If Vancouverites knew that Eric was calling Vanouver his new home (providing social media outlets extended this coverage) would they [Vancouverites] wonder about the potential “social enterprising/social do good’ing” power that would be harnessed in the area? Such a bold and somewhat awkward statement to proclaim, but seriously… Would an establishment like this [Having a well connected, social enterprising minded, super-laid back guy] in Vancouver help build the much needed momentum and direction towards the issues painted on the streets in the notoriously known Downtown Eastside?

Listening the Eric speak about the broad global programs in place and the ways the Clinton Guistra initiative is deployed on the ground, unravels ideas about similar ways to tackle those prevailing conditions in the DTES.

Not to sound super-optimistic about this: but could this be that “tipping point” for our problems. Time will tell, of course, if Eric — the man who backs the former president and Frank Guistra – the extremely wealthy and devotee to social issues could combine to form some BC superpower on social issues!

I mean they both live in Vancouver, probably live in the same high-rise!

Eric gave us much in depth information on the initiative and was kind enough to give us some great advice as well. Eric urges us to get some international experience whether we plan to be involved in an international capacity or not. The experience, he claims, will differentiate us and will give us a different outloook on what can be done and what can work. One key point that really struck me and is keeping me thinking are his words about passion. Without it, he wouldn’t have worked endless hours and continue traveling so much. He loves what he does and mentioned that in the past, whenever his job became boring or found that it was not providing added value to his career, he quit immediately and moved on. He really has showed us that passion for a subject no matter what it is can make you successful. With his know how on social enterprise and his experiences, it is clear that he has made a career for himself in a relatively new field. Eric was informative, humble and inspiring.

I want to discuss now, the “legitimacy” of our debate.

Not that what we did wasn’t useful –  I very much appreciate Uvini’s closing point that “we have to stop treating [Africa] as kids” and a continent’s survival is not hanging in the balance of Western charity.  Many good points were raised.  Specifically, my doubts come from our own ability to properly conduct such a debate.

We’ve seen the Munk debate (link here), and it is full of great points.   More than that, they are presented by qualified people.  Stephen Lewis was the UN’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS; Paul Collier regularly advises developing countries; Hernando De Soto heads up a think-thank (also advises countries); and Dambisa Moyo was a World Banker and wrote the book “Dead Aid.”  These are people who study aid, dealt aid, and (maybe) even received aid.  They are qualified.

Looking at the group of LiSE-ers, we are just students who happened to do tangential research on the topic for a period of 2 weeks.  We have not administered aid, seen aid in action, or felt the effects of aid being given to us.

Our intentions are good, but we simply do not know enough to conduct a serious, hardcore debate that we can relate to and have first-hand knowledge on.
Is there a better way?  Should there be a better way?
Was this debate never to resolve anything, but just to raise some very good points?

-Jerry

The Social Entrepreneurship Experience
Hosted by Enterprize Canada and in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week Canada

When: November 21^st, 2009 9am-4pm
Where: The Joyce Walley Learning Center, Museum of Vancouver
Cost: $25 (Enterprize Canada Member: $20)

The Social Entrepreneurship Experience (SEE) is a brand new one-day conference to stimulate dialogue and creativity between students and established community leaders on the topic of social and sustainable business. This one-day, fast-paced conference will be filled with inspiring speakers, business industry panelists, and the Social Innovation Challenge.

Although the birth of social media is allowing ideas and opinions to flow more easily on the web, a large gap still exists between passionate students and active social entrepreneurs in Vancouver. This conference will give delegates the unique opportunity to hear from CEO’s and founders of some of the most influential social enterprises in the local community.

Also during the day, The Social Innovation Challenge will match delegates with team members and one business professional who all share a strong passion for the same social issue. This is an excellent opportunity for delegates to work hand-in-hand with a business professional or community member who shares similar interests.

Interested? We only have 80 spots, so Register Now before Nov 10^th, or find out more about the conference at see.enterprizecanada.org

If you have any questions please email them to community@enterprizecanada.org

Pls include
-Purpose of research (what you want to measure)
-Hyperlink to file
-Description of the file you are referencing
-Description of  the organisation that “owns” the file

Throughout our conversations with these two dynamic individuals, 4 main points remained in my mind long after we had left the building.

1. authenticity
2. value
3. inspiration
4. distinction

This simple yet complex criterion has been key to the success of Octopus Strategies and an essential component to all the companies they have aided over time.  Its amazing (yet not surprising) how important it is to have a “genuine” brand that can evoke enough emotion to cause an action.

Other really interesting ideas included 5 factors that embody authentic leadership

1. grounded/living by a defined set of values
2. belief in and passion for a cause
3. resolute in their mission and consistent to that mission
4. transparent relationship with like-minded individuals
5. all aggressively pursue learning

When thinking of all the great people that inspire and lead in our society you can easily see all of those 5 traits in one way or another.

I really enjoyed my time at Octopus Strategies and hope this is not the last time I hear of the amazing work they are doing.

1. Marketing Today

In class, you hear of the pattern of marketing… apply this, and this will happen – tweak this and consumers will respond this way. This traditional approach, focuses on the product being delivered and not about what is happening behind the scenes. The classic “push” strategy has marketers apply the tools in their toolbox in an effort to deliver results, that somehow distort themselves from what the company is actually heading towards.

