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The Simple Questions To Leverage The Power Of Art In Disaster Recovery

Sofia — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 21:49:48 +0000

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”-Pablo Picasso

Even before disaster recovery, philosophers have contemplated beauty- in both nature and art- evaluating the purpose behind it.

However, in the modern day, we often consider art a firmly “impractical” field, reserved exclusively for those with enough money, privilege, or time to enjoy it.

But what if art is more than this?

Maybe art is a necessity, especially when everything else has been lost.

Give me two minutes, and I’ll tell you why.

Why Does Aesthetic Appeal Matter In Disaster Recovery?

According to the book Art and Disaster Resilience, small changes in certain components of nonlinear systems can cause stability to disappear, which leads to big changes in the overall system.

Through artistic mediums, artists can change how these changes are digested by the viewer. In fact, public exhibitions of art can transform how people create new realities out of the destruction they experience through unforeseeable disasters.

Combining the power of art to transform our reality with the power of engineering to rebuild our built environment, is the key to putting this into practice.

The question, then, is what that intersection looks like.

The current vocabulary around “reconstruction” after natural disasters mostly revolves around physical reconstruction. What we are talking about here, though, is the reconstruction of community and mental health alongside physical structures.

There have been several successful examples of this thus far, such as the Fundred Dollar Bill project, Sandy Storyline, Yappeshi Matsuri, and the Arts In Recovery organization.

But what makes them successful?

Social capital.

Allow me to explain.

What is social capital?

While post-disaster recovery processes are often considered opportunities for physical reconstruction, they are also opportunities to revitalize the local economy, upgrading quality of life and community ties.

Social capital– which describes the trust, social norms, and networks which affect social and economic activity- is at the heart of this.

Why?

Because trust and connection in a community makes it easier to collaboratively recover and exchange resources for the overall benefit of the community. Not only is this reflected in how fast physical spaces return to normal, but also in the strength of community ties after a disaster.

However, the risk of extreme natural disasters is increasing, and there are still gaps in our responses.

The good news?

Innovators like you can use the gaps I am about to list to make communities more adaptable and resilient to natural disasters in the future.

Gaps In Disaster Response & Recovery

Addressing the interdisciplinary community-based problems that arise after natural disasters requires interdisciplinary community-based solutions.

These are questions not only for engineers and city planners, but also artists, musicians, and storytellers.

How do we rebuild, not just physically reconstructing our buildings, but nurturing our collective consciousness as a community?

#1: Youth-Friendly Spaces For Disaster Recovery

Typically, research surrounding disaster recovery has focused on supporting adults. However, this misses out on the specific struggles of children and teenagers, and their journey to recovery after natural disasters.

However, research from 2017 has revealed specific strategies that, if implemented, could improve the support available to youth. Some of these strategies include peer to peer support, and creating stability in home and school environments. In the 2017 study, students voiced a need for not only physical and psychological support, but also the symbolic need (e.g. hope, normalcy, prosperity) that are difficult to reinforce after a disaster.

How do we fill these gaps?

This is up to problem-solvers like you to explore, but here are some questions to get you started.

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

How can we design temporary shelters or communal spaces that offer safety while incorporating art to create a sense of familiarity and comfort for youth?
What are key cultural elements in art and engineering that resonate with youth in affected regions, and how can we incorporate these into disaster recovery efforts to foster resilience?
What forms of art (e.g., music, murals, theater) could be integrated into engineering projects to promote emotional healing and a sense of belonging for youth in temporary living spaces?
How can engineering and design techniques be used to create mobile or modular art spaces that support the continuity of community and cultural expression for displaced youth?
What roles can youth play in the collaborative design process, allowing them to co-create solutions that reflect their unique needs and perspectives?
How can we ensure that our collaborative projects remain sustainable and adaptable, providing long-term benefits as youth progress through different stages of recovery?
What metrics or feedback systems can we design to assess the effectiveness of our projects in fostering both physical safety and psychological recovery for young people?

#2: Using Music To Shape Disaster Response

Music has played a significant role in disaster response, often acting as a tool for community healing, fundraising, and remembrance.

Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, music gatherings fostered solidarity and resilience, while local folk arts like matsuri festivals (traditional celebrations with dance and song) were revived to restore a sense of normalcy and cultural identity.

These performances connected residents with their heritage, helping them process the trauma and rebuild their social fabric through shared cultural expression.

Another example of music in action is after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when Linkin Park founded “Music for Relief” to leverage music’s influence in raising awareness and funds for disaster-stricken areas.

This organization has since responded to over 25 global natural disasters, using music-driven campaigns to gather support and plant over a million trees as part of environmental recovery efforts.

After Hurricane Sandy, musicians and artists collaborated to capture survivors’ stories and create interactive installations to commemorate their experiences.

This initiative, blending music, stories, and art, allowed affected individuals to express their personal challenges while fostering civil conversations around community values and future preparedness.

It shows that music and storytelling can serve as cathartic, communal spaces for processing disaster experiences.

So what is left to address?

Here are a few.

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

What specific musical traditions or sounds are culturally meaningful to the community, and how can we incorporate these elements to foster resilience and a sense of identity?
What role can music play in community rituals or gatherings during disaster recovery, and how can we facilitate these gatherings to support collective healing?
How can we collaborate with local musicians and youth to co-create music sessions or programs that are therapeutic and representative of the community’s resilience and experiences?
In what ways can we integrate music therapy principles into disaster response initiatives to provide psychological support to children and young adults?
How can music be used as a symbolic tool to commemorate and honor lost lives or damaged heritage, and how might this influence our design and delivery methods?

#3: Developing Preventative & Predictive Measures

Consider this: effective early warning systems can save lives by providing communities with the crucial time needed to evacuate or reinforce structures before a disaster strikes.

