Working at a Nonprofit Does Not Equal Social Change

In an attempt to plug myself into some thought provoking dialogue, I went back to an old stand-by - the Stanford Social Innovation Review Opinion Blog. I read this post by Rosetta Thurman and I must say, “Hallelujah!” Thank goodness somebody else gets it (I was beginning to feel alone…) I am sharing Ms. Thurman’s poignant discussion on what does and does not constitute changemaking.

I firmly believe that meaningful change and social good can be generated in a variety of arenas. It isn’t the sector that dictates that. I have had my share of experiences working in the purely non-profit sector and in some cases it is arguable that these organizations are even benefiting their own employees much less the communities they are designed to support. And that’s no good. (Let’s also be clear on this: ultimate change isn’t derived from an operating model that keeps our non-profit organizations entangled in a web of dependency. But that’s a much longer discussion. For another time.)   

I like what Trabian has to say (referenced below in Thurman’s post). But I would like to take it a step further. Just as we should not confuse every nonprofit worker as necessarily a changemaker, we should not dismiss those of us working in a sector that straddles the lines of for-profit and non-profit, as mere mainstreamers here to maintain the status quo. Changemakers come in all shapes and sizes and with all sorts of perspectives and METHODS.

Working at a Nonprofit Does Not Equal Social Change (November 20, 2009)

Last week, Collen Dilen wrote a great blog post called, Does Writing a Check to a Nonprofit Equal Social Change? as a response to my November 11 radio show where I said that no, it did not.

It made me think of Penelope Trunk’s recent post pointing out that you don’t have to work in a nonprofit to do good. She also said that some nonprofits do more good than others. I took that to mean that some organizations produce more social change than others. The measures are arguable and I don’t think we’ll ever agree on them. But I do think that if you work in a nonprofit, you can tell pretty quickly whether your mission is being fulfilled and your community is being helped. Note that I did not say “served.” I said “helped.” Coordinating volunteers to serve food at a homeless shelter is much different to me than mobilizing volunteers to rally for legislation that would help get the homeless off the streets and into homes. That difference lies somewhere along the lines of what Archbishop Hélder Câmara famously said:

When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist.”
I think you must do both in order to effect social change. But we can argue about that, too.

You can also tell when a nonprofit was formed out of a founder’s hubris, and the mission is pure bullshit. I’ve met so many of these types who wanted to start a business, but thought it was easier to file as a tax-exempt organization under the guise of helping people. But the only people who get helped are themselves. Cash rules everything around them.

So yes, I agree with Penelope on that point. Just because you go to work at a place that the IRS has deemed tax-exempt doesn’t mean you’re effecting social change. Not just by collecting a paycheck, you aren’t. Not just by doing what you’re told to do and keeping your head down, you aren’t. Even if you call yourself a social entrepreneur, it doesn’t automatically mean you are effecting social change. There’s a lot more to it than that, and I think it depends on how you define the change you’re trying to bring about. If it’s to reduce poverty in your community, for instance, are you doing that in your current role? You could be the development director for a nonprofit whose mission is just that, but does the money you raise enable that mission to occur? Does the bulk of it go to serving that community in a way that truly improves it?

Trabian Shorters,Vice President for Communities Program at the Knight Foundation wrote a brilliant guest post on the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Program on Social Entrepreneurship blog last year.  His view was that the term “social entrepreneur” means nothing.

I know that the many people who want to make social entrepreneurship a “field” say that we should have many levels of tolerance – from charismatic prodigy to nonprofit paper shuffler. Fine by me but let’s not confuse wage-making with changemaking.

Social change is NOT a field. It is a calling – a profession in the original meaning of the word. You may be called by your faith, your conscience, your ancestors, or your circumstances but the optimistic belief and integrity of a zealous changemaker (by whatever label) is vital to human progress. That makes it sacred.

We call our profession the nonprofit sector, with even more specific professions within that called fundraising, program management, volunteer coordination, etc. And I often see myself as supporting those that “do the work of social change.” But I agree wholeheartedly with Trabian that there is a distinction and we should not confuse every nonprofit employee with being a social changemaker. He puts it much better than I could:

The desire to simultaneously “make a difference” and “earn a living” is admirable and good – but you do have to prioritize one over the other. There is no “program” for social change nor a meaningful life. You must already have that desire kindled inside of you. It is the root of courage. For some, the desire to make a difference smolders and for others it burns. The rest are faking. Like any true love, it is impossible to embrace “social change” from a safe distance.

