Mine is monotone peppery. There it is. High on that mountain top. Not that one. Or that one. Not that one either. Those flags belong to people who are a little naïve about social change. They tend to compromise easily. … Read More
Blog posts by Al
Whole Systems Change is not a Rubik’s Cube
If you are inside the social innovation world you know everybody’s talking about whole systems change, If you are not, get ready. It’s bound to seep into more and more public discussions. That’s a good thing as long as we … Read More
Like Shining from Shook Foil
The title above is borrowed from a favourite poem, God’s Grandeur by Gerard Manley Hopkins. July 28 is his birthday and I couldn’t resist the occasion. The poem begins: The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will … Read More
Which comes first transforming the banking system or government?
There is a lot of activity in the social and philanthropic sector to attract investment from banks. This pursuit is a component of what is generally referred to as social finance. Impact investment is another popular description. Many see it as … Read More
Richard Steckel – the playful Social Entrepreneur
Social movements have many parents and the social enterprise movement is no exception. The first social entrepreneur in Canada for example dates back to Mother D’Youville in the early 1700’s. The current manifestation of social enterprise is often attributed to … Read More
Reading a Case of Canada
I could read a case of Canadian books and still be on my feet. The following books nurtured my understanding of this great, big, diverse, ornery, multi- textured land. Here they are from east to west. Guaranteed to hit ‘terroir’ … Read More
Slow Change
Despite the urgency, lasting change takes much longer than we appreciate. Darn. One way to counteract our impatience is to shift from ‘chronos’ to ‘kairos’ time. Chronos time is sequential time, measured by the clock and which seems to be … Read More
Innovation is Birthed from Disorder
Here’s some advice for the explorer in you who desires to make the world better, particularly the young bright sparks who are just setting out. Trust all your senses. When your experience compels you to seek something different and your … Read More
Moral Oxygen
Social change can be harsh and unyielding. It can take a toll on you, your family, your friends, your colleagues and your adversaries. The sustenance for this journey comes from what Quebec philosopher and social commentator Jacques Dufresne describes as “moral oxygen.” … Read More