Last post of 2010: Recapping some innovation trends
As we teeter on the edge of a new year, after eight months in operation, we thought we’d highlight a few of the stories we came across the past year. Thanks for joining us in our launch year, come back regularly, and please join in on the conversation! Note: Our office will be closed until Jan.2. We’ll be back strong in 2011.
1. How SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS think about maximizing impact from the get-go:
- Craig Kielburger showed how to empower entrepreneurs from a young age
- Young entrepreneurs often kick off their careers by integrating multiple social issues
- Dowser founder David Bornstein’s latest book looks at the motives that make entrepreneurship social
2. How local and consumer efforts are working to combat political inertia on the ENVIRONMENT:
- Local and state-based movements attempt to compensate for a lack of leadership at the national and international levels. Fort Collins Colorado is setting up to be the world’s largest net-zero energy community
- New Jersey’s citizens are being given the chance to sell solar energy produced in their homes
- Technology is beginning to give individuals responsibility for environmental reporting through smartphone apps
3. EDUCATION: Helping students to recognize their full capacity and embrace longer-term goals:
- Bob Lenz discussed how Envision Schools prepare low-income high schoolers with the skills to succeed in college
- Jamie Berger of the Thrive Project on his idea for expanding career development options for rural youth
- Our arts and urban youth series made the case for buttressing arts education to develop life-long problem-solving skills
4. FOOD: Eating locally isn’t just about locally-sourced food anymore — but about recognizing the impact on communities, near and far:
- The Brooklyn Food Coalition’s Nancy Romer talked about building a food movement one neighborhood at a time
- Dickson Despommier is breaking out of the rural-farming box with vertical farms
- A mobile farm stand is bringing the farm to food deserts
Please write back with ideas or themes that you’ve noticed.
Happy New Year!
