Jerri Chou 2014-12-27T03:59:48-05:00 Jerri Chou Copyright 2008,, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Jerri Chou Good old fashioned elbow grease. The Role of Innovation + Disruption in Progress,2014:/theblog//3.5859186 2014-09-24T18:04:55-04:00 2014-11-24T05:59:02-05:00 Jerri Chou
Some things ought to be disrupted, particularly when the foundational principles or processes on which they're based are faulty and create bad outcomes for people, society and the planet at large. The interesting and challenging thing is that sometimes systems work quite well for some amount of time before they don't. Sometimes it's because they outgrow or outlive their original intended purpose, and sometimes they were flawed from the start.

Take, for example, the financial system. Currency as a form of exchange is an incredibly effective, simple and elegant system. According to Douglas Rushkoff, back in the day when it was run in the form of receipts for grain, shoes and other services and it was deflationary as those goods and services degraded. At that time, currency was particularly liquid, and it encouraged a system not of hoarding and scarcity, but of use, liquidity and abundance. Today, there are many issues with the fundamental principles of the system that we use to manage this tool: That it is run through a central system that controls its "worth," that there are no ways to define its value and the principles of worth in society. All of this does not encourage its liquid use in the system.

Now look at something like education. Particularly in the U.S., it was built for a particular purpose at a particular time. Based on what the world thought and knew, it served its purpose and was relatively effective at teaching people what they needed to know. But the progression of the principles that the current educational system is based on -- segregation of disciplines, top-down curriculum, even teaching as a noble profession as opposed to one financially valued -- are things that have lead to a highly rigid and industrial model of education in a post industrial world. It has not grown with the changing times.

Just like corporate companies that have been designed to do one thing well and incredibly efficiently, so too has the education system become efficient at serving a set curriculum in a more or less uniform way. Just as we've come to appreciate design to individualize the products we purchase to meet our unique needs, we are also coming to learn that not everyone does best with the same education model. But the system was not designed to innovate and change. It was designed to weather generations.

Anil Dash said at The Feast last year,

The thing about disruption is that it generally is this sort of 'let's change things without necessarily thinking through the implications'. Frankly, in the case of the music industry where mostly the people who were most fundamentally disrupted were music exec and record labels, much more troubling is when we disrupt education or other things that are bedrocks of having a functioning society. And the people at risk is not a big wig at a record label, but a kid learning. So this pattern of disruption that tends to happen has a couple of flaws not because they're intractable or because I want to demonize my fellow technologists. This time the stakes are so high if education gets disrupted by technology that we can't afford to screw it up. We can't let ourselves make the same mistakes over and over.


How do we approach innovation not necessarily as disruption but as a process of progression? How do we build on, adapt, and learn from the processes and practices that came before? How can we, like those who design algorithms, look at fractal and exponential growth -- the principles we want to put in place and to scale that will allow more natural, abundant, and appropriate behaviors and systems to flourish? Any complexity theorist will tell you: it is the simplest structures that are the most replicable, and that basic rules and principles, when replicable, can ripple out to define seemingly beautiful, complex and natural forms. How can we learn from and apply this to the way that we think about impact in the world?

Like a vine growing on an old building, how do we use the old as a lattice for the new? How do we carefully design for the natural principles that we want to see flourish? And in some cases, how do we design new systems that overtake the old with this in mind, not by intentionally disrupting, but by creating an alternative system all together?

This is what we will be exploring at this year's Feast. At learning these principles, looking at where things are headed across culture, cities, wellness and more, and where we might take them through interventions that apply this thoughtful intention. Join us.

At The Feast, leaders across disciplines come together to revolutionize their industries and create social impact. If you'd like to come, request an invite. Or if you know someone who should be there, nominate them for an invitation.]]>
Concrete Lessons in Innovation,2011:/theblog//3.869095 2011-05-31T14:10:21-04:00 2011-07-31T05:12:02-04:00 Jerri Chou Lovely Day that speaks with some of the most well know, inspiring, and cutting edge companies, agencies and experts in the space.

One of the first of our series is with a company that works in something very, well, concrete. CEMEX is one of the largest building materials companies in the world. Yet while their product is very physical, the company has developed outweighed intangible value by developing the innovation capacity of its people by creating systems that enable individuals and communities of employees to lead everything from development of new products and services to how the company operates.

Over the years, CEMEX has produced some remarkable case studies in innovation. One of the most notable among these, specific to social innovation space, is the story behind the creation of low-income financing and community supported home building models that are now being replicated internationally. But like many companies today, the development of operations within vastly different geographies presented the challenge and opportunity for their employees to better connect and collaborate. We spoke with Arturo San Vicente and Gilberto Garcia, Innovation Analyst and Innovation Director (respectively) at CEMEX to learn about how they're addressing these issues and facilitating new means of working, collaboration and the flattened management hierarchy of the 21st century. Much of their work and insights revolve around a newly adopted internal social, digital platform called SHIFT that facilitates networking and collaboration across physical borders. But more than just a technology, the implementation of SHIFT and the attempt to "break the barriers of collaboration" revealed some interesting insights and stories into the role of culture and principles behind collective social action.

Community: (Emergent Pursuits)

CEMEX has fostered a quick adoption of the SHIFT platform, currently with more than 18,000 internal users. But if external social networks are any indicator, any platform is only as good as its communities. It's no wonder then that the stories of how individuals use SHIFT describe emergent communities popping up around areas of interest, large scale events, and even company initiated campaigns. These communities range from topics as disparate as nano-technology for concrete to the collective creation of sustainability measurement indexes for the company. "The key aspect is that the platform is very self-guided," said Gilberto.