“As a marketer, you can’t think that everyone wants to be just like you — all the same stuff you want” — break the bubble

2.Value Marketing

The concept is simple, take the reasons for your organizations existence; the core values that are shared among those that make up your company, and develop a business model that reflects these. A pretty simple design – take what you stand for, and stand by it!

The most emphasized concept: AUTHENTICITY

Be authentic to what you represent, be grounded and defined by those values — and live them. The concept fits with business so well, if you are not authentic to what your brand is communicating, then you are committing lies to sell the brand.

3. Authentic Dichotomy

“[many of] the companies that have this authenticity are all companies that blew the doors off of authenticity and became transformative” made in reference to the list we made of companies. Companies that take this approach towards authentic representation have pioneered their industries.  Shakers of their industry!

4. Incremental Steps to Inspiration

This was one of the BOLDEST points I think I will take from this presentation. Overwhelming people with a classic response to a problem and dramatizing how bad/good the situation is tends to turn them off completely. Using a high level of intensity to capture the hearts of people about a particular problem, can actually lead to doing the opposite. Incremental strategies designed at revealing the problem from a minimalist understanding can help “connect-the-dots” and increasing INSPIRATION.

Learned: Tone down your response to inspiration by telling the story differently than others have in the past, and keep the heavy weight of disaster to a minimum.

Cultural Creation – The Creature that Works for you!

You can’t make it. You can’t buy it. You CAN shape it through organizational processes. This culture becomes the hidden-face of the company and is reflective in the Transparency and Values defined throughout any product or service that is delivered.

Thanks to Octopus Strategies for the great discussions,

Cheers

1. Vancity gives back the community
I was unaware that Vancity is owned by each person that has a deposit account with them (“owned by its clients”). Because of this, Van City has an organizational belief to give back to themselves by giving back to the community. It dedicates 30% of after cost revenues back into the community.  Now that’s something I didn’t know…

2. Vancity was the first in Canada to give loans to women w/o a male cosigner
No explanation needed. I just felt this needed to be included as my respect for the 60 yr old organizations grew immensely upon hearing this.

3.  Home foreclosures can be devastating to the community
When a home forecloses, homes nearby go down 10-20%. Motivated by its client owners, Van City tries to keep Vancouverites in their homes. Any losses associated with keeping a home from foreclosing are written off. Their believe is that it creates a greater benefit to the Vancouverites (and thus Van City owners) around them.

4.  Going to class unprepared and tired SUCKS
I went to this class without having read the preclass material. Not cool. Not only was I trying to play catchup while classmates were debating issues of poverty, happiness, and sustainable development, all I could think about during the class was that my eyelids felt like sandpaper slowly moving over my stationary eyeballs.

5. Current EI practices discourage poor people from Saving
Lets say that right now I was on EI (employment insurance payments), and I wanted to put away some money for a rainy day, or I wanted to  save up for an investment. If I were to do this, I would receive even less money from EI in the future. Because I wouldn’t want my monthly income to decrease, I would have less of an incentive to save, and more of an incentive to spend what I could. Van City is trying to tackle this by lobbying the government to back a savings account that people could deposit money into without any EI repercussions. Peronsally, I like the idea, especially if a reasonable dollar cap is put on the amount that doesn’t affect EI.

Conclusion: I applaud you Van City. I may still prefer the services I get at some of the chartered banks, but you have nonetheless won over my support. Keep up the good work, and I shall get my sleep!

Dave Cameron

1. Peer-Lending Program– Consumers form groups of 3-7 people. Each group member is responsible for supporting the other group members and keeping them in good standing. Each person receives a small loan for a casual business startup.

2. Be Your Own Boss– This program is for entrepreneurs who have big dreams of opening their own small business, but can not qualify for loans or lines of credit in the regular banking system. A sum of $35,000 is given out to these entrepreneurs in the form of term loans and lines of credit. To qualify, entrepreneurs must create a simple business plan.

3. Back to Work–This program is designed for people who require certification. These people are given up to $5,000 to be retrained or licensed in their field of choice.

4. With these hands– This program caters towards people who have job offers, but don’t have the tools or equipment necessary to take the positions.

5. ABLED Program–This program is designated for micro entrepreneurs with disabilities and who need additional financial support.

Apart from the programs that our guest speaker educated us about, she left us with a few key messages that have helped us answer the question of why the Metrofund initiative did not work:

• Some people don’t want to be entrepreneurs– Some people don’t have big dreams of owning their own businesses and making it big. Some people would prefer to work for someone else and Metrofund didn’t provide any help for this type of person. For example, many immigrants come to Canada with an education from their homeland. These people simply need to be licensed in BC in order to find a job. Metrofund never provided a method for these immigrants to get the funds necessary to complete the relicensing process.
• It is important to have a path from poverty to self-reliance. The huge can not be made without an education or know-how in the subject. Vancity has provided a plan for people to learn basic banking, how to save and invest, an education in credit and debt and the end all of ownership. Without that knowledge, these people are doomed from the beginning.

One of the most important things that Erin got across is that these people aren’t hindrances to society. They provide fantastic ideas and are assets to society. All they need is the means necessary to make a difference and to become self-reliant.

Particularly, I found his views on “leadership” very interesting.  Usually I think of “leadership” as taking the lead to achieve a measurable goal (200 delegates to a conference, reduce cost by 10%, finish a group assignment on time…).  Ken talks about leadership from a humble man’s perspective- recognizing that you don’t have all the answers but because your actions will inspire people and help them “belong,” that you have to push through.