Andrew Wolk

The World at an Inflection Point

Posted on 30. Jan, 2009 in Social Innovation

Recently, I watched the “John Adams” miniseries based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by David McCullough (well worth watching). What struck me is how innovative, resilient, and visionary people were back then when America was at an inflection point in history. I was particularly struck by the quest to create “a more perfect Union.”

In President Obama’s inaugural address he said: “The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.”

As we enter 2009, I believe we are at another inflection point in America and across the world and our ability to advance social innovation more skillfully will be critical to a better future for all people.

Some might ask, “What is social innovation?” A simple way to think about it is: a new idea, method, or device to solve society’s challenging problems. This is not about one amazing individual or organization. Instead, it is about innovative models from any of the three sectors (public, nonprofit, and private) that have the potential to provide all of us with greater insight into how to more efficiently, effectively, and sustainably… educate our children, feed the hungry, generate more efficient energy, train our workforce, create more jobs, and tackle the many other critical issues that are essential for us to address if we are to advance our society.

Examples already exist for turning social innovation into successful organizational models that spread, such as Teach for America founded by Wendy Kopp, who received a 2008 Presidential Citizens Medal; Benetech, for which Jim Fruchterman received a “genius” award from the MacArthur Foundation; and Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Many times in the past, our nation and others have faced challenging economic times, major changes in political leadership, and the toll of wars taking place around the world. Yet, the confluence of all of these happening at the same time, while we are now a much more “connected” society, provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to better utilize all of our resources – financial and human – in the best way possible to significantly advance our society in ways unimaginable before.

Much as we have solidified strong models for government to create stable societies and for business to generate wealth, it is within our grasp to do the same to advance social innovation. Somewhere right now, in different parts of the world, we know what works to more effectively solve many of society’s critical issues. But what we lack is the infrastructure, systems, policies, institutions, and measures to advance those solutions in ways that can benefit many. It will take all three sectors of society – public, nonprofit, and private – working together to better invest taxes and philanthropic dollars, as well as to better utilize markets in more creative and strategic ways.

This blog will explore this journey. If you know of anyone or anything that you believe is contributing to the journey, please contribute your comments or . I hope you will join me.

Tags: barack obama, benetech, grameen bank, inauguration, inflection point, macarthur foundation, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, teach for america, what works