One of the example communities is based around health and safety, and has grown virally to over 1,000 members actively sharing new ideas for keeping workers and consumers safe. Yet while interest is the core component, the key factor for virility and dynamism was that the groups had very clear innovation objectives.

"When you have a clear objective of your goals, it is easier to bring more people because they know what you are trying to achieve in short term, medium, long term," said Arturo. "Sometimes it starts with discussion forums, to know each other and their points of view, then can lead to next steps."

Smart Cloud: (Efficiency and Structures)

Another interesting parallel to the world of social media has been the speed, intelligence and efficiency of thousands of globally networked individuals.

New measurements for alternative fuels and delivery systems that are being collaboratively developed for local contexts have been scaled and/or adapted and applied in wholly different contexts. But more than just innovation, one of the key drivers for SHIFT has been its ability to drive sheer efficiency via the social cloud. The most startling example given was in their "Construction: 21st Century" initiative through which self-organized groups developed a rigorous set of sustainability measurement protocols for the entire company over the span of just two months. Even stragglers in adopting the platform have given in to the system, realizing the efficiency with which the community can answer questions, Quora style.

Having a background in tech, I found strikingly similar the way they talked about sending out questions into the ether and getting back many responses to the way open source junkies talk about the beauty of systems like Wordpress or Linux. They're now looking to build in more social media type tools (including an Aardvark-like people seeking system to more easily find individuals and information on topics of interest).

All of this is allowing innovation to rise to the top, with openness playing a (bit disruptive) role in flattening management structures. "It's making the management system flat" said Arturo, "removing the chances for an idea to get blocked by management." But while technology is an enabler and opportunities are now open, CEMEX's work seems to really thrive thanks to its focus on technology for the sake of its people; focusing on a strong brotherly culture of support and collaboration that infiltrates and guides the interactions.

Social Interplay: (Culture and Human Bonds)

"When you ask someone a question, you find out a little bit about them, and then you want to learn more," says Gilberto. This humanizing of the workplace has been the driver of CEMEX's successful open innovation work, which focuses on developing a "culture of recognition," offering people appreciation within the company and even peer support. We found this particularly compelling (as the agency for human brands) as it really seems that their culture change and connective working method has started to make employees more human and socially aware in their work.

The challenge for CEMEX (as with many companies) has been an origin in engineering, which is often skeptical of the benefit of new trends to technological developments. But the recognition-based approach has built on an approval and reputation system that rewards the generation of new ideas by management and peers alike. "Your ideas can't be blocked off by just one person anymore. It's much more social and about sponsorship too -- getting your ideas posted and voted on, finding a team to work with you, making new networks with new people" says Arturo. "Interaction begins to happen at new and different levels of the company, between different generations, cultures, and areas of expertise. Once you start to make those mixes it starts to get very interesting and will be very powerful."

This culture of innovation gains weight, legitimacy and impact from strong backing by company and high-level leadership exemplified through efforts like the development of nine global initiatives directed by the CEO and investment and trust in the power of collaboration to undertake objectives as massive and important as the branding of the first global brand of ready-mix concrete: Promptis.

But the heart of the culture may be as bottom up as it is top down. One hypothesis on the pervasive culture of innovation and collective action is a unique origin of the company in an "emerging market," Mexico. The culture is what CEMEX describes as "like family", but that this culture is now inherent internationally from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. CEMEX perhaps benefits most from a pro-active culture that is not content with waiting and hoping for the market to get better, but determined to evolve to become more adaptable and resilient.


CEMEX presents a highly systemic case study for best-practices and lessons in the evolution of organizational development as a driver for innovation. From culture to community to technical tools, the company is experimenting with many key factors for new structures in global C21st companies. What we love most about their approach is the development of this capacity through a holistic investment in the power of people to co-create value for the company and society as a whole.

Taking Back the Term 'Social',2011:/theblog//3.833680 2011-03-10T12:17:36-05:00 2011-05-25T18:35:25-04:00 Jerri Chou
The term "social" gets particularly tossed around like a rag doll. What has been most frustrating is the confusion between "social" when referring to social media and social good. But perhaps there's a chance to use the dichotomy to bring cohesion back to what the real essence of the term "social" is. Maybe it's time we take back the term "social."

To do so demands an exercise in definitions. This word has developed many, but the two most general are:


2.) of or pertaining to the life, welfare, and relations of human beings in a community: social problems.

But the origin of the word alludes to a much stronger tie:

1555-65; < Latin sociālis, equivalent to soci ( us ) partner, comrade + -ālis -al1

In fact, sociology defines the social self as that which is "seeking connection and belonging."

"Social" is what bonds us as human beings. It is the critical tie and underlying commonality that encompasses and enables empathy, cooperation, and collaboration: generally, all the things that better "society" (same root).

In this context, "social change" has maintained a rather flat definition. It's true that the social bond that ties us together is what inspires us to help others, here and around the globe, in worse situations than ours. But the one-sided window into the injustice-avenging, guilt-stricken view of the world is being shattered by a new form of "social change": one that is more holistic and sustainable because it is focused on "us", ALL of us.

