Our country has already weathered many storms this year, and the winter snow is still blanketing the Northeast. As the groundhog might report, we’ve watched long shadows darken the landscape. From natural disasters like the California wildfires, to human calamities like plane crashes, to a political and cultural climate of raw emotions and defensive blame, it is clear that we have our share of problems to tackle – and we cannot do it alone.
In the spirit of reflection and resolve, I would like to commit myself and the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship (ISE) to a pair of major goals this year. Both of these goals advance our work to build long-term change with and for communities faced with social, economic, and sustainability challenges. More importantly, both aspirations rely on the local partnerships and diverse coalitions that lie at the heart of social entrepreneurship.
Goal 1: Significantly heighten awareness of the ISE’s Value Creation Process as a best practice among potential key funders and foundations. The Value Creation Process calibrates the balance between social change and profitability. Put another way, it is both ideals of capitalist and altruistic views of solving problems. Successful social entrepreneurs identify opportunities to launch a business or venture that produces goods and services, yields a profit, and simultaneously addresses a social need. They are applying their drive and talent to yield “profit-plus,” with benefits that extend beyond personal gain. But instead of simply diving into a venture and hoping for the best, the value creation process places an emphasis on project impact, efficiency and sustainability. By leading organizations through a unique training and consulting process, we utilize a framework that fosters ventures into being and commits to seeing them sustain and grow.
Goal 2: Position ISE’s Trilateral Partnership Model, engaging foundations, venturists and nonprofits to strengthen channels of assistance between each other and the communities they serve. Trilateral partnerships anchor the necessary touchpoints to create long-term positive impact, ensure successful business outcomes, and secure venture funding when necessary. Most importantly, trilateral partners bring critical knowledge of and investment in their own communities. Entrenched and systemic problems cannot be solved without addressing their roots, interrelated dynamics, and chain reaction of effects. Through trilateral partnerships, key stakeholders have the chance to maximize resources, scale actions for sustainability, commit to smart commercial development, and create profitable ventures that not only generate resources, but also sustain and grow local economies.
Despite the cultural climate of polarization, distrust and fear, we must withstand the instinct to turn inward, fixating only on ourselves or our inner circles. Instead, we need to reach out and check in on one another. After the L.A. fires, there was a groundswell of outreach, support and resourcefulness– not only outside but also within the areas of devastation. May the warmth and hope that have risen from the ashes inspire us to dispel this winter’s shadows with much needed light. I hope you will visit the ISE website to maximize your role in changing our world.