[1] Hacking GiveBackHack
I was invited on a planning weekend for GiveBackHack, and was blown away. Here is an organization, dedicated to helping you apply the latest technology practices to launch social enterprises, incorporating elements of design thinking so you can quickly empathize to better understand the problem and then define, ideate, prototype and test so you can iterate an idea. They even use this thinking on themselves to create a better platform so you’re more likely to succeed in creating social change. Their next event is coming up April 24-26 in Columbus, Ohio. Come check it out!
[2] More Wild Tigers
The same Suzy that founded GiveBackHack, took over the podcast to interview me on our social enterprise, Wild Tiger Tees. We screen print t-shirts and mugs through our work program that empowers youth experiencing homelessness. So much of it is about creating a supportive environment where we meet the youth we work with where they’re at – because everyone has their own story, and there is no magic bullet. In this episode, we dive into the logistics and learnings around launching a social enterprise.
[3] Predictions for 2020: Social Enterprise
ProBono Australia breaks down trends they’re seeing in social entrepreneurship and what it means for Australia. They saw a record increase in awareness about social entrepreneurship in 2019 and it is starting to bubble over into the mainstream. In addition, social procurement is skyrocketing, and “Purposeful” providers are becoming a thing. Investment, event, awards and funding for social entrepreneurship is becoming more robust and available to help this segment of the business expand.
[4] Diversity in Climate Change Action
Leaders who aren’t white men don’t get the same media attention, so TriplePundit is sharing the stories of black heroes who have made an impact on the environment and community.
They’ve highlighted five leaders including those such as Savonala “Savi” Horne, a leader in the food justice movement offering technical support for farmers to make their enterprises economically viable and environmentally sustainable, and Dr Robert Bullard, who became known as the father of environmental justice.
Dr Bullard’s own work started when he realized that every city-own landfill in Houston was in black neighborhoods… and then started connecting the dots between housing, land use, highways, transportation and the economic-development decisions being made. It led to a career that ended in some impressive legislation in the Clinton era.
[5] Unravelling Mental Illness on the Streets
Dr Drew Pinsky is on the streets in California, studying and understanding mental illness in the populations of homelessness. “The vast majority have serious mental illness and drug addiction, which means they are not going to magically walk into housing and have their problems disappear.” Here’s a fascinating article that looks at his work understanding the situation, and what legislation has unintentionally made things worse.