Thanks in part to the digital era, we are more connected than ever; as the global "us" grows, so too does our social capacity. But in addition to breaking barriers of citizenship and place, that connectivity is allowing people to engage, participate, communicate, and collaborate in new ways that are fully owned and started by individuals within their own communities (however local or international those might be). Despite all the debate around it, things like Twitter and Facebook ("social" media) allow us to more easily organize, communicate, and develop strong ties with others. New tools like Google Docs and Skype allow us to more easily connect and create. New information technologies and applications that range from data management to the ubiquitous mobile phone are making information more transparent and useful. (And aside from just "digital", this community-based mentality is emerging in new social "technologies" and models for operating such as microfinance, bike sharing, the zero rupee, and more. This democratization of participation and creation means that people become more able to create and define value for themselves - and to facilitate value for others. "For the people, by the people" is now truer than ever.

For "social issues," this means that the paradigm is no longer of outsiders looking into situations and deciding what is "wrong" (or what is "right," for that matter), but offering the means for individuals to address their own needs, and better their own lives, as they see fit. The shift from "dead aid" to sustainable development is evidence to this, as is the move toward less outside-in design centric innovation practice to models of true community-based co-creation of systems, products, and services.

That means that "social innovation" is not necessarily just the provision of water systems to local farmers, but models like Kickstarter and micro-consignment that allow people to create value through social means. Unlocking the creative and innovative potential of people - through anything from the volunteer corps at giant companies like IBM to the facilitation of craft and commerce through platforms like Etsy -- is the new face of "social innovation".

Many recent trends point to this more participatory and creative definition of "social": hacker culture, DIY platforms, open innovation, etc. and we'll talk about that in more detail elsewhere. The thing to remember is not to let the industrial era thinking creep in. The best social innovation is exactly that which strengthens us: that which enables creation in a way that benefits the collective while strengthening it at the same time. A good example might be Neighborgoods, a service barter and exchange startup for home goods. Whereas they might have just systematized the process, the incorporation of actually meeting your neighbors as part of the barter and exchange process makes 'us' stronger.

I truly believe that every human being, every single one is us, is inherently trying to better their lives. There are a lot of variables within the processes that people see as "bettering," thanks to a long history of commercial persuasion and cultural influence on ideals. But ultimately, people are full of potential: to create, to express, to love -- and that variable definition of "better," as a means to achieving a "better life," must be left to individuals. What social innovation can do is open the channels to information, critical thinking, and choice. Ultimately, it can unlock the potential in people by enabling the creation of real value by every one of us.

That is the new definition of "social." ]]>
L. Condoms: A Woman's Take on 1for1, Social Change and Making Empowerment Sexy,2011:/theblog//3.807755 2011-01-13T12:19:38-05:00 2011-05-25T18:25:24-04:00 Jerri Chou
Documenting humanitarian crisis in South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Talia has worked extensively as a photographer for the Red Cross. (Most of the Red Cross photos out of the Haiti earthquakes are thanks to Talia's tireless work). She's also photographed the lives of HIV/AIDS affected individuals, focusing on its effects on women and girls. "What struck me the most, and what was ultimately the driving force in creating L., was that unlike other disasters I've photographed, this crisis is preventable," she said, from her offices in Los Angeles.

"The numbers surrounding the AIDS epidemic are staggering; more human life has been lost to AIDS than all the wars, famines, floods and deadly diseases on the African continent combined."

She points out that the most effective technology in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV is something we in the United States find in any convenience store: condoms.

Antiviral treatment is a breakthrough in saving lives, but currently for every person who is treated in Africa at least two become infected. Continuing along the current track is simply not smart economics, she points out.

And thus, the socent chapter began. L. is a condom company with a cause: to empower women globally by supporting the human right to safe sex. For every condom purchased, one is distributed in a developing country.

The striking thing (and admitted point of my personal interest) is what happens when a woman is at the helm of a social enterprise. Added to that, what happens when a woman aims to change a condom market so previously associated with false bravado and campy slogans. Now everything from the design and make of L. takes the needs of both sexes in mind; using more female friendly ingredients that allow the products to be super sleek, paraben and glycerin free -- which means less harm to our bodies. And also marketing to the discerning male, the one who doesn't associate his love life with football mascots and over-the-top masculinity.

"L. condoms wants to embrace sexuality in a modern way. That means both men and women identifying with the quality of the product and the message it portrays," Talia said.

1 for 1-plus
But the female take to business goes beyond the product. Talia's experience in nonprofits means the business takes a serious and holistic approach to developing its social programs, taking culturally-sensitive and gender-sensitive approaches in high impact areas, donating condoms to nonprofit distribution partners where they are needed most.

In this sense, they are reinventing the 1 for 1 model. "The word we use, 'distributed,' is loaded. We identify areas where we can have high impact -- but in these areas our approach varies. One we are currently exploring is supplying and supporting socially transformative female-run enterprises," Talia said. It's a model where they facilitate the creation of long term distribution channels -- providing women with sustainable livelihoods, making condoms affordable and building a culture of buying condoms -- which report after report shows increases overall condom use.

The sexual empowerment aspect is key to the message. L. believes that around the world a woman's sexual empowerment goes hand-in-hand with her freedoms as a human being. Talia put it best when she said "Look, here in the U.S., as a woman, I am starting a condom company. In other parts of the world a woman struggles to even suggest condom use. How do we bridge this gap? Sexual empowerment is inherent to this answer. When we face the reality of women's sexual empowerment we gain insight and most importantly, awaken to the type of change that is necessary to raise the status of women globally."