On the other hand, preventative strategies, such as environmental planning and infrastructure development, can significantly reduce the damage a natural disaster does to a community.

The urgency to prioritize these measures grows as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

By combining predictive data with preventative planning, communities can better protect lives, reduce economic losses, and lower post-disaster recovery costs.

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

What early-warning signs of natural disasters are often missed or underutilized, and how could technology enhance the detection of these signs?
How can predictive models be improved to factor in the unique environmental and social vulnerabilities of specific regions, ensuring more tailored and effective responses?
What role can community-driven data collection and local knowledge play in creating more accurate and responsive disaster prediction systems?
What are the social and economic barriers preventing communities from adopting existing preventative technologies, and how might solutions address these barriers?
How can solutions be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, ensuring rapid deployment in at-risk areas?
How can solutions prioritize the most vulnerable populations, such as those in underserved or remote areas, in both the prediction and prevention of disasters?
In what ways can solutions promote sustainable practices to address underlying causes of disaster vulnerability, such as deforestation or urban development in flood-prone areas?
How can data on past natural disasters be utilized to create a global network of best practices, allowing regions to learn from each other and develop faster, more effective preventative solutions?

How to Get Started/Conclusion

Now the question is, how can you get started on applying these concepts and questions to your innovation?

Here are three easy steps you can take in less than 15 minutes to begin problem-solving now:

(8 minutes) Pen & Paper:
1. Write one of the “gap” questions at the top of a piece of paper.
2. Identify down 3 facts you know already about the problem (that are relevant to the questions).
3. Note down 3 facts you would need to know to understand the problem fully.
4. Note down 3 “What if…” questions about this problem.
(5 minutes) The First 3 Steps:
1. Determine the first 3 steps you can take to learn more about the problem and how you can address it given your constraints (e.g. time, money) and skills (i.e. What do you do very well? What do you have a certification or degree in?)
(2 minutes) Schedule:
1. Put the first 3 steps of your plan into your calendar!

Thought To Action

(5min. Or Less) Support Mental Health through Art Donations: Consider donating to organizations that bring music, art, and creative therapy to affected areas. Programs like Music for Relief use art as a form of therapy for trauma survivors, helping to rebuild mental resilience in disaster-stricken communities
(15min. Or Less) Sign Petitions to Support Policy Changes: Advocacy can play a major role in disaster prevention and response. In just a few minutes, you can sign petitions aimed at improving disaster preparedness, strengthening local infrastructure, or protecting disaster-prone communities from environmental risks. Websites like Change.org or local government platforms are good places to start.
(30min. Or Less) Send Encouragement Cards: Write a few words of encouragement in cards or notes to be sent to individuals or families affected by a disaster. Organizations like Letters of Hope often organize these kinds of drives, making it easy to join in from anywhere.
(1 Hour Or Less) Create a Care Package: Some organizations accept donations of specific care package items like hygiene kits, blankets, or food. Spend an hour assembling one or two care packages and mail them to an organization coordinating disaster response, such as the Red Cross or local food banks.
(More Than 1 Hour) Engage in Virtual Volunteerism: Many recovery organizations seek virtual volunteers to help with tasks like graphic design, social media, or website support. If you’re comfortable with digital tools, you can offer your time to support these projects remotely, helping to amplify their impact without needing to be on-site

Sources

Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (2020). Art and disaster resilience perspectives. Retrieved from https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/63727113/Chapter_12_Paton_Johnston_Disaster_Resilience_2ed20200624-1250-185tpg5-libre.pdf

Borum, R. (2017). Social science approaches to building community resilience in disaster response and recovery. University of Delaware. Retrieved from https://udspace.udel.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/8fcc8535-9d52-4ad4-a674-c33d6475cb95/content

Cox, R. S., Scannell, L., Heykoop, C., Tobin-Gurley, J., & Peek, L. (2017). Understanding youth disaster recovery: The vital role of people, places, and activities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 22, 249–256. Retrieved from https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/publications/11_2017_Cox_Scannell_Heykoop_Tobin_Peek.pdf

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). Disaster response and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/disaster-response-and-recovery

Akasaka, H., & Uekusa, S. (2017). Disaster education in Japan and Sweden: Comparative perspective on the school system. Retrieved from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1094436/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Yokohama National University. (2018). Building resilience through local business partnerships in disaster risk reduction. Journal of Disaster Research, 40(2), 42–56. Retrieved from https://www.cba.ynu.ac.jp/gakkai/kaisi/pdf/40-2-6.pdf

Smith, G. P., & Wenger, D. (2007). Sustainable disaster recovery: Operationalizing an existing agenda. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 25(3), 235-256. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gavin-Smith-10/publication/226836921_Sustainable_Disaster_Recovery_Operationalizing_An_Existing_Agenda/links/5af5ace20f7e9b026bceb0d1/Sustainable-Disaster-Recovery-Operationalizing-An-Existing-Agenda.pdf

Cox, R. S., Scannell, L., Heykoop, C., Tobin-Gurley, J., & Peek, L. (2017). Community and youth resilience through social science research. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=a1b18cd25b71aa4183cb7125b877b9c2bdf210b6

Kant, I. (1785). Fundamental principles of the metaphysics of morals. Retrieved from https://iep.utm.edu/kantaest/#SH2d

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2019). Natural disasters. Our World in Data. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/natural-disasters

Forecast Public Art. (n.d.). How artists help communities heal after disasters. Retrieved from https://forecastpublicart.org/how-artists-help-communities-heal-after-disasters/

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2024). Art and community resilience: FEMA builds connections between art, culture, and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240131/art-community-resilience-fema-builds-connections-between-art-culture-and

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5 Simple Lessons from Statistics to Drive Informed Decision-Making

Sofia — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:19:34 +0000

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
Theodore Roosevelt

Intro

Decision-making based on data is one of the most universally demanded skills of our time.