Think about that. No, really. If your aim is to come to the nonprofit sector to make a difference, have you chosen the right opportunities to allow you to do that? Was your aim to get a nonprofit job with a great salary or did your passion for the cause drive you to where you are now? Are you working in the nonprofit sector or are you effecting social change? Be honest with yourself. You can do both, but it’s not a given.

November is…in the stars

So here it is. November has arrived. We declare it the best month of the year. This month iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is getting up-close and personal and sharing a bit of the life behind the business.

Everyday is a great day to build a better world. But some days it is equally great to just be a human being and not a crusader. Being human let’s me, as the Founder of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE,  reconnect with the source of passion that got me started in the first place. So this is my blackboard for November. 

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “When I have a terrible need of – shall I say – religion. Then I go out and paint the stars.”

His painting of Starry Night Over the Rhone captured the river banks of the Rhone in Arles (France). The day and night skies of Provence hold sentimental value for me. The area was the destination of a self-guided bike tour in summer 2007. There is no better way to travel!

November has a bit of a reputation as a drama queen. It adds a chill to the wind, strips the trees bare, plays peek-a-boo with the sun. It definitely makes you work for its love. November demands that we show strength and it puts our limits to the test. November calls for longer nights, warm knitted wraps, and a big stash of Vitamin C.

Ursa Major was all the rage back in the day (second century, apparently)…and ever since. Shakespeare wrote about it. Van Gogh painted it. But Zeus created it. Or so the story goes. Ursa Major a.k.a. The Great Bear a.k.a. Callisto was a follower of Artemis (you will remember her as the huntress and protector of children) in Greek times. Callisto unadvisedly and later regretably was seduced by Zeus and either (stories differ here) Hera (Zeus’ wife) or Artemis (having demanded a vow of chastity from her followers) exacted her revenge by transforming Callisto into a bear.  It wasn’t until Arcas, Zeus and Callisto’s love-child, attempted to hunt his mother down (unbeknownst to him since she was a bear) when Zeus averted the tragedy by tossing them both up into the sky. And lucky that he did.

I believe that some things are written in the stars. Not everything. But some things. Nearly eight years ago this upcoming January, I met an adorable guy in the basement of the Students’ Administrative Council building at the University of Toronto. We became fast friends, spent years enamoured with one another and now on January 01, 2010 will be getting married.  It may have taken eight years but it’s possible that somethings are just meant to be. We wanted to make every element of our wedding meaningful so this November we will be hand forging our own wedding bands with the help of The Devil’s Workshop.

Pomegranates are beautiful fruits and a special treat to be found in November. I love how they look like they are topped with a crown and that the goodness is in their seeds.  They are relatively new and trendy here in North America but have long been a part of cuisine in other parts of the world. And I don’t just mean juice. They are used in sauces, pastries, dips, relishes, glazes, wine and more.

Toward the end of November is a special little event known as my birthday. I have always loved celebrating birthdays – anyone’s, not just mine. I like that it forces you to reflect on and re-write your life. This year, I am piecing together a time capsule. My 28th year will mark a new chapter in my life and a decade from now, I want to re-discover those people, places and things that meant something to me today. Any good birthday includes cake and this year I have requested a special vegan cake from LPK’s Culinary Groove. Yum!

A happy twinkly November to all!

Real Tools for the Real World

This fall, we are launching Real Tools for the Real World in conjunction with sister-company Options for Success. This is a series of public workshops that we have developed based on needs and challenges identified within the current workplace. We are inspired by the commitment of clients like Telus Canada, Conference Board of Canada, Manitoba Hydro, Meeting Professionals International, Certified General Accountants of Manitoba and many others who had the vision to hire our team to facilitate and provide tools for the REAL WORLD to increase the resilience and success of their organizations.

Due to our success with these topics and increased demand, we have decided to go public! These are our offerings – in a nutshell.

 

Change the World at Work: Benefit from the practical wisdom recently shared as a keynote for Meeting Professionals International National Meetings Industry Day and as part of Certified General Accountants of Manitoba annual conference. Gain a competitive edge and redefine progress by balancing PEOPLE, PLANET and PROFIT.

 

 

Keep Calm and Carry On: Building on the brilliant and hopeful presentation delivered at the Conference Board of Canada’s Alberta Conference on Workplace Wellness, we offer you Keep Calm and Carry On – stress management for the new world of work.

 

Deep Democracy: Based on the White & Yellow Belt training offered in May 2008, we give you a hands-on workshop that allows you to practice Deep Democracy – a revolutionary method of conflict resolution and decision-making.