L. is currently looking to launch in early 2011. You can find out more about the company at their website and by following them on twitter: @lovebeginswithL.]]>
Innovation From, By and For Africa,2010:/theblog//3.791459 2010-12-10T12:39:20-05:00 2014-03-31T17:59:02-04:00 Jerri Chou
I'm talking about The Open Innovation Africa Summit (OIAS) I recently attended, hosted by Nokia, The World Bank and Cap Gemini. Over the course of three days, 200-plus leaders and innovators convened in the Rift Valley of Kenya, Africa to share, connect, and take action toward fostering innovation in and from Africa.

They were leading academics from local universities to international research bodies; heads of governments from Mozambique to South Africa; social innovators and entrepreneurs from Ushahidi and Frontline sms:credit; nonprofit groups like the World Bank, and corporate collaborators from Orange to Intel; financing groups and funds, just to name a few.

Facilitated by Cap Gemini's exploratory process, this remarkable body of people broke out into working groups to focus and dive deep into four specific areas:

  • African Innovation Ecosystem
  • Emerging Business Models for the BoP
  • Human Capital -- Education for All
  • Mobile Information Society.

What transpired was beyond what anyone initially imagined. A process of creating specific needs and opportunities both short and long-term broke down walls of communication and built up collaboration and partnerships. Some of the results included recommendations as well as processes for policy that would facilitate innovation and enterprise. Others were full-fledged models for co-creation and user-based innovation. And others still were tangible technology that could be created to facilitate innovation in both mobile and applications of technology to drive social change.

The beginning of the event set the tone, calling for systemic thinking on the issues and cross-sectoral partnerships between government, corporate sector and the grass roots and nonprofit.

The event ended with an emotional presentation by the Education Stream's working group who delivered their recommendations in the form of a story told in the future. They asked all of us to imagine our lives as if we were a character from Kibera, now in the year 2015 and led us through a typical day using all the tools that are now available to us because of the recommendations made here, at the Open Innovation Africa Summit.

In the words of Juliana Rotisch's twitter, the event presented "Lots of great ideas, tempered with pragmatism. Good mix." And several concrete steps and commitments were put into place, including the announcement of Nokia and the World Bank's partnership with iHub (my gracious co-working space hosts in Nairobi) to build out a mobile lab in Nairobi.

However, the truest point of inspiration came from the confirmation of a belief by everyone in the room that Africa can lift itself up through its own massive wealth of ingenuity, effort and innovation and that the event presented one firm step taken to foster the kind of collaboration needed to make this happen.

As Purnima Kochikar, Vice President, Forum Nokia put it in a speech she gave at the event, "The Entrepreneur in Silicon Valley fundamentally believes he's going to change the world. Does Africa believe?"

The answer at the OIAS was yes, yes it does.

You can check out and add to the conversation which will be updated to reflect all the outcomes of the conference here and by following the hash mark #innovateafrica.]]>
Ashoka Announces Fellow Partnership With P&G: An Example of the Future of Social Enterprise in Corporate Partnership,2010:/theblog//3.781648 2010-11-11T15:38:43-05:00 2011-05-25T18:10:25-04:00 Jerri Chou





Score! Reinventing the Three Rs: Reinvent, Reuse, Radness,2010:/theblog//3.576445 2010-05-14T12:02:59-04:00 2011-05-25T16:30:24-04:00 Jerri Chou
Since it began as passion project conceived by four Brooklynites -- Jenny Gottstein, Connie Carmona, Amy Butterworth and Leslie Hermelin -- Score! Pop Up Swap has since exploded into a popular local event series, drawing over 1,000 attendees to each gathering.

The concept behind Score! Pop Up Swap is simple: Folks bring their old items, volunteers distribute items to themed departments, and attendees can browse and take whatever they fancy. Meanwhile, DJs keep the party rocking, artists silkscreen custom totebags and fashion photographers take photos of stylish "scored" outfits. At the end of the day, proceeds from the event and all leftover items are donated to charity. "You can clear out your closet, give back, party, and shop." Amy points out, "It's a win-win."

But unlike typical swaps, Score! more closely resembles a free store. Rather than a chaotic exchange, the event is managed by professional curators who organize and display donated items. For example, Etsy manages the Craft Department, while the Clothing Department is curated by Market Publique, an trendy vintage retail site. In the past, Nylon Magazine staff members have offered fashion advice, while the writers behind DIY newsprint Showpaper make key music suggestions. Not only do these curators bring their respective expertise, they bring their discerning eye: "It's what allows us to maintain the best quality," Leslie explains "our department curators have impeccable taste." Which is perhaps why the New York Post mused that the event "evokes a Barney's Co-op sale" and NBC New York noted that the swap was organized by a "crew of professional New York 'cool kids.'"

What can attendees expect to score? "Everything!" Jenny says, "I've seen burping Homer Simpson bottle openers, Betsy Johnson cocktail dresses, brand new Nikes, guitar distortion pedals, Lauren Hill coasters... it's amazing. Last year, I scored a 1966 Brazilian samba album on yellow vinyl!" And fortunately, for those who reside outside of the New York City area, the organizers have plans to bring it to multiple cities in 2011. Connie says, "every day, we get new requests from people in L.A., Portland, Boston, Philly, Boise, San Francisco... don't worry guys, we'll get there soon."

Score! Pop Up Swap isn't just a pragmatic response to a recession economy. It is an excuse to party, to share resources, to celebrate creativity. The Score! tagline sums it all up "Reinvent. Reuse. Radness."