Every day, we face the decision to act, speak, or drive change in a particular direction. It can be as small as what you choose to eat for lunch, or as big as whether you choose to follow one career versus another.

What drives these decisions is often a mix of “gut instinct”, emotion,

#1: Using Descriptive vs. Inferential Statistics in Decision-Making

Descriptive statistics summarize data, while inferential statistics help make predictions or decisions based on data.

One common fallacy among non-statisticians is to confuse statistics that generalize about a population with statistics that have already been measured and established.

Imagine walking into a restaurant. You wonder what you will order.

If someone handed you the menu, you would see a clear outline of everything available. This is like descriptive statistics, giving you an exact picture of the sample population.

If you looked around, without a menu, and saw some people eating salads, you might infer that the restaurant orders salad. That is like inferential statistics.

But why does it matter to you?

We are exposed to statistical claims every day, both in professional settings and personal life. How we understand these claims directly affects how we respond to them.

If you want to respond better, start with your interpretation. Simple as that.

#2: Beware of Sampling Bias

Ensure that your sample accurately represents the population to avoid skewed results.

Sampling bias is one type of selection bias. Often, it occurs when a statistical study selects its subjects in a non-random way.

Importantly, this is not necessarily due to negligence. It can also take place whenever there are limited subjects available.

For example, imagine you are in that restaurant we mentioned, and you wanted to know what other customers recommend you order.

If you are only sampling customers in the restaurant right now, your responses will be biased. What if the usual chef was sick that day and the replacement messed up their orders? What if the lunch menu is terrible, but the breakfast menu is incredible?

If you only sample other customers who are physically in the restaurant with you at the same time, you will not get an accurate understanding of the best item to order.

Before jumping to conclusions based on other data in your life, consider this: you curate your own sample population; we all do.

What perspectives are you missing and how do you fill that gap?

#3: Understand P-values

A low p-value indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, but it doesn’t prove the alternative hypothesis.

First things first. What on earth are “p-values”, “null hypotheses”, and “alternative hypotheses”?

Essentially, a p-value tells you how likely it is for an event to come about as a coincidence. Low p-values suggest that the occurrence is unlikely to occur by chance, and vice versa.

When evaluating data, a null hypothesis is the starting assumption that there is no causal effect in what you’re studying.

The alternate hypothesis is the opposite of the null hypothesis and suggests a causal relationship in what you are studying.

The goal of an experiment is usually to either provide evidence against the null hypothesis or fail to find enough evidence to reject it, thus supporting the alternate hypothesis.

This is important for everyone to understand, as it highlights the important fact that not all results from data suggest causation.

Only the statistically significant results.

Speaking of causation…

#4: Decision-Making Based On Correlation vs. Causation

Correlation shows a relationship between two variables, but it does not imply causation.

The human brain is conditioned to recognize patterns, and in many ways this is thanks to its causal structure.

This is to say, we look for causation, not correlation, so it will be a perpetual struggle to untangle these from each other.

Nevertheless, we must try.

Identifying when correlation and causation are each at play is the key to thinking clearly about data-driven problem-solving, and solution analysis.

Consider this Washington Post article, which explores the correlation between crime and police spending.

Ultimately, the article concludes that there is “no correlation nationally between spending and crime rates”. However, causal research has shown that having more police typically leads to a reduction in crime.

See how easy it is to make this mistake, and the difference it makes?

#5: Beware of Confirmation Bias In Your Decision-Making

Avoid interpreting data in a way that confirms your preconceptions.

One quote commonly attributed to Stephen Covey is that “we see the world as we are”.

When using any data to make conclusions, it is vital to remember this.

The fact of the matter is this: statistics are not untouched by human psychology.

Actually, the human lens is exactly what gives any set of data true meaning. Because of that, it’s usually not “What is the data telling us?”, but rather “What do we want to hear?” The danger comes when what we want to hear from the data is aligned with what it is telling us.

Identifying this bias is important, not just for our self-awareness as individuals, but as scientists, policy-makers, journalists, business owners, and consumers.

By uncovering our own confirmation bias, we will be more open to identifying new patterns and developing creative new approaches.

Beyond this, addressing confirmation bias also serves to promote open-mindedness, which is crucial in a world of decision-makers faced with high levels of polarization.

To Sum It Up…

Understanding statistics is no longer a task just for researchers or analysts—it’s essential for anyone looking to make informed decisions, whether in business, healthcare, education, or everyday life.

By mastering these five concepts, you can approach data more critically, ask better questions, and ultimately make decisions that are not only data-backed but also rooted in accuracy and fairness.

Thought to Action

Diversity: Create diversity in any sample, survey, or research you conduct. Additionally, make sure to check for diversity behind the research you review as an outsider.
Dive Deeper: Instead of assuming a specific cause for an event, ask “What else could be going on here?”
Challenge Yourself: Approach claims with a beginner’s mindset, considering what are the gaps in your understanding of the data.
Beware of Data Dredging: Avoid searching for patterns in data without a prior hypothesis, as this increases the risk of finding spurious correlations.
Continuously Improve Data Literacy: Stay updated with statistical methods and best practices to make better-informed decisions.

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/science/confirmation-bias

https://hbr.org/2021/11/leaders-stop-confusing-correlation-with-causation

Correlation vs. Causation: The Danger of Misinterpreting Them

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41583-023-00778-7

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574513

https://golayer.io/blog/business/data-interpretation

https://researchmethod.net/data-interpretation

https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

https://www.princeton.edu/~smello/papers/cops.pdf

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5 Secrets from Ecology So You Can Meaningfully Contribute to Conservation Efforts

Sofia — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

“Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.”