Two notes on our rationale for packaging this trio of hands-on workshops:

In combination this series allows an individual or organization to take advantage of the bundle and benefit from participating, learning and taking back to share with the rest of the team.

Space is limited as we believe participants will achieve a better outcome in smaller groups. We like to utilize an interactive and participatory approach to learning and facilitate opportunities for participants to use the tools offered RIGHT AWAY.

We are excited that these upcoming learning opportunities are resonating with so many and look forward to growing with our participants.

For more information, visit: www.options4success.com/realtools.htm

Power Shift

(Photo via Flickr)

On October 23-26, 2009, over 1000 young people from across the country will converge on Ottawa to take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Parliament Hill. Power Shift will be two days of training, strategy and action and one mass lobby day to hold our elected officials accountable to for their part to solve the climate crisis, and to build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. This will be the largest-ever gathering of young people on the environment in the history of this country.

At Power Shift Canada, Team Manitoba will deliver our message of change to our elected officials. Youth of all backgrounds will come together to create a fresh, positive, and inspiring vision of the future, one focused on our potential to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, build a clean energy economy, create millions of green jobs, increase global equity, and revitalize our economy. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for boldness. We will accept nothing less from the people with whom we have entrusted our future: our elected officials, and most importantly, ourselves. 2009 will be a year history will remember.

For more information and to find out how to register, please visit http://powershiftcanada.org.

To get involved with Team Manitoba at Power Shift, and to stay connected with other youths interested in the environment, please create a profile at http://www.mbecoyouth.org

If you would like to donate to the Team Manitoba of Power Shift, you may submit your donations here: http://mbeconetwork.org/getinvolved.php#Donate . For any donation over $10 a charitable receipt for income tax purposes will be issued.

October is…the new black

October has arrived and it is setting a whole new trend.

• Real Tools for the Real World is shaping up to be fantastic fun. iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is pleased to be working under the Options for Success banner to deliver a pubic workshop series. The whole impetus for this workshops series was a desire on our part to stop messing around with valuable but theoretical formats that ONLY discuss how to catalyze change in our homes, relationships, workplaces, and lives but don’t fill the gap in actually equipping people to do it. This workshop series is designed for the active learner who wants tools that they can use in the practical world not just the theoretical world.
• Triple Tea Tree Shampoo from Giovanni Organic Hair Care. This stuff is like a fiesta for your scalp. Tingly. Cool. Refreshing. It causes no harm to your health or the environment. Plus it helps to get rid of dirt, product build-up and chlorine.
• Nuit Blanche - the all night art party. It’s coming up tomorrow night in Toronto and is a great opportunity to see the brilliance of independent visual and performing artists.  It’s also a great way to explore the city – on foot.
• Classified’s Oh Canada. Heard it the other day on the radio and thought it was just great. Listen.
• OGGI’s French Press is a beaut. French presses produce the best coffee and without a heck of a lot of energy. So french press = happy planet.
• Miso soup and all its goodness. Did you know that soy is a critical ingredient in the diet of some of the longest living people on earth? The Okinawans eat miso soup for breakfast and other fermented soy products like tofu and tamari for other meals. You know that cool weather is soup weather. So eat up!

Starting a legacy

 

As you know, back in July iNSPiRED PRACTiCE announced a special endeavour called Project Tanzania 2009. Project Tanzania 2009  was born from our desire to build community and healthy futures for children. The timing of this project coincided with preparations for the upcoming nuptials of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE’s founder, Kristle, and her husband-to-be, Mike. 

Bucking tradition, Kristle and Mike turned their wedding shower into an alternative event with a greater purpose.  Together Mike and Kristle wanted to transform the celebration of their wedding into a powerful and lasting legacy. iNSPiRED PRACTiCE and sister-company Options for Success invited friends, family, colleagues and clients to share in this meaningful action to help hundreds of children become healthy and strong adults. With the participation of so many wonderful globally-minded citizens, we have done just that!

iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is proud to announce that we have exceeded our goal and raised a total of $2,225 - ALL of which will be donated to World Vision’s Survive Five program.

When Mike and Kristle travelled to Tanzania in August 2009, their purpose was rooted in connecting with their sponsored child, Miriamu, learning about her community, and providing much-needed educational supplies to her primary school. A big part of Kristle and Mike’s own education in Tanzania was that they wanted to learn first-hand about the needs of children in Tanzania.

They learned that there is no greater need or better gift than health.

To all who donated to the project, we want you to know that your generous contributions will support a widespread implementation of the Survive Five Program in Tanzania to strengthen health and build a future for all children. For the amount of money that we raised, more than 500 children under the age of 5 will now have the chance to grow into healthy and happy people.

