Why Advance Social Innovation?

Why Advance Social Innovation?

Posted on 01. Apr, 2009 in Public Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation

While visiting D.C., I had dinner last Thursday evening with Brooke Smith, who heads up the Office of Social Entrepreneurship in Louisiana, David Marin and Paul Braithwaite from the government relations firm The Podesta Group, and Flozell Daniels, the Executive Director of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation.

During dinner, Flozell stated:

“Over 90% of African Americans in New Orleans do not go on to college.’

At that moment, it occurred to me I have written on this blog about the importance of advancing social innovation − but why is it important? Here are just a few more alarming statistics…

  • The U.S. healthcare systems is ranked 37th in the world, the lowest of any developed nation (despite highest per-capita spending worldwide)
  • One in 100 American adults is in jail
  • 21% of American children live below the poverty line

Statistics like these and many more are commonplace all across America from New York to Illinois to California, yet the statistics are not matched by a sense of urgency or voices of outrage.

I do not think this a Republican or Democratic issue; rather, it is imperative that we search for the messages, strategies, and institutions that place a greater focus on making progress on the critical issues of our society. Such statistics in a country that spends as much as we do on solving social problems through taxes and philanthropy should be unacceptable, like littering or not buckling your seatbelt.

When the hurricanes hit New Orleans, they showed us this part of America up close, but the shock quickly retreated with the flood waters.  Across America we are not facing this simple fact: we have drastic, systemic problems. Because of this, for many Americans, the American dream no longer holds true. This is why advancing social innovation – investing in what works – is so critical.

As this journey continues I will do my best to keep the “why” front and center.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysouthborough/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

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One Response to “Why Advance Social Innovation?”

  1. Dan Bassill

    11. Apr, 2009

    We have plenty of articles showing the problems. We don't have enough day-to-day leadership drawing people and resources to places where they can be the solution.

    Furthermore, there are not enough blueprints showing how the actions of many people in the same place for many years are needed to help kids born in poverty stay in school, move to college or vocational education, and to jobs.

    Here's my blueprint: http://tinyurl.com/d4czwa

    Here's a map and database that volunteers, donors, business partners and political leaders can use to distribute resources and support the growth of non-school learning and mentoring supports for inner city kids. http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net

    I'm a small non profit in Chicago. If I can take the time to visualize a strategy that connects people can help with places in Chicago where help is needed for many years, I suspect that others can do the same for New Orleans, New York and other cities. It would be great if there were foundations providing the operating and innovating dollars to fund this type of work.

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