! It is not divisible, and any part of it cannot be set aside.

"Whether truth emerges from a scientific laboratory or through revelation, all truth emanates from God. All truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet I was being asked to hide my faith. I did not comply with my colleague’s request. I let my faith show!"

I have always loved and appreciated the views of the gospel and the wise counsel of the apostles and prophets to help us understand the truths of our existence by using science and faith.  Understanding that the more we learn, via science and faith, helps us learn and have deeper understanding of both.

IMPLICATIONS:  It is frustrating that there are so many pro-science arguments against having faith.  I think that it is pride and ignorance of those that are unwilling to consider divinity and faith (and I’m sure they would say the same about religious people…) as a valid prospect in all aspects of the universe. As stated in the video Does Science Argue For or Against God?  By Eric Metaxas, he asks “at what point is it fair to admit that science itself suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces?”  Those that argue against God require proof, however cannot accept the lack of evidence not disproving it as proof.  All the while claiming that “science is not settled,” etc.  I also loved this phrase in the reading: “Latter-day Saints should not fear or avoid using science and research in their advocacy work.“

INQUIRIES:  We are in such a trying time, with so much “science,” and “facts” and “evidence,” but so little trust in any of the reported results due to corruption, propaganda, bias, etc. While we, as Latter-day Saints, know to lean on the promptings of the spirit, how can we take that “evidence” into the public square?  I know, for me, the COVID19 situation is so divisive, political, corrupt, and emotional, it is so difficult to discern fact from fiction, news from propaganda, fear from faith.  The state of our liberty, the world’s economies, and future are on the brink of peril because of all of the division, politics, corruption, and lack of trust.  While I am consciously working to overcome my fear with faith, and understand that we are living in a time and experiencing things that have been prophesied about, the anxiety that accompanies this makes feeling the spirit difficult.

SMM Video Content Creation W05

Solution & Impact Evaluation

  

Understanding what the OUTCOMES of our social impact is so important.  And realizing what our impact is (or can be) can create more meaningful and relevant opportunities to do good!
Watch this! Measuring your Social Impact: Theory of Change


Starfish Hurling - We've all heard the story of starfish, and the idea that "I made a difference to that one.  In our reading this week we explored this story a bit... Realizing while this is a cute story that calls us to remember the importance of  "making a difference where you can, one person or problem at a time," and to "not be put off by skepticism or criticism or cynicism," it brought up other sides to the story... agree or disagree, it was food-for-thought and gives us an opportunity to reflect on what our impact may be, what it should be, if what we hope for really is the outcome, etc.  The points we are asked to consider are:

1. The scenario is apolitical, and there is rarely any hesitancy or moral complexity in responding to natural disaster crises. The assumption is that all problems are similarly simple, which they are not. 
2. It is not about helping people and avoids the question of who deserves help.  "The starfish are passive, they have no voice; they cannot have an opinion about their circumstances. Their silence coincides with the fact that they can have done nothing to deserve their fate."
3. It doesn't address unintended consequences.  The ecological impact of this sort of interruption may lead to a shortage of food for predators or may have been part of the ecological cycle to move them because they have outgrown their habitat.  So many interrelated elements in any ecosystem.  Are you really helping or hurting? 
4. It doesn't encourage creating a plan, just engaging as an emotional response. What impact is just one person really doing?  With just a bit of advance organizing, the overwhelming task could be mitigated by recruiting volunteers. 
5. "The story does nothing to teach us about community or service." The tale privileges random, individual acts of kindness and avoids questions of community; it does nothing to teach us about community service. 

The article finishes with the advice to "Stop hurling starfish. Don’t go charging out to help. Talk, listen, build relationships, know your self, your environment; work with others where they and the situation itself can teach you how to act with more and more knowledge and effectiveness." 

So... Are you hurling starfish?  or are you creating change in a meaningful way that has measurable and beneficial outcomes.  Beginning with the end in mind (as Stephen Covey teaches us) is an important aspect of doing meaningful community service and making a real difference. 

Social Innovation: Design Thinking

From the book How to Change the World by David Bornstein I read the chapter titled “What Sort of Mother are You?”  This is an inspiring story of a mother of a highly disabled son who made a profound difference in Hungary for people with disabilities.  The roadblocks that she encountered included communist laws that prevented wholesale manufacturing by private companies, so work that she was able to secure for her people was illegal, and also culture, society and government that deemed disabled people as “less than,” and therefore unworthy of time, attention, and opportunity but rather resorted to institutionalization.   Erzsebet Szekeres couldn’t care for her son, but also couldn’t submit him to life in an institute that are known for tragic mental and physical abuse.  She worked for many years to provide opportunities for people with disabilities as well as those with a capacity for patience and understanding to work with them- to create a cooperative and collaborative organization where both the residents and the helpers could thrive. 

