Results tagged “social enterprise” from Uncivil Society
Brilliant, and as always with GSH, so rich. His general point is one the today's do-gooders would do well to note--a social movement with no sense of fun is at base inhuman and as such fundamentally skewed in ways that make it far less than what it could be."He especially likes shows and movies and cartoons from his childhood, such as 'Top Cat' and 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' and 'Underdog.' 'Your life has to consist of more the 'Black people should unite,' he said. 'You hope they do, but not twenty-four hours a day. If you aren't having no fun, die, because you're running a worthless program, far as I'm concerned.'"
Tonight at 10 p.m. PBS is premiering The New Recruits, an insightful documentary that provides an inside look at the experience of Acumen Fund fellows as they try to change the world through social business. Rainn Wilson from The Office is the narrator, and you can find local listings (and DVD info) at the PBS website.
Since I was a consultant on the production I'm not in a position to provide a disinterested review, but I will say that one of things that makes the film so refreshing is that it isn't afraid to take a warts-and-all approach. But you don't have to take my word on that--for reviews from the Wall Street Journal and other media outlets, check out the filmmakers' website.
To complement your Jesus is a Yankees Fan t-shirt, here's a Yankees devotional copper icon featured in the fun new book version of Regretsy--Where DIY meets WTF.
Regretsy, as the title suggests, heaps a generous dollop of snark on the goofiest items from Etsy. But the site's about a lot more than having a laugh at others' expense--besides bringing to light some of the more offbeat expressions of human creativity, Regretsy has also raised thousands of dollars for charity--"profits from Regretsy merchandise are used to hire Etsy artists to create handmade products for various charities, or to directly benefit Etsy sellers in need."
Sit through one of my social enterprise classes & you'll hear me chat about co-ops, which in the U.S. seem to have been erased from the collective memory of folks who claim that blending social benefit and business is a revolutionary innovation. As I'm wont to say, folks outside the U.S. have made the connection--indeed, for some in Europe the term "social enterprise" is synonymous with co-ops--and this week The Guardian has a nifty article on the historical significance of the co-op/social enterprise link in light of the upcoming British elections:
Regardless of who wins on Thursday, it seems certain that Britain faces a revolutionary change in the way local services are run and delivered. The Conservative party has made mutualisation a central pillar of its election strategy, promising to "unleash a new culture of public-sector enterprise". Its manifesto, entitled An invitation to join the government of Britain, contains proposals for millions of public-sector workers to set up co-operatives and sell their services back to the state. Employee-owned co-operatives would be able to decide on management structures, innovate to cut costs and share out any financial surpluses among staff.
Labour is similarly enthusiastic about co-operatives. Its "mutual manifesto" puts the emphasis on people running many of their own services, from health and social care to council estates and Sure Start centres. The Liberal Democrats would go even further, introducing a new mutuals, co-operatives and social enterprises bill to bring the law up to date and give responsibility for mutuals to a specific minister.
But why the sudden enthusiasm for a mutual model – and will the plans work?
But that isn't to say I have nothing more to say. Au contraire, mes freres and frerettes--I've been thinking quite a bit about le monde d'entrepreneurs qui répondent à des enjeux sociaux et environnementaux. In a few more weeks, after I wrap up some things in the so-called real world, yours truly will be back with a vengeance.
I'm still immersed in some other work, but in the meantime anyone who feels the lack of a critical perspective on social enterprise should read this poignant post from The Social Business, which reflects on the disjunction between the movement's rah-rah boosterism and real-world failures.
The signage from the shop, (which cost a small fortune) hacked down and thrown to the floor by the organic retailer that we'd invited in to take over our lease. (I'm not suggesting they shouldn't have done that - it was just a brutal image for 10am on a Sunday morning). . . .
It's a story I've told in parts before - but we basically couldn't make it pay - and eventually we went into administration. From £250k a year sales of fair trade goods to nothing. It's why I am how I am. I'm a great enthusiast for finding entrepreneurial ways to change society. But I can't stand some of the nonsense that surrounds the social enterprise movement - the hype, the spin, the cosy consensus that appears to exist amongst many with influence in the sector.
It's why my to do-list for the blog this week involves reading the Coalition's new research about the state of the social enterprise sector, and finding out more about the failure of Secure, a social enterprise which was set up to deliver prison health services and which has now gone bust. I don't deliberately seek to find fault, to be cynical, or to point the finger. But if we are to really change society, we need to celebrate successes, but also learn from things when they go wrong, and challenge some of the exuberance.
Microsoft celebrates reaching a sales goal for Windows 7.
This would-be viral video for American Diabetes Month joins the ranks of sex-themed do-gooder PR. Meanwhile, the cutting-edge in the commercial realm has moved on to cute animals, a well-worn trope in charity for decades. All ad life's a circle . . .
Personally, I think that showing your organic skivvies to a co-worker is a sure-fire way to score a sexual harassment lawsuit, but this ad from PACT depicts a sexually charged workplace and organic fashion as going hand in hand.
In the immortal words of Dorothy Parker, Tonstant Weader twowed up.
The United Nations today named the Disney animated character Tinker Bell an “Honorary Ambassador of Green” to help promote environmental awareness among children.
The announcement came just prior to a screening at UN Headquarters in New York of the world premiere of the Walt Disney animated film, “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.”
“We're delighted Tinker Bell has agreed to be our Honorary Ambassador of Green,” said Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. “This beloved animated character can help us inspire kids and their parents to nurture nature and do what they can to take care of the environment.”
In the midst of rubber conservation during WWII, Bendix marketed its bike brakes as a means of conserving the valuable resource & thereby serving the public good.