— Jochen Zeitz

In a world faced with saddening rates of deforestation, coral reef acidification, and more, it is easy to lose hope that any single individual could meaningfully contribute to conservation efforts.

This, however, is one of the tragic misconceptions of our time.

Actually, there are several ways a single individual can leverage their efforts to generate a larger impact.

Why You Think You Can’t “Meaningfully Contribute” to Conservation…And Why You’re Wrong

In 2024, about half the world’s population will see national elections.

With this global shift in power, there is also a global epidemic of individuals believing their vote doesn’t matter.

This is, however, a tragic misconception.

Consider the model used in this 80,000 Hours article, “if the US government discretionary spending is $6.4 trillion over four years, and you have a 1 in 10 million chance of changing the outcome of the national election, then in expectation you have some degree of influence over $640,000 of government spending.”

So, your vote is worth $640,000. Is that enough to justify taking an hour out to vote, and more time to inform yourself about the candidates?

For most, the answer is yes.

So what?

Most people think about conservation the same way.

“I cannot change the entire world by myself, so I will not change any part of the world at all.”

Perhaps the first part of this argument is true- it’s rare that one individual has a deep impact globally, all on their own.

However, the work of individuals could often be enough to change very large portions of space, maybe even entire cities.

If you could be the difference between 10 acres of wild, would that be a meaningful enough contribution? Would it matter?

I think so.

#1: Create Urban Wildlife Corridors.

Urban wildlife corridors are small corridors in cities- such as backyards, abandoned lots, local parks, beaches, etc.- that have been repurposed to connect fragmented habitats with each other.

So what?

Well, when habitats are continuously broken down into smaller and smaller areas, it becomes increasingly difficult for wildlife to access water, food, and mates.

The global effect of this (in an increasingly urbanized world) is a staggering decrease in biodiversity.

Usually though, creating large urban wildlife corridors is a challenge due to the number of property owners and stakeholders involved.

Nevertheless, even a small wildlife corridor- a backyard, a front garden, or a community park- can make a sizable difference to the biodiversity of your community.

Furthermore, it will encourage other individuals to do the same, creating a wave of impact on countless species.

#2: Participate in Citizen Science Projects

According to the British Ecological Society, citizen science can be generally defined as “the involvement of volunteers in research”.

While this means citizen scientists can help out at any stage in the process, usually they help out with data collection and analysis.

The work of citizen scientists, ultimately, provides a highly valued resource to the scientific community, giving them the ability to develop much larger datasets than scientists would be able to capture alone.

The best part?

Getting involved in initiatives like this is super easy!

No matter where you live, there are several citizen science apps you can download on your phone, programs you can join, and scientists you can support to generate eco-friendly innovation.

Just choose an area you are passionate about, and get started.

#3: Create & Distribute Seed Bombs

For anyone unacquainted with seed bombs, they likely sound like a classified weapon used by the military.

In reality, they are little balls of compost, water, clay, and (you guessed it) seeds.

They are used by passionate eco warriors and guerrilla gardeners to reintroduce native species into neglected areas, promoting biodiversity and enhancing green space.

In fact, they have been used since the seventies, the idea originating in New York.

Originally, the term was “seed grenade”, and it was made of wildflower seeds, water, and fertilizer, all wrapped in a condom. These seed grenades were tossed over fences into empty lots, reintroducing life, beauty, and nature into even the most depressing urban wastelands.

Fortunately, you can easily carry on this charming tradition without any condoms.

Just combine 5 parts clay with 1 part compost in a large bowl, gradually adding water and mixing until you have a consistency similar to dough. Then, you add in 1 part seeds of your choice, although preferably seeds that are local to the area. Next, you roll the mixture into balls the size of a marble, and wait for them to dry. This will take one to two days.

Once they’re dry, distribute them!

Ideally, the seed bombs are best for areas that are hard to reach, neglected, or in need of greenery. This includes empty lots, roadside verges, or bare patches of soil.

Before you know it, you will have turned the concrete cityscape into a natural oasis.

#4: Crowdfund for local conservation.

Crowdfunding is about putting the power in your hands.

Instead of hoping big funding bodies will deem your area of interest “important” enough to fund, you fund the project yourself.

Whether it’s a particular species, a habitat in your local community, or a certain organization close to your heart, crowdfunding can be a powerful way to make an impact on conservation efforts you care about.

Not a billionaire?

Don’t sweat it.

Crowdfunding for conservation efforts can be as simple as asking for a donation instead of a birthday present, doing a series of social media posts, or putting up a poster in a nearby public space (e.g. cafe or library).

It’s easy to get started, so why not give it a shot?

#5: Adopt a beach or park.

Last, but not least, an effective way to make a meaningful contribution to conservation efforts is through adopting a beach or a park.

This allows you to expand your awareness of your local habitats, facilitate pollution prevention, and enjoy the instant gratification of seeing your beach or park visibly cleaner than before.

You don’t need to be part of a large group to do this. In fact, all that is required is a single individual, or perhaps even a single household.

Just pick a site nearby, and usually you will be required to commit three days of the year to cleanup before receiving an adoption certificate.

It’s easy, and it makes a clear visible difference!

Your meaningful contribution starts today.

With these unique and actionable tips, you will be equipped to make a meaningful impact in your community.

So what are the next steps?

Simple! Just pick one of the ideas listed, and try applying it.

Test it out, then try something else.

Whether you make a single seed bomb, adopt miles of local greenery, or create urban wildlife corridors all around your city, your impact will make a difference. It will matter. It will be meaningful.

Most of all, it will show others that change is possible, and inspire them to take action too.

