support for social entrepreneurs, innovation and collaboration

© 2010 SoundConneXions Iris Lemmer, James Lemmer and Lucy Garrick 1

…we create work that supports life and empowers communities through cross-boundary collaborations


Vision

To support the design, creation and cultivation of scalable and sustaining social innovations that empower

communities and provide financial, social and ecological benefits


Terms and Definitions •  Social innovation

–  Strategies and ideas that meet social need and strengthen civil society

–  Can take place within or between government, for-profits, nonprofits and communities

•  Social Enterprise –  An organization that generates social value while operating

with the financial discipline, innovation and determination of a private sector business •  For-profit/nonprofit partnership, nonprofit, B Corporation

•  Social entrepreneur –  One who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial

principles to organize, create, and manage a venture using triple bottom principles •  Produces financial, social and ecological benefits


Our Values Define How We Work •  A systems perspective - social, ecological, economic

approaches that provide tangible long-term benefits •  Transparency - sharing our current situations, motivations

and future vision •  Inclusiveness - opportunities for contribution of available

assets •  Perspectives and wisdom – honoring what resides in the

diversity of our communities •  Flexibility - a willingness to observe, learn and adapt in order

to achieve our mission and advance our vision •  Accountability - accepting that being accountable to ourselves

means that we are also accountable to the group


Principles for Intentional Social Innovation 1.  Cross-industry sector and domain integration to create

positive, sustainable solutions for civil society 2.  Grass roots engagement 3.  Adaptive leadership at all levels 4.  Positive practices are shared and adapted 5.  Listening to and learning from diverse perspectives 6.  Shaping, supporting and aligning existing resources and

assets in the community 7.  Creating new kinds of work that provide social, economic

and ecological benefits that have positive impact on present and future generations


The Landscape •  Positive examples are creating wide spread curiosity

and excitement about social innovation –  Lack of formal mechanisms to support social entrepreneurs and

enterprises

•  Proliferation of social change agents competing for same resources –  Nonprofits increasingly require models and support for financial

sustainability –  Lots of valuable assets struggling without the ability to connect,

coordinate and collaborate

•  Collaborative methods are needed to create and scale social innovations –  Lack of knowledge, skill and formal mechanisms to support grass

roots involvement


Community Revitalization

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Arts&Culture

Examples:• CommunityCrea6veCommons

• CommunityArtsProjects

• Edu‐tainment

Health&Wellness

Examples• ChildhoodFitness

• CommunityNutri6on

• WholeBodyWellness

Educa6on&Development

Examples• X‐Genera6onalCharacterDevelopment

Environment

Examples• GreenBuilding• GreenJobs

Economy

Examples• Housingforhomeless

• Suppor6ngLocaleconomies


Whoweserve? KeyNeeds SoundConneXionsSupport

EarlystagesocialentrepreneursSocially‐consciousindividualsVolunteersNonprofitStart‐ups&Consor6a

• Desiretobeac6veinvolvedmakingposi6vesocialimpactsanddoingmeaningfulwork• Tryingtoformulateasocialinnova6onconcepts• Seekingcareer/lifetransi6onsrelevanttosocialgood• Seekingfeedbackonanpreliminarysocialinnova6onconcept• SocialInnovatorslookingfornetworkopportuni6es

SoundConneXionsForumLifeTransi6onsWorkshop/CoachingAssetMatching

SocialEntrepreneurs • Haveavisionforaspecificsocialinnova6onniche• Needstodefinecommunityassetsandalignwithcommunityspheresofinfluence

AssetMappingChangeMakersLeadership/ManagementCoaching

Cross‐SectorLeadershipNonprofit,Business,Government,Philanthropy

• Lookingtoiden6fyandcreateworkingcross‐sectorpartnerships• Needtoformalizestrategiesandopera6onalplansforimplemen6ngsocialresponsibilityorsocialinnova6onprojects

AssetMappingChangeMakersLaunchPad

SoundConneXionsRegionalChapters • DesiretolearnhowtoimplementtheSoundConneXionsmodels• OngoingSupport

WebsitePersonalConnec6onTrain‐the‐trainerProcessMaterials

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Sound ConneXions DNA


Putting The Puzzle Pieces Together

SoundConneXionsForums

LifeTransi6onWorkshops/Coaching

• NetworkforSocialInnova6onStakeholders• CommunityofPrac6ceforBeginners• Showcasessocialinnova6onprojects• Ideaincuba6on• Providessupportandlearningforearlystagesocialinnova6onconceptdevelopment

• Helpsindividualsinwork/lifetransi6oniden6fytheirpassionsforsocialgood• iden6fycareerpathsrelatedtosocialresponsibility.

EarlyStageSocialinnovators,Socially‐consciousIndividuals,Volunteers,NonprofitStart‐upsAndConsor6a


Social Entrepreneurs, Cross-Sector Leaders, Philanthropists, Investors

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NetworkMatching

AssetMappingWorkshops

ChangeMakers

SymposiumLaunchPad

• Iden6fiesandmatchescommunityassetswithopportuni6es:i.e.,People,venues,organiza6ons,communitygroups

• Generatesandalignscrea6vecapacityaboutasocialimpactpassion• Facilitatescommitmentofsupportandresourcestoanini6a6ve

• Formalizesstrategyandplansforopera6onal‐izingasocialenterprise

Leadership/ManagementCoachingforSocialInnovators

©2010IrisLemmer,LucyGarrick,SoundConneXions

Building And Sustaining The Dream

• Connec6ngskills&passionswithprojects• Connec6ngorganiza6onswithcomple‐mentarygoals


Cultivating Social Innovation

•  Chapters – Developing a global

Communities of Practice to foster promising practices for social innovation

– Chicago - May – Nashville - June – Others: •  N.Carolina, St. Louis


Contact Information

Iris Lemmer, [email protected] 425-241-5611

James Lemmer [email protected] 425-241-5911

Lucy Garrick [email protected] 206-335-5635

support for social entrepreneurs, innovation and collaboration

Education