Social Innovation Hunter

Are you prepared to be wrong?

2008-07-13T13:44:00.004-04:00

"If you are not prepared to be wrong, you won't ever achieve anything original."
"The education systems throughout the world aim to produce university professors."

Who is not aware and convinced that the way we educate children has nothing to do with the development of human potential? Who doesn't know that education systems were created to suit the need of the industrial area?

Or just if you need a reminder, check out Ken Robinson's TED talk, on How school kills creativity.

US Businesses Not Walking their Talk - Time To Get Real

2007-12-21T16:43:00.000-05:00

Picture this ---
You: Project Manager
Where: A major international development non-profit
Organizational values: Solidarity, social justice, sustainability.

However...

- No recycling in the building.
- No work-life balance strategy for the employees.
- No criteria for choosing suppliers or investment funds.

This situation, and I am sure you know what I am talking about, can be found in the non-profit world, as well as in businesses who developed a so-called Corporate Social Responsibility Department/Policy/Initiative. According to a survey published this week by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, while "60% of surveyed executives say corporate citizenship is part of their business strategy to a large or very great extent" only "39% report it is part of their business planning process, and only 25% have an individual or team responsible for citizenship issues." How lovely.

The full survey can be found at www.bcccc.net or at www.hitachifoundation.org.

You can also comment the results here, at the Social Innovation Hunter, or at the Center's blog at http://www.corporatecitizen07.com.

Filmmaking as a Powerful Tool for Social Change

2007-12-21T16:10:00.002-05:00

Working Films is currently recruiting for its Content + Intent Documentary Institute, a Residency for filmmakers interested in fostering the social change potential of their projects. The program will be held at the MASS MoCA, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (North Adams, Massachusetts), from March 12 to 16.

"Participants will create an audience engagement plan for their films, identify community partners, and develop support materials, including effective timelines, budgets, and implementation strategies" says Alicia Young, from Working Films. If you can't make it to the Residency, you can use Working Films' free consultations to independent filmmakers, on using films for a social justice purpose.

Application Deadline: January 25, 2008

See you there, hopefully!

Working Film
www.workingfilms.org

Mass MoCa - Massachussetts Museum of Contemporary Art
www.massmoca.org

Wrap your groceries in style

2007-11-28T11:20:00.000-05:00

Rosie, a.k.a. Rosiane Machabee, is a Montreal designer and artist, concerned about environmental issues. She creates and paints ecological grocery bags, all unique, hand-made and fair trade. Her style is fresh, naive: your mom, sister, and girlfriend will appreciate how thoughtful you are.

Believe me: you will definitely score some brownie points.

Petite Rosie
www.petiterosie.com
www.directionvert.com/rosie.htm

Rethos.com - Reach out to the Social Change Folks

2007-11-28T10:31:00.000-05:00

The moment I registered to Facebook is a turning point in my life. OK, that's an overstatement, but honestly, I got back in touch with people I didn't even know still exist and got to share my work and ideas which brought me to meet like-minded people. That means compulsively post things on Ashoka or Idealist's wall.

What do DJ Hurricane (Beastie Boys) and Glenn Toby (world's famous financial adviser and philanthropist) have in common? They are part of the Rethos.com network, a new way to reach out to the social change folks!

Founded by Chris Advansun, Alex and Pablo Salzman, three fellow Canadians, this online platform was launched last September. By definition, rethos is a "a revision of fundamental beliefs or attitudes; a shift in focus and objective for a culture or era." That is precisely what Rethos.com aims to create: a worldwide network of like-minded individuals, organizations and businesses from all fields who won't buy into the status quo and who infuse social justice in all they do.

I just created my profile, to give you an idea of the possibilities:
www.rethos.com/socialinnovationhunter

And here is their video:

FACEBOOK - HOW TO USE THE $1 GIFTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

2007-11-23T16:06:00.001-05:00

On Facebook, you can keep in touch with your friends by: offering them a beer, a flower, a pumpkin pie, or a martini.