Ezsrebet employed the aspects of design thinking – in that she was very empathetic to the cause.  While it took time and different attempts to define and ideate opportunities that she would be able to replicate, by employing her own strengths and skills as well as capitalizing on others’ as assets to her vision, she was able to prototype and execute, creating a healthy community where her clients and her employees, which are aptly called “helpers,” could be productive in society.   I admire Erzsebet Szekeres for her resilience!  I'm sure that she saw strengths and benefits with each group and learned things with the three previous groups that enabled the fourth to work.   While it was never right that people with mental and physical disabilities were treated like they were, in order to right the wrongs of history, we need to understand them (root cause!) and work to change them (social innovation!) 

In addressing social issues, a Human-Centered Design process is how you think and what you do with it… Inspiration, Ideation and Implementation. (www.designkit.org/)

Some things to keep in mind – from the Institute of Design at Stanford:

• ·         Show don’t tell
• ·         Focus on human values
• ·         Craft Clarity
• ·         Embrace Experimentation
• ·         Be Mindful of Process
• ·         Bias Toward Action
• ·         Radical Collaboration

D.Mindsets

Design thinking – which the steps include:
                Empathize

                                Define

                                                Ideate

                                                                Prototype

                                                                                Test

When we apply this methodology to our issue, we can create a roadmap that can guide us to doing good.... measurable good!  And having the measurements will help us be able to increase our good - by duplication, synthesis of information, and help us iterate bigger and better opportunities. 

Addressing BIG Problems

I love the movie Robots!  And I loved Bigweld's mantra, "See a Need, Fill a Need."  His company was built on making robot's lives better, but then as he was aging and parts of his business were being taken over by others, it began to fall into corruption.  Other misfit robots that believed in his vision were able to expose the problems and were able to go back to incentivizing invention and creativity to make life better for everyone.

Seeing need is the easy part... But figuring out HOW to address the needs is a bit trickier.  In order to truly address needs requires discovering what is causing the need and work toward addressing it where it starts.  What is one to do?  Can we embark on the tandem process to address the needs as well as addressing the root causes? It depends.  While we know that this is true...

Sometimes we need to feed the man so that he is capable of learning how to fish. Sometimes the root cause can't be addressed because the need is so immediate and big.  Sometimes we need to just do what we can do, which means we just need to fill the need instead of spreading ourselves too thin and being ineffective.

Fear not to do good … for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. (Doctrine & Covenants 6:33-34)

Fill a Need

My husband and I work well as a team... We are beginning our journey to really test our teamwork!  We have worked together for many years in volunteer capacities - we worked together with Boy Scouts for over 8 years and then we started and coached a high school competitive robotics team for 4 years. Our next journey, which we have talked about for a few years, is to become foster parents.  Seeing the need of children that need a safe, loving home to be in while their parents figure life out is our next adventure, and while we are unsure of what the future holds, we know that our home and hearts are ready. 

 

The organization Operation Underground Railroad does amazing things rescuing children and women that are being trafficked, the horrific truths of how prevalent this issue is in our own communities are shocking to me. I spoke to my cousin that works for our county in child protection services and discussed with her what she sees.  Her firsthand accounts of the tragedies not only brought me to tears but also made me angry and frustrated.  This also testified to me of our need to minister to the "one."  To be the hope that might inspire a child (or children) need. 

Be The Change You Wish To See

As I'm diving into my coursework this semester, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Part of this is due to the perception I had after Week 1 of Social Innovation.  Fortunately, Brother Davis shared some of his journey and where he has made a difference, and I realized that my role, MY CHANGE THAT I WISH TO SEE doesn't need to be a great undertaking that affects masses of people, that it can actually be more of what I am seeing as my calling - to make a difference where I am directed. I appreciate this perspective.  Last week I was a bit overwhelmed with the idea of Social Innovation, in that there is so much focus on the big projects.  I feel very drawn to my influence affecting "the one" instead of the many.  I also understand that affecting "the one" can affect entire families, communities, and beyond. 

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Although this quote is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, he actually said: "If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. ... We need not wait to see what others do."

This was a really great read - What is your Calling in Life It has helped me refine and realize the callings I have already fulfilled currently am in, but also where I am being guided and directed in my current calling.  Over the past 2 years, I have been able to explore my passion, define, and refine where I am going, and what I really want to do to make a difference. 

“Think about your life’s work without anxiety – because when we ponder our calling in life through the lens of the restored gospel, we don’t need to feel anxious"  What a beautiful thought!  This idea sounds so simple, but is so true!  Inviting the Lord into our ponderings and decisions, we will feel peace, not anxiety.  The "Heresies" that Jeffrey A. Thompson listed in the article pointed out many truths, that help align our "calling" with what we know as truths in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He said, "We need to be very cautious about our motives for the work we do.  It is tempting to say, 'I serve my family when I'm at home, I serve God when I'm at church, and I serve my career when I'm at work.' We must see our work as but another extension of the Lord's commandment to serve His children and 'bring to pass much righteousness.'"  Observing this truth, we need to invite the Lord into all aspects of our lives, realize that there are always opportunities to serve, and capitalize on those.