Thought to Action

Create Urban Wildlife Corridors: Work with local residents, schools, and businesses to plant native plants in strategic locations, such as backyards, road medians, or unused public land. Native plants are crucial as they provide food and shelter for local wildlife. Encourage residents to create habitats that support wildlife, including native plants, bird feeders, and water features, effectively turning backyards into a network of wildlife corridors.
Participate in Citizen Science: Look for citizen science projects in your area or online platforms like iNaturalist, eBird, or Zooniverse, where you can contribute data on local wildlife, plants, or environmental conditions.
Create & Distribute Seed Bombs: Mix clay, compost, and native wildflower seeds into small balls. The clay helps protect the seeds until they’re ready to germinate, and the compost provides nutrients. These can be made in bulk at community events or workshops.
Adopt a Beach or a Park: Select a local beach, park, or other natural area that could benefit from regular maintenance and conservation efforts. Contact local authorities or conservation organizations to formally adopt the area.Plan monthly or quarterly clean-ups with volunteers to remove trash, invasive species, and other debris. Provide participants with gloves, bags, and tools, and arrange for proper disposal of collected waste. Beyond clean-ups, work on projects like planting native vegetation, installing bird boxes, or creating educational signage about local wildlife and conservation efforts.
Crowdfund For Local Conservation: Find a specific conservation project that requires funding, such as purchasing land for a nature reserve, restoring a habitat, or funding research on local wildlife.

Sources

Check your sources!

“2024: The Year of Global Elections – Ash Center.” Ash Center, 5 June 2024, ash.harvard.edu/resources/2024-the-year-of-global-elections/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Agar, Chloe. “10 Ways to Get Involved with Citizen Science.” Grow Wild, 11 Mar. 2024, growwild.kew.org/blog/10-ways-get-involved-citizen-science. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Blue Ocean Society For Marine Conservation. Adopt-a-Beach Handbook. Blue Ocean Society For Marine Conservation.

Borrell, James. “Crowdfunding Conservation: 10 Inspiring Projects.” Dr. James Borrell, 2016, www.jamesborrell.com/crowdfunding-conservation-10-inspiring-projects/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Cave, Lydia. “Wildlife Corridors in Urban Habitats – Wild Ideas.” Wild Ideas, 24 Oct. 2020, www.wild-ideas.org.uk/2020/10/24/wildlife-corridors-in-urban-habitats/.

Darrah, Petrina. “Here’s Why Citizen Science Is Important, and How You Can Contribute – GVI | GVI.” Www.gvi.co.uk, 5 Oct. 2022, www.gvi.co.uk/blog/heres-why-citizen-science-is-important-and-how-you-can-contribute/.

Eliades, Angelo. “How to Make and Use Seed Bombs: A Complete Guide for Green Guerrillas.” Deep Green Permaculture, 30 Aug. 2024, deepgreenpermaculture.com/2024/08/31/how-to-make-and-use-seed-bombs-a-complete-guide-for-green-guerrillas/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Fenwick, Cody. “Does Your Vote Matter? What the Research Says.” 80,000 Hours, 21 June 2024, 80000hours.org/2024/06/does-your-vote-matter-what-the-research-says/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Global Forest Watch. “Global Deforestation Rates & Statistics by Country | GFW.” Www.globalforestwatch.org, 2022, www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/global/.

Goodey, Jan. “How and Why to Make Seedbombs.” The Ecologist, 24 Mar. 2023, theecologist.org/2010/may/18/how-and-why-make-seedbombs. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

“How to Make a Seed Bomb | the Wildlife Trusts.” Wildlifetrusts.org, 2019, www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-seed-bomb. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Land-Zandstra, Anne, et al. “Participants in Citizen Science.” The Science of Citizen Science, 2021, pp. 243–259, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58278-4_13. Accessed 21 Oct. 2021.

Padfield, Amy. “Citizen Science Hub.” British Ecological Society, www.britishecologicalsociety.org/learning-and-resources/engaging-the-public/citizen-science-hub/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

“Urban Wildlife Corridors: Building Bridges for Wildlife and People | Urban Agenda Platform.” Urbanagendaplatform.org, 2022, www.urbanagendaplatform.org/resources/urban-wildlife-corridors-building-bridges-wildlife-and-people. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

World Economic Forum. “This Is How Crowdfunding Is Helping to Protect Our Planet.” World Economic Forum, 31 May 2018, www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/crowdfunded-campaigns-are-conserving-the-earth-s-environment/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Your Family or Household Can Be a Solution to Ocean Learn about Pollution Pick a Site… Any Site** Join the Community Science Movement.

Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/green-leafed-tree-38136/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

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5 Lessons from Journalism on How to Uncover Social Inequities

Sofia — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis

One of the greatest tragedies of modern journalism is the fact that the most pressing social inequities do not get the most attention.

It’s true that what counts as the “most pressing” social inequities is rather vague and subjective. However, it is almost always true that the stories surrounding what we “should” care about and the actions we “should” take are more complex than we realize.

Unfortunately though, most consumers of news, social media, articles, books, and podcasts have not been equipped with the right tools to truly discern the root of social inequities and how to decide what are the most effective ways of addressing them.

So today, we’re going to expose the secrets that great journalists already know.

You will learn how to see through the smoke and mirrors, read between the lines, and truly uncover, unravel, and make right the greatest social inequities we face today.

Pixabay. Pexels, www.pexels.com/search/journalism/. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

#1: Follow the Money

Track financial flows to reveal power structures and economic disparities that contribute to social inequities.

Financial flows tell you who is really calling the shots.

Even if you’re not a journalist, you can apply this principle by conducting research into the funding behind issues you’re passionate about. Who makes money when the problem persists? Who decided it was a problem and why? Do the money, messages, and actions all align?