The next event is on Saturday, May 29 in Brooklyn, NY. All proceeds will be donated to Global Inheritance, a 501c3 that reinvents youth activism by providing tools via music, art and technology. All leftover donations will be delivered to charity, and all unusable textiles will be recycled by Wearable Collections.

For more information, and to RSVP, visit]]>
Changing Connections for Good,2010:/theblog//3.571688 2010-05-11T14:49:19-04:00 2011-05-25T16:25:21-04:00 Jerri Chou Change Connections and it's an initiative crafted in partnership with Nokia and The Feast social innovation conference. The goal: exploring how communication technology might be applied to solving some of the world's most pressing issues from learning to livelihood.

Now before you go applying the typical defensive stances that arise when the word "corporate" comes into play with any initiative, let me get the jump by sharing some of the following principles that have made the project so enlightening and why I feel this is where business should be going.

This project has nothing to hide. The initiative has been open from the start, sharing objectives, goals and asking for input and advice from those who know best, with every intent of sharing outcomes. We've undergone interviews with over 40 experts at this point. All of our findings so far have been shared on the newly launched website and open innovation platform The site also seeks to act as a resource, with all developments and ideas open to the public (along with rights to any of the ideas). There have been a few moments where the knee-jerk desire to phrase things or not disclose the full form of the project reared its ugly head. The counter: why would you want to hide something that should only work for you? We've had the luxury (and the key is that every project should be this way) of engaging in work that is of sincerest intentions -- of realizing social good with the core competency of a business that touches over a billion people. That potential is massive and should only be an incentive for people to get involved. Take note, big business, if your intentions and method are aligned, you should have nothing to hide.

What we're doing has never been done before and, as with anything brand-spanking new, the best way to create something truly great is to iterate. It helps to be small and nimble (we're about as grass-roots as you can get), but when you're crazy enough to try to take on the world, it's all you can do to roll with the punches, take new information and feedback as it comes and tack and steer accordingly. The most important thing is to build room for new information into your working structure. This approach learns from the great start-ups of our day and is a response to the fact that locked-down structures (monolithic hierarchical methods of the past) fall the hardest when there's a quake. As a yogi, I guess I have a particular appreciation for flexibility.

True partnership means give and take, respect and putting in what you're good at to get the job done. It's rare to work with a client who's willing to listen, be transparent, honest and willing to lend their skills and leverage to your work. Thankfully, that's what this project has encompassed -- lots of extra effort, listening, compromise and sharing rough times and smooth sailing. In the end, this project has been about abundance and the potential of human capital (which my partner Tamara Giltsoff has written about). Partnership is an example of this sort of additive relationship where 1+1=3. When the job is changing the world, that's what it takes.

We've taken input from just about everyone who could help the project and have given them a stake. This includes people who have dedicated years of hard work and brilliance to the use of communication technology for development, without whom the field and good that's been achieved would never be possible. They include the likes of leaders from, Unicef Innovation, The Earth Institute and countless other experts and friends of the project, as well as the myriad teams working behind the scenes during over-time nights. In return, they have given their willingness and even eagerness to help. This speaks a bit to being iterative, but every part of this project was crafted in tandem by many loving hands with one common interest -- of seizing a massive opportunity to make the world a better place. When all your interests are aligned, you can co-create something beautiful.

Take a look for yourself. The Change Connections website launches today at Check it out, and add your own ideas, comments and feedback. Follow the work on Twitter: @changeconnect.]]>
UNSHAKEN: Publishers Rebuilding Haiti with Charity Water,2010:/theblog//3.517575 2010-03-29T20:17:43-04:00 2011-05-25T16:00:23-04:00 Jerri Chou
Publishers with a Purpose is an online publishing group (TBD is a partner) who have pledged 5% of their total ad inventory to go toward select nonprofits and social causes -- with the shared goal of making a difference.

After seeing charity: water's amazing UNSHAKEN campaign to help Haiti and provide long-term clean water solutions, the folks at PWP were inspired to join them.

PWP is banding together with charity: water to raise $100,000 in funds for Haiti's recovery and bring awareness to their rebuilding effort.   The $100,000 will go to Haitians in one specific town: Nan Simon, Haiti. With our support (that includes you!), the Nan Simon community will construct 50 latrines, 40 biosand filters, one laundry station, one animal trough and two hand-washing stations.

PWP hopes to spread the word to over 40 million people. They hope you will click, blog, and donate to this great cause.

Help get the word out, blog, retweet, share the video, and shout it from the mountain tops (or better yet, visit and download the banners to join PWP! ]]>
Compassion // A Simple, Elegant Solution for a Complex World,2010:/theblog//3.409945 2010-01-04T14:43:01-05:00 2011-05-25T15:05:19-04:00 Jerri Chou
I really started thinking about this lately while contemplating the wishes, resolutions and potentials of what could be a historical (and beautiful) new year, 2010. But it began with a project called The Charter for Compassion. It's an effort to restore compassionate thinking -- and, even more importantly, compassionate action -- to the center of our lives. The actual charter is the realization of comparative religion authority Karen Armstrong's TED Prize wish and is a collaboratively written document by the public and authorities from various religious and moral codes. It's a bold attempt to capture one of the most powerful forces of humanity -- so powerful exactly because of that humanity, its universality and its connective nature.

In its basic explanation, it is the golden rule, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. That sounds simple, but that is precisely the point. That single rule, if held firmly, causes a ripple effect by leveraging the individual actions of the many people following it. It means maintaining empathy, understanding the culture and context of others, understanding the impact of your actions and taking steps to act accordingly. That, by nature, means living more sustainably, purchasing more responsibly, being kinder to those around you and refusing to be a part of unethical behavior in the work place.