The next phase of this project will include an email campaign to colleagues and professionals within our circles to encourage them to contribute to the great work Survive Five will accomplish in Tanzania.

All donations from here on out will be made directly through the World Vision site. Go to the site to make a donation right away or you can contact Ana Alves at 1-800-387-7722 ext. 3779 . She will walk you through the rest. Don’t forget to reference iNSPiRED PRACTiCE when you talk with her!

To all who have contributed, we are honoured by your generosity, conviction and hope. Thank you.

September is…JOYful

  

 

Start everyday a little happier. That’s a little bit of instant karma to rise with the sun. The name of the game this month is JOY. What makes us JOYful? The short answer: lots of things. But this month, we chose just a few of the best things.

JOY is music. We like to live according to our own soundtracks (whose to say only characters in movies get to have their own soundtracks?) Our ipods are brimming with independent artists and tunes for all occasions. Right now, we are loving Heather Bishop’s soulful vocal stylings. Take a listen. But in order to really appreciate Heather’s talent, you have to get the CD because along with it is her artwork.

JOY is earthy. West Elm has come out with a new patch of earth to walk all over – their raindrop rug. We think it looks like September plus it makes us SMILE.

JOY is girlhood. With full hearts and big smiles, KRISTLE returned to Canada from a visit with her sponsored child, Miriamu, in Tanzania. Kristle learned so much and can’t wait to share it.

JOY is zen. And zen is clean. This little book is a great find. Lately, there has been so much discussion about dishing greenwashing and all the pricey eco-cleaning products out there in favour of good oldfashioned vinegar, baking soda, lemon and borax. It is so simple and just perfect.

JOY is biting into life. September marks the start of apple season. We have an overflowing apple tree in the backyard- an embarassment of riches – that will feed us well into the winter months. It is the perfect way to bite into life. Try out this Fast French Apple Tart recipe for added JOY.

JOY is java. We love our coffee. Having just travelled to Turkey, Egypt and Tanzania – all of which either grow or brew AMAZING coffee, we just can’t get enough. We were fortunate to bring organic and responsibly-grown Tanzanian coffee back to Canada. Ours was purchased from a coffee plantation that shares its home with Foundation Sibusiso. This organization supports mentally challenged kids in living independently and successfully.

August is…exploring

Habari! Welcome August! We have lined up a truly exciting month full of ADVENTURE, iNSPiRATiON and COMMUNITY.

explore THE WILD – With the help of a local tour outfitter – Across Tanzania Expeditions - we will be trekking through the breathtaking Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater on a real African safari. The Ngorongoro Crater hosts an estimated 30,000 animals on its floor, including large herds of cape buffalo, wildebeest, eland, hartebeest, elephant, hippo, lions, and the endangered black rhino. The Crater is thought by many to be the 8th natural wonder of the world. Twelve miles wide, 2000 feet deep, and covering an area of 102 square miles, it is the largest intact volcanic crater on earth and home to a spectacular concentration of wildlife.

explore GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP – Of all the reasons to travel to Tanzania, the most important one for us is our sponsored child Miriamu. She currently lives in Singida Region – one of the poorest in the country. As part of this trip, we will get to visit her and meet her family. We will get a glimpse into the life she leads and that of her family. As a special treat, we will also have the opportunity to visit her school and provide educational resources for the more than 100 children who attend school in the Kinampanda Area Development Project. Our connection with Miriamu is through World Vision. 

World Vision will approach a community which is poor and needs help, and empower the people to solve their own problems with World Vision’s support. They prioritize their needs in well building, water pumping, soil cultivation and agricultural techniques – all critical to the self-reliance of a community. The ADP programme will last for 12 to 15 years and immediately addresses problems of food, health, and housing, with the long term goals of economic stability, environmental improvement and education for the whole community.

explore NEW HEIGHTS -  We will be taking on the monkey forests, grassy slopes and the ice cliffs in an attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – the rooftop of Africa. At 5, 896 meters, it is Africa’s tallest peak and one of the most magnificent sights to behold. The snows of Kilimanjaro are indeed famous. And for good reason. Unfortunately, the snowy, ice-capped summit has been melting for years and may be totally bare by 2020.  This is a “last chance” adventure.

explore HISTORY – In mere days, we will be in Egypt on a beautiful adventure to a place steeped in history and ancient wonder. Additionally, we will get to re-connect with a fellow Pioneer of Change who is the Main Brain & Co-Founder of The Hub Cairo.

explore NATURE – iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is honoured to be a sponsor of the inaugural Run with Porter on August 15. The 5 km eco-friendly run/walk will take place in beautiful Birds Hill Park, Manitoba. Proceeds from the event will support the Sunshine Fund of Manitoba sending underprivileged children to summer camp. The run has been organized to honour the love of Porter Francis, a little boy whose brief life changed others’ forever.