On Facebook, for the same dollar, you can keep in touch with your friends by choosing from 1,000 meaningful gifts such as: to free jailed writers, support research on aging, or adopt a dolphin.

Nothing against the martinis. Just buy me a real one.

You can download the application, provided by ChangingThePresent.org, by visiting : www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2551062524

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CHRISTMAS - GIVE JUSTICE!

2007-11-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

Some choose to boycott it, some choose to simply ignore it. Others will go for some organic/fair trade somethin' somethin' or to spend the night at a shelter. During Christmas season, most of us simply spend hundreds of dollars on gifts that are most likely to end up in the closet, or on a paper bag underneath the bed.

ChangingThePresent.com offers a new and innovative alternative: to allow your dear ones to contribute in a cause which is meaningful to them. For instance, for $50 gift, you can: feed a Brazilian child for a month; offer an American artist a one-hour session with a coach; buy a goat to a woman in Ethiopia who can then start her own business; or provide a literacy-kit for an elderly person to tutor a K-4 child.

ChangingThePresent.org
www.changingthepresent.org

INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION - REGISTER NOW!

2007-11-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

StartingBloc, a New York-based non-profit, aims to educate, to empower and to connect emerging leaders to drive positive social change across sectors. They are currently recruiting for their Institute for Social Innovation, taking place in New York (Spring 2008) and London (Summer 2008).

Fellows will "learn industry best practices around corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and sustainability." With partners such as Ashoka, Google, Seventh Generation, Domini Social Investment, and Yale School of Management, StartingBloc also secures life-changing internships, job and study opportunities for its alumni.

Deadline for New York Institute: December 1st, 2007, 5pm (EST)
Deadline for London Institute: February 29, 2008, 5pm (EST).

StartingBloc
www.startingbloc.org

LOOKING FOR SEED MONEY FOR YOUR START-UP?

2007-11-22T16:38:00.000-05:00

Got an idea that could shake the current social order? Of course you do!

Got the seed money necessary to start the venture that would embody these world-changing ideas? Yikes.

Each year, Echoing Green awards 20 two-year fellowships to social entrepreneurs eager to create a new start-up. Fellows receive up to $90,000 in seed funding and technical support to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable organizations.

2007 Fellows include Rural China Education Foundation (China), Green Power (Kenya), NOLA 180 (Louisiana).

Application Deadline: December 1st, 2007.

Echoing Green
www.echoinggreen.org

VISIT QUEBEC CITY AND HAVE A POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT

2007-11-21T15:01:00.000-05:00

The Auberge L'Autre Jardin, in Québec City, Canada, offers a great way to discover this gorgeous city (yes, I'm biased), while contributing to the funding of Carrefour Tiers-Monde, an organization of international cooperation that aims to further sustainable development and fair trade on our planet.

Auberge L'Autre Jardin:
www.autrejardin.com/eng/index.php

PORTABLE ASHTRAYS

2007-11-21T14:18:00.000-05:00

For some very obscure reason, getting rid of a cigarette butt in a graceful gesture, right on the sidewalk, is not considered littering by most people in North American culture.

I was once a smoker, and I was once in Japan, where I was thrilled to show my savoir-faire by throwing my dying cigarette far in the middle of the street. While I was expecting applause and enthusiasm, I only got an horrified look from my fellow smoker friends. Not only smoking is forbidden while walking in Tokyo, but getting rid of a cigarette by throwing it, even in the most expert and graceful way, is considered littering and can result in a 20,000 yen fine.

That is the reason why smokers in Tokyo have the smart habit to carry a portable ashtray, smell and fire proof. No need to go to Japan to buy your own: many online boutiques will be happy to deliver it at your door! Some are ugly, some are trendy. A good way to reduce your environmental impact as a smoker...

Smoking in Tokyo:
www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/basic/basic09.html

Ontario War Against Butts:
www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/05/18/butts-wed.html