Good Works and Almsdeeds

  Measurable & Proven Characterized by various articles and videos that I viewed in this course on social innovation, social change is the result of the intentional work of people trying to make positive change happen by addressing complex problems at the roots. Social change is a process, product, or program that profoundly changes how a given system operates. In order to design and implement a social solution an individual or business must consider the problems through two constraints: One, that the solution must address a legitimate social issue and two, that the solution is determined by root cause analysis more effectively. Measuring impact on social change is for the benefit of the people in whom the program was intended to claim to help verses to entice donors and investors. Verifying that a solution actually works and does not create more problems is one of the most difficult social innovation roadblocks. Social innovation impact must be measurable and proven....

This week's study was impactful as it tied scripture with social innovation. The reading was powerful testimonies of apostles and prophets from verses of scripture across the standard works into these latter-days. From the Church Handbook of Instructions, we learn: “The Savior has commanded the Church and its members to be self-reliant and independent. “To become self-reliant, a person must work. Work is physical, mental, or spiritual effort. It is a basic source of happiness, self-worth, and prosperity. Through work, people accomplish many good things in their lives... “As people become self-reliant, they are better prepared to endure adversities” and are “better able to care for others in need.  Elder Ballard, in his March 2009 message " Becoming Self-Reliant—Spiritually and Physically",  laid out five needs for one to achieve self-reliance  First, every person must know that he or she is a child of God and is loved by Him. People need to realize that regardless of the...

Social business is sustainable, scalable, and replicable which makes it ideal for the output of social innovation which spurs tangible hope for  the most desired society, one that is free from inequality, injustice, negative externalities, or unintended impacts (Taylor, bus374 Spring'21). Taylor went on to say that "this only works if we accept two things … First, humans … possess a desire and capacity for selfless actions. Second, humankind is naturally proactive, not reactive. Luckily, the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ confirms both".   S elf-reliance --  " helps people move from poverty to prosperity  …   self-reliant people possess a set of  A ss ets  t hat come from performing specific  B ehaviors  which in turn results from a set of  C ognitions.  Cognitions are thoughts beliefs and attitudes … r esponsibility touches our deepest sense of right and wrong …  provides the fuel ...

  Impact investing = long-term sustainable solutions + goal of better society.  Impact investing is a way to turn a profit and invest resources  in areas that would have the most measurable benefit to a social or environmental cause. Mayor states  in the article  Impact Investing is Hot Right Now. Here's Why ( 2019, Sept.) three   attributes in companies that it’s considering adding to its Global Impact portfolio:  Materiality (meaning a prospective firm’s core products or services — rather than its operations — must solve a problem that falls under one of three global impact themes: life essentials; human empowerment; and environment).  Additionality (meaning the company provides a product or service that a competitor or government entity isn’t providing, thereby advancing rather than simply maintaining social or environmental goals).  Measurability (which provides a way for investors to ensure the company continues to meet or exceed th...

Hybrids  -- have 2 legal entities --o ne for-profit and the other non-profit. Keys to both are  social missions and the clear integration of practices or infrastructure from both sectors. They  can be extremely successful, but they also have trade-offs, for instance, the profit driving activities and the social activities conflict so one overcomes the other.  Pure hybrids --are still few in number.   What makes hybrids so successful it that it  produces both social value and commercial revenue through a single, unified strategy --r ather than take a nonprofit m odel and add a commercial revenue stream—or take a for-profit model and add a charity or service program. Early on social innovation was through organizations that primarily pursue a social mission but rely significantly on commercial revenue to sustain operations --and hybrids existed in certain sectors, such as job training, health care, and microcredit. In recent years new sectors have taken shape...

  The nonprofit industry is changed by incorporating the ideas and practices of social innovation. Nonprofits, though still needing a lot of help, are once again a strong force.  This week, we covered nonprofits and their respective solutions. I had to take a look at nonprofits and  consider what I expect them to look like with ideas on how to transform an organization into a socially innovative powerhouse.  I gained clearer understanding of non-profits. bot (sigh). I am still confused about NGO's.   In a TED message this week given by 'Pallotta' (reference below), he said that  we've been taught to think about giving and about charity and about the nonprofit sector, are actually undermining the causes we love, and our profound yearning to change the world. Many of today's social problems are massive in scale and our organizations are tiny up against them. Our current belief system is what is keeping them tiny.  why do we think...