The most unique part about compassion is that the process demands individuals to figure things out for themselves. We live in a world that's bombarded with messaging about how you should behave, what you should like and value. Compassion is a reset button. One that demands putting aside what you've been told and taking a fresh look at each situation. It's as much an examination of self as of others because it asks us to strip ourselves of everything we have and find definition from by imagining ourselves in the place of another and, in doing so, reconnects us with our most fundamental human nature.

It all starts with that self: individuals, realizing our connection to the world, our relationship to it and our own impact on it. Of course, we can't possibly (and shouldn't) constantly think about all the problems of the world all the time. It's difficult to even live the rule in a globalized economy where a million inputs from around the world go into every product, function, and action (active or passive) of our day-to-day lives. But we can begin to ask questions, begin to act accordingly, and begin by taking care of our own backyards and ourselves. If everyone did that, the most complex of problems might be answered.

Don't just read, but affirm the need for compassionate action in the world and make it the center of your own action. Check out the Charter for Compassion and affirm it today.

Marketing's Chance to Change the World,2009:/theblog//3.395645 2009-12-18T10:58:25-05:00 2011-05-25T15:00:22-04:00 Jerri Chou
It's a hugely powerful medium -- the power of persuasion. If the people behind Coke can convince millions that drinking the stuff will make you happy anything's possible. But, despite sounding like a cliche super hero reference, like any powerful force, it can be used for good or evil.

There's a huge camp of people who blame many of the problems of society on advertising. It's notorious for creating false needs and selling products that are not good for people or the environment. More consumption is not always the way to better business and instead of working with companies to rethink that strategy, the goal is just to push more by any means possible. It's created unsustainable ideas and aspirations about how we should live our lives and many people can not discern for themselves what is real from fake anymore (hell even I have a hard time sometimes).

The thing is. We created this entire world. It's a series of stories and beliefs that we told and convinced ourselves of. This world continues to exist this way because we continue to believe the stories. We can believe in something better.

The marketing and advertising communities are masters at story telling and brilliant at understanding how things work. For the first time, the people at these companies have the backing of the masses who want more good, more decency, more responsibility. They want a better future. So for the first time, this community has the opportunity to create a new story. One where people are interconnected, kindness is valued and community is king. One where we believe in quality over quantity. One where waste is something shunned like a sin and where we understand and respect the earth. One where we see the potential in every individual and offer them opportunity.

Of course, this takes dedication to creating messages founded in and which drive more responsible corporate behavior. The last thing the social innovation movement needs is false marketing that exploits a genuine sense of optimism and dedication for the sake of the sale. This short-term approach is largely what's gotten us into so much trouble to begin with and would turn this movement into the next greenwashing which would be the saddest thing marketing could possibly do. But the power of marketing is that it faces two ways -- outward toward consumers and inward toward driving profit. Business cases for for-profit for-good business models are being made by the day and, done right, they can be made in the corporate context. Why do I believe the folks at the marketing and advertising wheel can leverage this two-way power to drive innovation? Because they get how things work. They understand the puzzle better than anyone because they're always trying to see new relationships between its pieces -- if there's anyone who can help figure out how to make things work better, it's this crowd.

There's a huge opportunity for the discipline to do some serious good by shifting society's aspirations and understanding of what's possible. What kills me and inspires me on a daily basis is that people are powerful and they can do better. It's time to inspire them to do so.
Entrepreneurship in New York: A Personal Testimony to the City Council,2009:/theblog//3.393893 2009-12-16T08:53:11-05:00 2011-05-25T14:55:21-04:00 Jerri Chou
1. Creative capital -- This city has maybe one of the highest pools of creative capital in the world. If anything, New York should be encouraging these hugely innovative people to take the leap to start their businesses (that statistically create more jobs). In order for this to happen, individuals need to have enough time and resources to focus on their ventures. Help with necessities like expensive health care, capital investments (computers, etc.), office space (even lawyers and accountants) would be a big burden lifted. But as the old adage goes, time is money.

2. Money -- it's not scarce in New York, yet the number of venture funds and angel investors in this sector are slim compared to counterparts in SF. It seems like the money here is locked up. Either those with the potential to invest don't understand what's going on or they just can't find it because they are so guarded (my opinion is the latter as I've met plenty of great potential investors who are very excited about social entrepreneurship once they get a glimpse of what it's all about). It's a question of education and I think that could happen most effectively by offering incentives to get involved in the space. New Orleans' tax credits (a sliding scale between 30 to 50 percent write off) of Angel investment in startups has been a boon to the sector. Events to facilitate interaction and education might also be helpful.

3. Media -- in New York is easy and there isn't much competition as far as getting your voice out. Thankfully, we've got that on our side.

4. University -- The potential for collaboration with learning institutions is untapped. Universities offer an enormous potential resource as far as time, facilities and talent to create new technologies. The Universities here are not as entrepreneurial as those in other cities like Boston. Creating bridges through incubators or even facilitating internships between startups would be beneficial for both sides.

5. Community -- This is one the city can support somewhat by getting behind initiatives like Internet Week, incentivizing conferences to come to the city, (even having more Wi-Fi around would help). In the end, this is a huge, yet organic piece of the puzzle (the reason Silicon Valley is what it is derives from community and knowledge sharing). In the end, NYC needs incentives for the community to move here, start up their own and grow what we've already got.

