Changemaker Reading List - February 2021
I’m always on the lookout for new perspectives and insights on leading change. And I attempt to find them from all kinds of people and in all kinds of places. This week I’ll share a few favorite articles I’ve read in the last week or so on the topic of changemaking. I hope these brilliant pieces will challenge and inspire you and your pursuit of positive change just as they did for me.
Article: Why Ben & Jerry’s Speaks Out (HBR)
Link: https://hbr.org/2021/01/why-ben-jerrys-speaks-out
Why read it? It’s a refreshingly honest look at corporate social responsibility (CSR) and articulates a compelling case for why impact must be a long-term commitment, not opportunistic action. You’ll learn how and when Ben & Jerry’s decides to use its brand for good and how any company of any size or stage can take action, too.
Article: Why I’m taking a sabbatical (Medium)
Link: https://reyf.medium.com/why-im-taking-a-sabbatical-5518ea11bf91
Why read it? Social entrepreneur Rey Faustino (founder of One Degree) brings a genuine and heart-felt perspective to the topic of burnout in the founder / social impact world. More changemakers need to talk about this, and I appreciate the vulnerability he shows here, and how he specifically addresses the unique challenges he faces as a founder of color:
I’m not saying that social entrepreneurship is not hard for anyone who takes this road, because it’s hard no matter what your background or experiences are, but in particular, there is an even more difficult toll that POC leaders don’t talk about on their bodies and souls.
Article: What Top Social Entrepreneurs say about a Dogooder’s Attitude (Impacty)
Why read it? A quick 3 minute read filled with inspiring quotes and actionable advice from changemakers all about developing what I call a “changemaker mindset.”
Article: Disrupting White Supremacy in International Development: 5 Lessons from our Partners (Imago Dei Fund)
Why read it? Even if you aren’t in the field of international development, you’ll find insights related to power dynamics, change and impact. This paragraph especially resonated with me:
"Today, we see all too often that funding is provided based on how funders view the “developing world” and what they perceive is most needed. Quite often these stereotypes do not allow for funding to go directly to communities, and the demand for immediate, measurable results can be not only unrealistic but actively detrimental to sustainable progress. Philanthropy tends to be reactive to a pitch, an application, or something a funder is proximate with, and the funders’ own (often under-informed) view of what’s needed. Instead, communities should be the ones deciding how resources are allocated and what projects or programs they want to invest in for themselves."
Article: Are You Measuring Change at the Right Organizational Layer? (NOBL)
Link: https://academy.nobl.io/are-you-measuring-change-at-the-right-organizational-layer/
Why read it? I love when philosophy intersects with action and this piece gives a fresh take on how we think about change within organizations. Especially recommended for intrapreneurs!
Stewart Brand’s Pace Layering concept theorizes that different parts (or layers) of society change at different paces, from the frenetic shifts of fashion to the more glacial shifts of nature. It inspired us to think about how we measure change within the organization, as well as types of meaningful interventions at different levels
Book: The Startup Teacher Playbook (Michelle Blanchet)
Why read it? While it’s a terrific read for changemaker educators (its target audience), and provides a helpful “Educator Canvas,” what I especially love is the meta-narrative: that each of us can think and act like entrepreneurs even if we are in more traditional fields.