The youth speaker in church on Sunday, was my gal, whom I fondly refer to as 'Sweet T'. The topic she was to center her remarks around was How do I hear Heavenly Father and draw others to Christ?   I jotted down things she said that stood out to me.  For her, drawing someone to Christ hasn't ever been having a friend agree to take missionary discussions and be baptized. After further thought, realized that drawing others to Christ takes other forms: a smile, words of hope, being a friend … 'Love Centered Actions'.  Music. The 2nd verse of hymn #270, a favorite of hers, says, " perhaps today there are loving words which Jesus would have me speak; there may be now n the paths of sin some wonderer I should seek. O, Savior, if thou wilt be m guide, tho dark and rugged the way, My voice shall echo the message sweet: I'll say what you want me to say" .   If you are trying to hear Him then you'll have love centered actions. The lord asks of us a broken...

Corporate Social Responsibility  (CSR) ,  Certified B Corporations  (B Corp) , Real Solutions for Real People, and what makes a successful social impact company  are the main ideas and topics from this week's lesson material.  DEFINED: Corporate Social Responsibility is:  an outlet of social innovation  an exciting and upcoming industry and holds many possibilities for social innovators   a type of business self-regulation with the aim of being socially accountable ;  how companies measure and control their impact on society. This includes a company's contributions – both negative and positive – to the economy, environment and greater community .    striving to positively contribute to the public, the economy &/or the environment . A company/business who is CSR benefits in two ways:  by improving its brand image.  When customers or clients see evidence of social responsibility, they tend to respond posit...

This week's study focus was on New Business Model and Lean Start-Up.  Two of the main ideas that I took away from this weeks topics were, one, design thinking and the lean start up method for developing businesses and/or products go hand in hand. Two, that you've got to have a consistent plan model to help you track progress and set goals.  The New Business Model has proven valuable in doing just that. A visual chart documents existing business ideas and programs and efforts while aiding new ideas and expansion. This weeks activity of filling in a business model engaged my mind in two ways. First, being a visual learner, I was better able to take in the needful parts of the company, Obesity Action Coalition , I was learning from, and Second, I was better able to see the  Obesity Action Coalition   company's creativity, innovation, and impact.  Sharpening my business skills is helpful in aiding me in helping others just as ...

This past week I received a phone call that knocked the wind right out of me. For me the news was of the saddest kind. The news was that they were turning away from living gospel truths.  Since that call I have cried, prayed, and read --scriptures, general conference talks, & various church articles. Here are two things that were helpful --gratitude & hope.  " Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.  We can be grateful ! …M ost of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude  for  things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude …  grateful to God  in  our circumstances  … in times of distress does  not  mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It  do...

  " Remember who you are! Make great choices! CTR! I love you " .. are the words that I would hear Tori Sue Jacobson shout to her teen kids as she dropped them off at high school.  The main idea this week  is that making good choices  is based on understanding priorities, trade-offs, and e mploying design thinking.  T he basics of business finance and sustainable funding  is valuable in order to pursue best matched capital sources.   To create social change one must think differently-- not just to find solutions, but to fund solutions.  A sustainable social venture model is how the social venture solves the social problem and does it in a sustainable way.  This week's reading teaches that the most common roadblock in social innovation is funding, specifically, nonprofits struggle to create sustainable income and often become dependent on grants and donations. If the money stops, impact stops. Therefore, sustainability is an important com...

The main idea and topic of this past week focused on “ Solution & Impact Evaluation”     Social innovation impact must be measurable and proven.   It’s not to measure impact in order to entice donors and investors, instead, evaluation of solutions and impacts  is for the benefit of the people in whom the program was intended to claim to help .  One of the most difficult social innovation roadblocks in verifying that a solution actually works and doesn’t create more problems.   Reflecting on the article “Hurling and Community Service” and how to go about setting goals . I  was taken back by the negative outlook & attitude of the article “Starfish Hurling and Community Service”. I had heard the story before, but in the context of individuals worth in a religious setting— and simply took away from it that each person matters versus looking at it from the perspective of an approach to solving “world problems”.  Despite the negative tone, ...

Today is Hannah's birthday. My heart is full and my emotions run close to the surface.  She's truly a gift.  I am fumbling to say more --to capture my many thoughts --retell one of the many stories of her life that I hold in my heart --to put these emotions into words... I type then erase... I type then erase...  nothing satisficing/good enough  … I can though tie all of it to one word, Love. She has given  love to her daddy, sisters and I. She has a gift for words-- she absorbs them to this day. She is gifted with a beautiful singing and engaging speaking voice. She has always been quick to vocally stand for justice and for her Faith.  HUG happiest birthday my luv.  ==== For the past four weeks or so I have been mentally-emotionally fighting an intense internal battle over the idea of remaining in school...    I do not feel like others do. Instead of feeling like I am getting closer to my goals, I feel further from those th...