5. Social -- From the social entrepreneurship perspective, New York is the epicenter of some of the most creative companies working to support this particular community. Pop!Tech is in Brooklyn, TED is on the west side, Echoing Green which advises the Obama administration on the subject is headquartered here. If anything, the social entrepreneurs working here could potentially solve many of the problems the city is dealing with while generating income and creating jobs. Total win. The individuals themselves are already doing this, of course -- Ian Marvey and Rooftop Farms are providing food for the city, Hot Bread Kitchen has created a business giving women the chance to bake their native breads -- the list goes on. But if government was able to help scale or support more initiatives, we could be in a really amazing place.

All in all, the future looks bright. We just need to open up the stuffy doors and get the winds of change blowing through the city corridors. It's called NEW York for a reason. Time to live up to the novelty. (I'll report back more after the hearing.)

For those who want to follow, the New York City Council Technology in Government Committee is twittering from]]>
The Three I's of Corporate Social Innovation,2009:/theblog//3.388915 2009-12-11T13:26:46-05:00 2011-05-25T14:55:21-04:00 Jerri Chou
As information becomes more transparent, people are starting to realize that brands are not siloed and that businesses touch many parts of our world and society. A bank is no longer just a bank; it's an international institution that can directly affect our daily lives (and livelihoods), which mean its operations are important to us.

The more a business remains an opaque brand, the bigger the disconnect between what it says and what it does. What's happening between the product factory in China and the glossy ad in Wired Magazine? Any misalignment of mission and action will invariably lead to consumer mistrust, resulting in people heading elsewhere to fill their needs around genuine authenticity.

Now is the time to gain ground and better the world. The industrial era modes of doing business (linear, resource extracting, need creating) have lead to many of the problems of our day. But many of these businesses were founded on socially driven missions -- to create better health care products and provide products that create joy for people. It's time to evolve these companies by using the new knowledge we've gained in the last era to correct abuses, realize latent potential, and realign mission with action. It's time to innovate and evolve those mission statements for the 21st century.

That's right. I'd like to see global brands using their mission to drive business and better the world. We're calling it Corporate Social Innovation (CSI).

In my opinion, CSI encompasses three 'I's: Innovation, Investment, and Impact.

1) Innovation
The greatest potential a company has for doing good are in the areas it affects on a daily basis and innovating within existing core competencies. Some argue that this is just good business. Exactly.

Start by looking at everyone the business touches -- shareholders, stakeholders, and consumers -- and create a collaborative relationship. How does everyone create more value for each other? Once seen through this lens, new opportunities will surface.

Producers can tackle supply chain issues by solving root problems like living conditions. Companies can create more holistic, socially oriented and powerful products by working across departments -- linking community investment, product development and marketing together. And companies can find new markets for their products through socially minded initiatives. All while inviting consumers to participate in the entire process.

I previously wrote an article on how social entrepreneurs offer a great testing bed for innovative models. Innovation must remain a core value of a company or incentives will quickly shift to maintaining market share instead of creating new value, which is not good business.

2) Investment
Real investment, by the virtue of the word, means a tie to those you touch. Good investment means that you do well when those you invest in (stakeholders, consumers and communities) do well, which incentivizes an additive approach -- that by nature is long term. Corporations have tons of opportunities for investment:

  • Shareholders and Employees
    People have a desire to create and leave behind something better -- a legacy of goodness in the world. Building the framework for employees and shareholders to realize their maximum potential as human beings realizes a company's potential in the process and gets everyone mutually invested. Of course, this means investing in the health and education of employees, allowing them to voice their opinions on how things can be improved, and encouraging employees to self-organize to do good. Offering purpose and fulfillment will attract the best and brightest to knock at the door. It's a win-win for everyone.

  • Supply chain and new models of business
    Investing in those who work with you offers huge opportunities for long term growth and the chance to grow business laterally. From a social entrepreneurship perspective, many new companies starting up are proving the success of innovative socially-based answers to market needs. Literal corporate investment in these new models holds huge potential for bettering operations and propelling these ways of doing business forward by offering them the chance to scale.

  • Community
    Companies have nothing if the communities they operate in are exploited to the point where they can no longer engage with your product -- that's bad morals and bad business. Investing in an educated, and able community is the best long term interest, which results in a stronger presence in the community thereafter.

3) Impact
This touches upon the other two, but it's essential to think about where you can do the most good possible. Many define it as charity but while charity is amazing, fulfilling, and the gift is a hugely powerful thing -- there are many ways of doing good that are long lasting solutions. Consumer education that generates awareness for new ways of doing good are also very powerful. If businesses no longer exploited poverty, we'll no longer need nonprofits to fight it. If we're no longer supporting wars and rainforest cutting through supply chains, we won't need rain forest preservation nonprofits.

Business has a huge potential to do good. We just need to think a little more innovatively. It'll be a lovely day when that happens!]]>
Why Social Entrepreneurs will lead the Next Generation of Business,2009:/theblog//3.375402 2009-12-01T12:08:37-05:00 2011-05-25T14:50:26-04:00 Jerri Chou great post about the start-ups he would invest in, but I figured I would expand his thoughts into where I see all this leading: Social entrepreneurs will lead the future of business.

That's a bold claim. Why do I think this? Because it's already happening, and has been happening (albeit more slowly than recently) for the past decade.