Project Tanzania 2009

 (Photo via Flickr)

In August, Kristle will be embarking on a very exciting journey to Tanzania. She is working with World Vision’s Survive Five Program to bring about a happy and healthy future for Tanzanian children.

Do you remember your fifth birthday? Did you have a big cake with fluffy white frosting and five candles? Did you have hugs and kisses from family members? Laughs and smiles with your friends and family? Were you healthy and happy?

The idea of helping kids survive their 5^th birthday may seem extraordinary for those of us who live in a country with universal health care, emergency food services, running water, low infant mortality and generally, good quality of life. There are children here who have to fight for their lives at a very early age due to congenital defects, disease and developmental challenges. Many of those kids beat the odds, thankfully and grow to be perfect versions of themselves – happy and fulfilled.

Unfortunately, in Tanzania, making it past your fifth birthday is by no means a given. The infant mortality rate in the country is 70.46 deaths per 1,000 live births. To put it in perspective for you, Canada’s infant mortality rate is 5.08 deaths per live births. Poverty, malnutrition, disease, and drought make each year a life-or-death struggle for millions.

 In 2008, World Vision  started  Survive Five with the aim of reducing child deaths from malnutrition, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and other major childhood diseases. Survive Five provides bed nets, vitamin A capsules, vaccines, antibiotics and other items to help children survive past the age of five.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (which was ratified on November 20, 1989) identifies access to health care as a basic human right to which all children are entitled. While there are many worthy issues to address in developing countries, health is perhaps the most deserving. Without health, you cannot overcome poverty, conflict or despair.

Through the administrative support of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE, Kristle and her husband-to-be, Michael, will travel to Africa this August 2009 to meet their sponsored child, Miriamu, who lives in Singida, Tanzania. Their visit will include learning about the communities that live in the poorest region of the country and providing educational gifts and school supplies for the 100 or so children who attend school with Miriamu.

On August 31, 2009, we will include a link that allows site visitors to read more about Survive Five and make a secure and safe donation on-line.

The average woman

 

(Photo via Google)

Women’s Health Magazine has this great staple in their publication called “The Average Woman”.  Last year, they dedicated their April 2008 issue to all things “environmental”. We have a huge stack of  newspaper and magazine clippings collected from over the years and thought this deserved to be reproduced it in its entirety. (Note: This is an American publication so these are American statistics.)

NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO RESOLVED TO BE GREENER THIS YEAR: 3 in 4

The Average Woman’s (AW) thoughts on the eco movement: “I’m happy that saving the planet is finally in vogue”.

Percentage of women who think pollution and global warming are bigger threats than terrorism: 70

Percentage of men who agree: 56

Top three ways in which the AW does her part for the environment:

1. Recycles daily
2. Carries a reusable water bottle
3. Uses compact fluroescent (CFL) light bulbs

Amount that would be saved in annual energy costs if every American used just one CFL bulb at home: $600 million

Year incandescent bulbs will start disappearing from store shelves – by law: 2012

The AW’s top eco-celeb: AL GORE

Percentage of women who’ve read or watched An Inconvenient Truth: 24

Of those, percentage of women who’ve become more eco-active as a result: 64

Percentage of women who say they were eco-activists long before Leonardo DiCaprio was: 17

Eco-term the AW isn’t confident she could define: CARBON OFFSETS (They’re steps taken to counteract the amount of carbon dioxide contributed to the atmosphere.)

Percentage of women who have eco-guilt (i.e. feel bad about harming the planet): 70

ENVIRO-SIN THE AW WOULD MISS MOST: Colouring her hair

Runners-up: LONG SHOWERS and BUBBLE BATHS

Percentage of earth’s water the AW thinks is safe for humans to drink: 5 or more

Actual percentage: less than 1

The AW’s preferred method of water conservation: Showering with her honey

Percentage of women who dry their sheets on a clothesline: 25

Of those, percentage who also hang their undies in the backyard: 87

Perk of using a clothesline: It saves $85 and 1,079 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year

Why the AW makes planet-friendly decisions: “a better future” (Cue, “We Are the World,” please)

ECO FUN (as prescribed by Women’s Health Magazine and us!)