This involves identifying sources of funding, analyzing budgets, and exploring financial relationships between entities like governments, corporations, and communities. The goal is to uncover who holds power, how that power is exercised through financial means, and how it affects different groups within society.

Steps to Implement:

Identify the Issue: Choose a specific social inequity you are concerned about, such as unequal access to education, healthcare disparities, or environmental injustice.
Research Funding Sources: Look into where the funding for key organizations or projects related to the issue comes from. This could involve investigating government budgets, corporate donations, or philanthropic grants.
Analyze Financial Statements: Review the financial reports or public records of these organizations. Pay attention to how money is allocated and whether the distribution of funds aligns with the needs of marginalized communities.
Examine Influence: Investigate any connections between financial contributors and policy decisions. Are there patterns where certain donors or funders have a disproportionate influence on policies that affect social equity?
Engage with Public Data: Utilize publicly available data, such as tax records, campaign finance disclosures, or budget documents. These can provide insights into where money is flowing and highlight any discrepancies or imbalances.
Compare and Contrast: Look for disparities in funding between different communities or groups. For example, compare the financial resources allocated to schools in affluent areas versus those in underprivileged areas.
Share Your Findings: Present your findings through blogs, social media, or community meetings. Use data visualizations like charts or infographics to make the information accessible and compelling.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you’re concerned about the unequal distribution of education funding in your city. You decide to “follow the money” to understand how this contributes to social inequities.

Identify the Issue: You’ve noticed that schools in wealthier neighborhoods seem to have more resources than those in poorer areas.
Research Funding Sources: You start by examining your local government’s education budget. You find that public schools are funded by both state funds and local property taxes.
Analyze Financial Statements: By comparing the budgets of schools in different neighborhoods, you discover that schools in wealthier areas receive significantly more funding due to higher property tax revenues.
Examine Influence: Further research reveals that parents in affluent areas are also able to fundraise more effectively, leading to additional resources that schools in poorer areas lack.
Engage with Public Data: You access and analyze public records, such as school district financial reports and property tax assessments, to gather concrete data on the funding disparities.
Compare and Contrast: You compare the per-student funding in schools across different neighborhoods and find a clear disparity that correlates with the socioeconomic status of each area.
Share Your Findings: You compile your research into a blog post with charts showing the funding disparities and suggest potential policy changes, such as equitable redistribution of funds or increased state funding for under-resourced schools.

#2: Understand Historical Context

Investigate the historical roots of current social inequities to provide context and depth to your reporting.

Understanding how past policies, practices, and societal norms have shaped present-day issues, provides you with a deeper and more informed perspective on why these inequities exist and persist.

This helps to reveal the roots of inequality and the long-term impact of historical injustices.

You can apply this principle by researching the historical events and policies related to the social issues you care about. This might involve studying historical records, reading academic articles, or talking to people who have lived through relevant events.

The aim is to understand the broader context that has led to the current situation, allowing you to see the connections between past and present inequalities.

Steps to Implement:

Identify the Issue: Choose a specific social inequity, such as racial discrimination in housing, gender wage gaps, or environmental injustice.
Research Historical Background: Start by researching the history related to the issue. Look into laws, policies, social movements, and historical events that have influenced the current state of affairs.
Consult Primary Sources: Access primary sources such as historical documents, archives, newspapers, and government records to gather firsthand information about past events and policies.
Seek Expert Opinions: Read works by historians, sociologists, and other scholars who have studied the issue. Their analyses can provide deeper insights into how historical factors have shaped current inequities.
Analyze Continuities and Changes: Identify how historical practices and policies have evolved over time and how their legacies continue to impact the issue today. Look for patterns that have persisted and those that have changed.
Contextualize the Present: Use your historical understanding to explain how current social inequities are rooted in past events. This can help you and others see that these issues are not isolated but part of a larger historical continuum.
Share and Educate: Share your findings with others, whether through writing, presentations, or discussions. Educate your community on the historical roots of the issues you’re investigating to foster a deeper understanding and more informed dialogue.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you’re concerned about racial disparities in home ownership in your city. You decide to “understand historical context” to explore how these disparities have developed over time.

Identify the Issue: You notice that Black and minority communities in your city have lower rates of home ownership compared to white communities.
Research Historical Background: You begin by researching the history of housing policies in your city and country. You discover that during the 20th century, practices like redlining—where banks and insurance companies refused to offer loans or insurance to people in certain neighborhoods, often based on race—were common.
Consult Primary Sources: You find historical maps, government records, and documents showing how neighborhoods were segregated and how certain areas were deemed “high risk” for investment, often coinciding with areas where Black families lived.
Seek Expert Opinions: You read articles and books by historians and urban studies scholars who have analyzed the long-term effects of redlining and housing discrimination.
Analyze Continuities and Changes: You observe that although redlining was officially banned in the late 1960s, its effects are still visible today in the form of lower property values, reduced investment, and limited access to mortgages in historically redlined areas.
Contextualize the Present: You use this historical context to explain how the racial disparities in home ownership today are directly linked to these discriminatory practices, which have had a lasting impact on wealth accumulation and community development.
Share and Educate: You create a presentation or write an article explaining how the history of redlining has contributed to the current disparities in home ownership. You may present this information at a community meeting or share it online to raise awareness and spark discussions about potential solutions.

#3: Identify Gatekeepers

Recognize and approach individuals who control access to crucial information or communities, understanding their role in either obstructing or facilitating your investigation.

Gatekeepers can be people in positions of authority, community leaders, or organizations that have the power to either obstruct or facilitate access to the information and networks you need to uncover social inequities.

Understanding their role and establishing a relationship with them is crucial for gaining the insights and access necessary for effective investigation.

Identify and approach key individuals or organizations that hold influence over the information or communities related to the social issue you’re investigating.