Like any progressive movement, it takes pioneers to blaze the way for the rest of us. Companies like Ben and Jerry's and White Dog Cafe have been hacking through the red tape, wagging fingers and sideways glances for years. In the process, they've proven that social mindedness and business are not mutually exclusive endeavors and a pack of wide-eyed entrepreneurs are stampeding down the now highly respected path.

On the backs of these heroes of the social world, entrepreneurs can now make their case (not to mention that they have all sorts of advantages our forefathers lacked, like social enterprise business programs, networks, incubators and a blessing from the government).

But there are some unique aspects to social entrepreneurs that make them the catalyst. One being that they have the least path to resistance to try new models and methods of doing things (no corporate red tape when you're working out of coffee shop on your world-changing idea).

But maybe the most important part is they are out to save the world, which means they won't take 'no' for an answer and want to move fast and big. This makes them susceptible to the greatest rule for entrepreneurship, "fail often, fail fast". Social entrepreneurs are the test bed for what will succeed or fail in a business atmosphere. They also show us where a huge market exists, often by going against all odds to prove opportunity where it's been overlooked for ease of profit.

Can they change the whole business infrastructure themselves? Probably not, but they push the frontiers of what we know as possible, which is extremely important and starts a cycle of demand (better business is possible, which leads us to demand better business). This then opens the door for their real potential of proving feasibility and and the integration of their practices into larger scale operations where it makes sense.]]>
No House? No Vote.,2008:/theblog//3.125730 2008-09-11T19:09:57-04:00 2011-05-25T12:45:25-04:00 Jerri Chou Co-written by: Abe Silk

There's been a lot of riff-raff around Palin and the conventions, and jokes and benefit concerts abound. Politics is a circus and there's not much that could make your jaw drop anymore. This knocked the wind out of us.

As sure as the swallows return to Capistrano, Republican operatives are again engaged in highly suspect voter suppression campaigns. The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP's effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.


WHAT?! You heard right, they're trying to block the very people who've been screwed over by the system from VOTING! And you thought they did away with landowner requirements for voting along with Jim Crow 50 years ago. Not only is this unconstitutional and illegal (see 15th Amendment or the Voting Rights Act of 1965), it's bordering on downright evil and adds a whole new level to the political skeez and dirty tactics that we're sure have only begun to play out during this election.

According to an article in The Michigan Messenger:

"State election rules allow parties to assign 'election challengers' to polls to monitor the election. In addition to observing the poll workers, these volunteers can challenge the eligibility of any voter provided they 'have a good reason to believe' that the person is not eligible to vote. One allowable reason is that the person is not a 'true resident of the city or township.' The Michigan Republicans' planned use of foreclosure lists is apparently an attempt to challenge ineligible voters as not being 'true residents.'"

The hypocrisy of this is amazing. Republicans refuse all attempts to regulate the financial industry claiming that free market is god. Then they intervene at taxpayers' expense when it all blows up due to lack of regulation, and now they're purging voter rolls because of home foreclosures they indirectly were responsible for. To be fair, Republicans did not sign the mortgages that were defaulted, but on the other hand, there can be no doubt that the housing crisis we're currently in the midst of could not have been significantly mitigated by more responsible governmental oversight. Of course, it must be a coincidence that they trying to disenfranchise black voters; it's not as if Barack Obama needs them in a very tight race in Michigan.

This tactic is likely to disproportionately affect African-Americans who are overwhelmingly Democratic voters. More than 60 percent of all sub-prime loans -- the most likely kind of loan to go into default -- were made to African-Americans in Michigan, according to a report issued last year by the state's Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

Very efficient, which is probably why Carabelli isn't the only Republican Party official to suggest the targeting of foreclosed voters. Ohio's Doug Preisse, director of elections in Franklin County (around the city of Columbus) and the chair of the local GOP, told The Columbus Dispatch that he has not ruled out challenging voters before the election due to foreclosure-related address issues.

"At a minimum what you are seeing is a fairly comprehensive effort by the Republican Party, a systematic broad-based effort to put up obstacles for people to vote," said J. Gerald Hebert, a former voting rights litigator for the U.S. Justice Department who now runs the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington D.C.-based public-interest law firm. "Nobody is contending that these people are not legally registered to vote."


In metropolitan areas like Detroit hard-hit by the crisis, challenging all voters registered to foreclosed homes could disrupt polling places. According to the site RealtyTrac, one in every 176 households in Wayne County, metropolitan Detroit, received a foreclosure filing during the month of July. In Macomb County, the figure was one in every 285--that's 1,834 legitimate Michigan citizens. The Macomb County foreclosure rate puts it in the top three percent of all U.S. counties in the number of distressed homeowners.

"Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent and Genessee counties were -- in that order -- the counties with the most homeowners facing foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac. As of July, there were more than 62,000 foreclosure filings in the entire state"

Oh yeah, and it's worth mentioning that McCain's regional headquarters are housed in the office building of foreclosure specialists Trott & Trott. The firm's founder, David A. Trott, has raised between $100,000 and $250,000 for the Republican nominee.

The fact that the GOP's using a tactic to help John McCain's campaign benefit from the foreclosures crisis is unreal. Anyone a lawyer out there? Go to Michigan, go to Cleveland. For all you others, visit the ACLU's website and help those who have lost everything, at the very least, keep their right to vote.

Jerri Chou is the Editor of All Day Buffet, a website and organization that brings social causes and the creative community together. It's a simple idea: Inspire Action. Change the world. Have Fun. Because doing good shouldn't feel like a chore visit]]>