[1] A $10 million tax cut for the planet
I’ve read Patagonia’s internal struggle of becoming a billion-dollar company balancing this with their priorities as a B-Corp and socially conscious company. This year they are putting their tax-cut to good use… by giving it back to the planet. Their reason: “The most recent Climate Assessment report puts it in stark terms: the U.S. economy could lose hundreds of billions of dollars, and the climate crisis is already affecting all of us. Mega-fires. Toxic algae blooms. Deadly heat waves and deadly hurricanes.”
[2] Microsoft to erase its carbon footprint
Microsoft is increasing the fee it charges its business divisions to account for their carbon emissions… with the aim to wipe clean the carbon footprint they have created since the time they started as a company. That’s one powerful delete key. I hope they remember to empty the recycling bin when they’re done.
[3] The charity asking corporations awkward questions
ShareAction buys shares of public companies so they can attend shareholder meetings and ask hard questions. They push companies on their environmental, social and governance issues. If public companies are driven by their shareholders, and we’re the investors, then it’s our responsibility to step up and let our voice be heard. Personally, I hope they ask Apple if they’re going to let Microsoft win the environmental game.
[4] Roommates no longer a problem for foster youth receiving subsidies
Previously, in New York City, foster youth needed to be the only leaseholder to qualify for a housing subsidy. But they realized that this made things worse – living alone and isolated just added to their problems. Living with a friend provides much more emotional stability, along with the ability to afford better rent. Unfortunately, the subsidy only exists until age 21, and employment opportunities are limited, making many of these issues still challenging to overcome. Now if only the roommates would wash their dishes, all the roommate problems would be solved.
[5] Shape the future of social entrepreneurship
Just because change starts with you, here is a solid roadmap if you’re thinking of starting a social enterprise. Social issues are inherently tricky… and social entrepreneurs are further challenged because “they often need to create a market where none exists; and they work in environments that, by their very nature, are characterized by high levels of uncertainty, from underdeveloped markets to unreliable infrastructure”. The article sums up the best points of the book, The Social Entrepreneur’s Playbook: Pressure Test Your Start-Up Idea.
[6] The Columbus Corner
If you’re in Columbus, Ohio – here are some upcoming impactful events to pay attention to:
- February 15, 2020 – Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship – a conference bringing together social entrepreneurs from around the world to share their insight on sustainable good.
- March 1, 2020 – O2 Conference, the conference breathing the life into social impact ideas of young people in grades 6-12.
- April 24 – 26, 2020, Give Back Hack, the weekend launchpad for social entrepreneurship.