This involves building relationships, understanding their motives, and determining how they can either help or hinder your efforts.

Steps to Implement:

Identify the Issue: Choose a social inequity you want to explore, such as access to healthcare, educational disparities, or workers’ rights.
Map Out Influencers: Research and list the key individuals, organizations, or institutions that influence or control access to the information or communities relevant to your issue. These could be local government officials, community leaders, non-profits, or even media outlets.
Understand Their Role: Investigate the role these gatekeepers play in the issue. Do they have the power to provide access to important data, or are they influential figures within affected communities? Understand their interests, motivations, and potential biases.
Approach Gatekeepers Strategically: Develop a plan to approach these gatekeepers. Consider how to present your intentions in a way that aligns with their interests or values. Building trust is key, so be transparent about your goals and respectful of their role.
Build Relationships: Establish and nurture relationships with gatekeepers. This might involve attending community meetings, setting up one-on-one meetings, or engaging with them through social media or other communication channels.
Leverage Their Influence: Once you’ve built a relationship, seek their assistance in gaining access to information, communities, or networks. They might introduce you to key individuals, grant access to restricted data, or offer insights that deepen your understanding of the issue.
Evaluate Their Impact: Assess how the gatekeepers’ influence affects the issue. Are they part of the solution, or do they contribute to the problem? This understanding will help you navigate the complexities of their involvement and plan your next steps.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you are concerned about disparities in access to quality healthcare in a low-income community. You decide to “identify gatekeepers” to gain access to information and communities that will help you understand and address this issue.

Identify the Issue: You focus on the lack of access to quality healthcare services in a low-income neighborhood in your city.
Map Out Influencers: You identify several potential gatekeepers, including the director of a local health clinic, a community organizer who works with low-income families, and a city council member who represents the area.
Understand Their Role: You research the director of the local health clinic, the community organizer, and the city council member.
Approach Gatekeepers Strategically: You reach out to the community organizer first, as they are likely to be more approachable and can help introduce you to the other gatekeepers. You explain your interest in understanding the healthcare challenges in the neighborhood and ask for their insights.
Build Relationships: You attend a community meeting organized by the community leader and begin to build rapport.
Leverage Their Influence: The community organizer introduces you to several families willing to share their experiences with the healthcare system. The clinic director provides anonymized data on patient demographics and common health issues in the neighborhood. The city council member shares information on upcoming policy discussions related to healthcare funding.
Evaluate Their Impact: Through your interactions, you realize that the clinic is underfunded due to systemic biases in healthcare funding, and the city council member has been advocating for increased resources. However, the organizer highlights that some community members distrust the healthcare system due to past neglect. This informs your understanding of the issue and helps you identify potential solutions.

#4: Focus on Impact, Not Just Exposure

Aim for your investigative work to lead to meaningful change, whether through policy reform, public awareness, or other avenues.

Uncovering social inequities should go beyond merely revealing issues.

The goal is to drive meaningful change, whether that’s through influencing policy reform, raising public awareness, or mobilizing community action.

It’s about ensuring that the investigation has a tangible effect, contributing to the resolution of the inequities identified.

You can apply this principle by ensuring that your efforts to uncover social inequities are paired with actions aimed at driving change.

This involves thinking strategically about how your findings can influence decision-makers, inform the public, or empower communities to take action.

Steps to Implement:

Identify the Issue: Choose a social inequity that you want to address, such as food insecurity, lack of access to education, or discrimination in the workplace.
Investigate Thoroughly: Conduct your research or investigation into the issue, gathering data, personal stories, and other evidence that highlight the inequity.
Define the Desired Impact: Before sharing your findings, decide what change you want to achieve. Do you want to push for policy changes, increase public awareness, or empower affected communities to advocate for themselves?
Engage Stakeholders: Identify and engage with stakeholders who can help achieve the desired impact. This could include policymakers, community leaders, activists, or organizations working on related issues.
Craft a Clear Message: Tailor your findings into a compelling narrative or report that clearly communicates the issue and the specific actions that need to be taken. Ensure that your message resonates with the stakeholders and the broader public.
Choose the Right Platforms: Disseminate your findings through the most effective channels to reach your target audience. This could include social media, community meetings, op-eds in local newspapers, or presentations to decision-makers.
Mobilize Support: Work to mobilize support for the change you’re advocating. This might involve organizing community events, starting petitions, or partnering with advocacy groups to amplify your message.
Monitor Progress: After your findings are shared, keep track of any changes or developments. Follow up with stakeholders, continue to engage the community, and be ready to take further action if necessary.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you are concerned about the lack of healthy food options in low-income neighborhoods in your city.

Identify the Issue: You observe that low-income neighborhoods in your city have few grocery stores and limited access to fresh, healthy food, leading to higher rates of diet-related health problems.
Investigate Thoroughly: You conduct research by surveying residents, documenting the scarcity of grocery stores, and collecting data on health outcomes in these neighborhoods compared to more affluent areas.
Define the Desired Impact: You decide that the goal of your investigation is to advocate for the establishment of more grocery stores and farmers’ markets in these neighborhoods, as well as the creation of policies that incentivize businesses to offer healthy food options.
Engage Stakeholders: You reach out to local government officials, community organizations, and health advocacy groups to inform them of your findings and discuss possible solutions.
Craft a Clear Message: You create a report that highlights the health disparities caused by the lack of access to healthy food and propose specific policy changes, such as tax incentives for grocery stores and grants for community gardens.
Choose the Right Platforms: You present your findings at a city council meeting, publish an op-ed in the local newspaper, and share infographics on social media to reach a broader audience.
Mobilize Support: You organize a community event where residents can voice their concerns to city officials and sign a petition supporting the proposed policy changes. You also collaborate with local health organizations to run a campaign advocating for better food access.
Monitor Progress: After the event, you follow up with the city council to track the progress of the proposed policies. You also continue to engage the community through social media updates and additional events to ensure sustained momentum.

