Creating the Conditions for Social Innovation Emergence
Have you ever wondered just how we might build a culture of action in our communities? what might our cities look like if they were designed to foster citizen innovation? how might we generate more social entrepreneurship? these are questions explored in "Creating the Conditions for Social Innovation Emergence" - a Social Innovation Thought Piece.
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Interest in social innovation is growing. It needs to. Our societies are facing extraordinary challenges: increasing inequality, rising poverty rates, unstable economies, climate change and a raft of other issues. At the same time, technologies are transforming the world in which we live, markets are undergoing massive change, and philanthropists are changing their practices. The speed of change is faster than ever, and the social and environmental need is reaching a frightening crescendo.
These challenges are daunting, yes, but they also offer the right set of circumstances to look at old problems in new ways. These challenges offer precisely the right opportunity for social innovation to emerge.
With all of this in mind, thinkers and practitioners alike are trying to make sense of the field of social innovation. What exactly is social innovation? How can we better understand social innovation? What are the best ways to catalyze social innovation and how can we produce more of it?
The Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto is experimenting with new ideas about how to create the conditions for social innovation emergence, in an effort to provide tangible answers to some of these questions.
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This is the introduction to a Thought Piece that I am finally releasing entitled "Creating the Conditions for Social Innovation Emergence". For over a year now, I have been working to crystalize my thinking on what we have learned about how to foster these conditions and how this contribution fits into a more linear or 'scaled' approach to social innovation.
The Centre for Social Innovation has just released a series of publications that describe how we came to be, what we do and what impact we are having. This contribution is more of a look at our theory of change, what makes it work and wondering how this framework might be applied to neighbourhoods, communities, institutions, governments, cities????
So, if you have ever wondered, just how do we actually build a culture of innnovation into our communities? What might our cities look like if they were designed for innovation? how might we generate more social entrepreneurship? If you are interested in these questions, as I am, I would be delighted to hear your thoughts on how to create the conditions for social innovation emergence.
Enjoy the read and do let me know what you think.
Tonya
| Attachment | Size |
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| Conditions for SI Emergence - Surman 2010.pdf | 363.43 KB |
Comments
Social innovation in Hamilton
Check out Rebecca Doll's response and thoughts on social innovation emergence in Hamilton.
My response....
Rebecca, that is a great post and it is so true that there is something happening in Hamilton. I have been asked to speak there a couple of times and every time I can feel the energy buzzing...
Your story reinforces what we know to be true about the artists and cultural creatives leading the charge of urban redevelopment initiatives.... and I know that Hamilton was a leader in galvanizing a Poverty Reduction Roundtable of nonprofit leaders years ago that has netted some incredible outcomes...
Here is my question to you.... what changed?
Hamilton has had low housing prices for years (relative to TO) and has been struggling for years.... what was the change the triggered a movement of artists and community animators to begin to bring their gifts to the community?
Just thinking about our Theory of Change.... were there new spaces (either physical or virtual) that convened people? the poverty roundtable was certainly one.... but were there key initiatives that triggered something? an art event that started the conversation? a cool cafe that drew people too it? that sort of thing?
Over 20 years ago, the corner of Spadina and Richmond was a dead zone... there were hollowed out warehouse buildings, cheap rents but it was scary to walk in that area after dark. She will deny it forever, but one woman, Margie Zeidler, took a risk, bought 401 Richmond and transformed it into an arts and cultural collocation and I think, played a key indicator role that marked the transformation of that neighbourhood. She created a space... she animated the community.... then the community animated itself and now amazing things emerge from the whole neighbourhood. On this issue, Margie will also speak of a change in by-law that allowed different uses of the space that also provided an opportunity.
I am curious what you think might have triggered the change?
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