Recession Reading: Be The Change

by Nathaniel Whittemore · 2009-01-27 11:01:00 UTC
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There's a lot of bad news out there. More than 75,000 jobs were lost yesterday and there's a real cloud and fear that many of us are working to fight through. In that context, its always worth taking some time to hear about folks who are working to make the world a more just, equitable place.

Author Lisa Endlich has given us just such a book with her recently published "Be the Change," an interview heavy story of eleven philanthropist and entrepreneurs tackling some of the worlds biggest problems. There are a number of usual suspects (for example, the Gates family), but there are also some really innovative social entrepreneurship organization featured who haven't gotten the same level of press, including:

Arzu Rugs

From their website: "Arzu, meaning hope in Dari, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides sustainable income to Afghan women by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave.  Arzu helps weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them above market compensation and access to education and health care. An Arzu rug is an investment in hope. "

Year Up

From their website: "Year Up's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education."

Donorschoose.org

From their website: "DonorsChoose.org is dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in our public schools. We believe this inequity is rooted in the following factors:

  1. Shortages of learning materials prevent thorough, engaging instruction;

  2. Top-down distribution of materials stifles our best teachers and discourages them from developing targeted solutions for their students; and

  3. Small, directed contributions have gone un-tapped as a source of funding.

DonorsChoose.org will improve public education by engaging citizens in an online marketplace where teachers describe and individuals can fund specific student projects. We envision a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn."

Nathaniel Whittemore is the founder of Assetmap. Previously he was the founding director of the Northwestern University Center for Global Engagement.
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