Via Jezebel, a sign that environmentalism has become too trendy for its own good: a new line of eco-sexy costumes. From the ad copy:
This costume is perfect for the eco friendly consumer. Help spread the eco friendly message! Go Green Girl - includes green pleated mini dress featuring recycling badge, white lace and ribbon embellishments, and GO GREEN! Screen print on the butt removable Recyclers Do It Twice pin and earth bag. Costume is packaged in recyclable paper bag. Please note does not include stockings or shoes. This eco-friendly costume is Available in Adult Sizes X-Small, Small, Medium, and Large.
Made of 100% Organic Cotton.
We are doomed.
An iron fence on W. 21st St. in New York depicts the classic image of a rocket crashing into the Man in the Moon from Melies' 1902 pioneering science fiction film, Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon).
The fence is across from the Clinton School of the Arts, and I happened to snap this photo during lunch break. After I was done shooting about 10 or so photos, I noticed that a crowd of kids had surrounded me and continued talking about the image as I walked away.
Soooo, educator that I am, I went back and asked if any of them knew what it was. None of them did, but they agreed that it was "awesome" and wondered if the thing in his eye might be a bullet. I explained about the Melies film, its history, and what the image was supposed to be, all of which the kids said was even more awesome, so they asked me to repeat the title so they could watch the film on Youtube.
Highlight of my day, that.
While it may seem odd now for someone to be protesting support for a hospital, historically hospitals in the U.S. served a similar intended function as proposed national health care plans: to make health care broadly accessible by reducing costs through aggregation. The countervailing norm was private healthcare, such as personal care in the home or at a doctor's office. For a useful representation of earlier attitudes privileging home over group care, check out week two of this season of Mad Men, in which Betty Draper sees putting her father in a health care facility as a sign of failure.
The tension over social vs. private health care intensified in the late-1940s and early 1950s with Truman's proposal for mandatory national health care. In this regard panel three of the original PSA is particularly interesting in its depiction of government funding as an extension of nongovernmental cooperation. For an equally interesting blast from the past, check out this Kiplinger Changing Times article on the debate over socialized healthcare . . . in 1949.
Also, here's an interesting historic connection between Superman and real-world charity: Jack Liebowitz, DC executive and Jerry Siegel bete noire, used a good chunk of his personal profits from Superman and other comic characters to fund the creation of the Long Island Jewish Hospital.
Click the pics below for larger versions. Thanks Eric!
My latest over on JustMeans. I used to be a Pogo obsessive back in the day--in fact, I look forward to reading the complete strip soon--and writing the last paragraph naturally brought the above classic image to mind.
From a 1927 ad for the Coyne Electrical School.
I've said it before and will say it again: if you're into charity, sustainable design, microenterprise or eco-fashion, WWD is an essential part of a nutritious lifestyle. For various reasons do-gooding is interwoven in fashion's DNA, and the creative arts biz--well, that's the whole magilla, innit?
Here's a sample recent article:
Exhibitors at Ecollection, the green sector of WWDMAGIC that made its debut a year ago, will spotlight innovative and recycled textiles that spice up sustainable fashion with pattern, texture and flair. Among the newest fabrics are prints made with plant dyes on organic wovens and knits, stretch satin woven from bamboo, organic cotton crepe and a knit blend crafted with corn fiber.
“As more people get into green, you need to have something to differentiate yourself,” said Jim Martin, owner of Green 3, which will exhibit quirky women’s totes made of vintage men’s suits and colorful patchwork scarves sewn from recycled T-shirts.
He feels eco-conscious vendors might attract more attention at the show. “Now, people who had not been as interested in green product or made-in-the-U.S. suddenly find that appealing, because it might give them an opportunity to tell a story that will help them hold their prices,” said Martin.
Jonano, which develops organic and sustainable fabrics for streamlined sportswear and dresses, will introduce a stretch knit of corn, bamboo and spandex, plus an artistic printing technique on bamboo and spandex jersey.
“I discovered a watercolor dye technique in Istanbul where the dyes go on almost free-form, and they blend like a watercolor painting. Each piece will look different,” said Bonnie Siefers, owner and designer.
The corn blend in black or a flecked neutral will be featured in Jonano’s first pieces of lingerie — a camisole, boyshorts, pants and kimono for immediate delivery. Wholesale prices start at $12 for organic bamboo T-shirts printed with “Love” or “Dream,” and top out at $79 for a long zip jacket in a nubby slate silk lined with silk charmeuse. The textured, linenlike outer fabric is woven from fibers extracted from silk cocoons without destroying the worms, a more labor-intensive process than the customary practice of boiling the cocoons, she noted.
Ethos Paris will highlight its Botanical Impressions line of organic cotton knits and wovens colored with plant-based dyes, said Leslie Leroux, chief executive officer of the French firm’s North American division. First shipped this year and expanded for spring, Botanical Impressions mixes the fabrics in dresses and tops wholesaling from $20 to $29. “We came up with a lot of interesting prints and colors,” she added. “It was our best line for spring because it is so unusual and we have very good prices, especially for an organic cotton line.”
Organized by Spike Lee & the Borough of Brooklyn, this block party celebrates Jackson's role as an inspirational icon. Personal and civic identity resonate in this contemporary version of the saint's day festival:
Anybody and everybody is invited to attend Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday party on Saturday, August 29, from noon to 5 p.m., at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, New York. DJ Spinna will be spinning all things Jackson, from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons to Michael Jackson. The Brooklyn borough president will be on hand to declare Aug. 29 “Michael Jackson Day.”
“At the end, we’ll all sing Happy Birthday to Michael,” Lee says. “We’re going to make sure he hears us, too. All over the world, people are going to be celebrating his birthday. But he’s going to hear Brooklyn; Brooklyn is going to be in the house. Deep.”
