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Social Change
I know social change is possible
because I see it daily in
Boston
. This is the introduction to an
essay I'm writing about my personal experience with 18 social
changes. If that sounds like a lot - well, they are highly
interrelated. If it sounds like too few - that's right too, because
plenty of important causes are not even on the list. I will only say
that these are the ones where I've been able to get most
productively involved, looking backwards and looking forwards.
Nine social changes: My
philanthropic autobiography, 1969 - 2002
I define social change as
lasting improvements in how we live together. What counts as
"improvement" depends on what people value and what
"catches on" in the context of the time.This is my
first-hand account of change as it actually occurred. It's been my
privilege to facilitate the vision and follow-through of hundreds of
mission-driven people who have created and sustained an amazing
amount of change here in
Boston
and beyond. In the process, my
avocation to make the world a better place evolved progressively
into my vocation: facilitation for social change.
- Quality
Management becomes standard across sectors
- Training
and development as disciplines
- Teams,
collaboration, and social capital
- Turnaround
on parks and the environment
- Real
benefits from the Internet
- The
rise of business ethics
- Public-private
partnership
- Development
of high-skill volunteerism
- Social
enterprise
Nine promising changes: Most
likely movements to succeed, 2002 - 2030
Here are the places where I see
seeds of major change in our time and where I find growing
leadership, creativity, openness, and commitment. My business is
dedicated to these important causes and the possibility of making
real social change in our lifetime.
- Social
investing
- Out-of-school
time as a focus for education reform
-
Boston
urban renaissance
- Much
greater respect for parks and green space
- Arts
as a means to community and economic development
- More
art for arts' sake
- Civic
engagement
- People
connecting with what's important
- Deepening
democracy:
E Pluribus
Unum
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