#5: Recognize and Address Bias

Be aware of your own biases and those present in your sources, and strive to present a balanced and fair account of the issues.

Bias can color your understanding of social issues, leading to incomplete or skewed conclusions. By actively acknowledging and addressing these biases, you can strive to present a more balanced, fair, and accurate account of the issues at hand.

So what do you need to do?

Continuously questioning your own assumptions and critically evaluating the sources of information you use in your investigation or advocacy work.

This involves seeking out diverse perspectives, challenging your own views, and being open to the possibility that your initial understanding of an issue might be incomplete or incorrect.

Striving for balance and fairness is crucial when uncovering social inequities to ensure that your findings are credible and contribute constructively to the conversation.

Steps to Implement:

Identify the Issue: Choose a social inequity that you want to explore or address, such as disparities in educational opportunities, healthcare access, or racial discrimination in the workplace.
Reflect on Your Own Biases: Before diving into the issue, take a moment to reflect on your own experiences, beliefs, and assumptions that might influence your perspective. Consider how your background, culture, or personal experiences might shape your view of the issue.
Seek Diverse Perspectives: Actively seek out information and viewpoints from a variety of sources, including those that might challenge your own beliefs. This could involve reading materials from different cultural perspectives, interviewing people with different experiences, or consulting experts with varying viewpoints.
Critically Evaluate Sources: Examine the credibility and potential biases of the sources you use. Ask yourself who created the information, what their motivations might be, and whether they have a vested interest in a particular narrative.
Cross-Check Information: Verify the information you gather by cross-referencing it with multiple sources. Look for consistency in the facts presented and be cautious of any single-source claims that lack corroboration.
Challenge Your Assumptions: As you gather information, continuously challenge your initial assumptions. Be open to revising your understanding of the issue as new information comes to light.
Present a Balanced View: When sharing your findings, strive to present a well-rounded account of the issue. Acknowledge different perspectives, include voices from all sides, and avoid overemphasizing one viewpoint at the expense of others.
Invite Feedback: Share your findings with others and invite feedback, especially from those who might offer a different perspective. This can help you identify any remaining biases and further refine your understanding.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you are concerned about racial disparities in employment opportunities within your city.

Identify the Issue: You notice that people from certain racial backgrounds seem to have higher unemployment rates and fewer opportunities for advancement in your city.
Reflect on Your Own Biases: You reflect on your own background, acknowledging that your personal experiences might influence how you perceive the issue.
Seek Diverse Perspectives: You decide to interview a range of people, including those who have experienced racial discrimination in hiring, employers, HR professionals, and experts in employment law. You also read studies and reports from different organizations, some of which may have differing interpretations of the data.
Critically Evaluate Sources: As you gather information, you critically assess each source. If you read a report from a business organization claiming there’s no racial bias in hiring, you consider their potential vested interest in downplaying discrimination.
Cross-Check Information: You compare the claims made by different sources, looking for patterns and verifying facts across multiple reports.
Challenge Your Assumptions: During your research, you encounter data that suggests discrimination might be more subtle and systemic than you initially thought. This challenges your previous assumption that racial disparities in employment were primarily due to overt bias.
Present a Balanced View: When you share your findings, you present the evidence you’ve gathered from all sides, including stories from individuals who have faced discrimination, data showing disparities in employment, and perspectives from employers who may not see discrimination as a significant issue.
Invite Feedback: After presenting your findings, you share them with a diverse group, including community leaders, academics, and individuals from different backgrounds. You ask for their feedback to ensure your conclusions are fair and balanced.

To Conclude…

Ultimately, the lessons from journalism offer invaluable tools for anyone committed to uncovering and addressing social inequities.

By following the money, understanding historical context, identifying gatekeepers, focusing on impact, and recognizing and addressing bias, you can approach these complex issues with the depth and rigor they demand.

These principles, traditionally used by investigative journalists, empower everyday individuals to look beyond surface-level narratives and reveal the underlying structures that perpetuate inequality.

Applying these lessons doesn’t require a journalism degree; it requires curiosity, persistence, and a commitment to justice.

Whether you’re analyzing local budgets, researching the historical roots of a social issue, or building relationships with key community leaders, you can contribute to a deeper understanding of the inequities that affect our society.

Ultimately, the principles of investigative journalism provide a powerful framework for anyone looking to make a difference.

They encourage us to ask tough questions, to dig deeper, and to remain focused on the broader goal of achieving equity and justice.

In a world where social inequities are often deeply entrenched and complex, these tools can guide us toward uncovering the truth and, more importantly, toward creating a more just and equitable society.

Thought to Action

Study Local History: Learn about the historical events and policies that have shaped your community. Identify how these have contributed to current social inequities, such as segregation or zoning laws.
Create Action Plans: After uncovering an issue, develop an action plan that includes specific steps the community can take, such as petitioning for policy changes, organizing public forums, or launching awareness campaigns.
Diversify Information Sources: Make a habit of reading news and analysis from a wide range of perspectives. Include sources that challenge your views to ensure you’re getting a well-rounded understanding of issues.
Write to Elected Officials: Draft letters or emails to your local, state, or national representatives outlining the social inequities you’ve uncovered and suggesting specific policy changes to address them.
Start a Petition: Create a petition advocating for a specific change related to the social inequity you’re investigating. Share it with your community and encourage others to sign and share it.

Sources

Check your sources!

“Addressing the Root Causes of Inequality.” UNDP, 2019, www.undp.org/blog/addressing-root-causes-inequality. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Behar, Amitabh. “Here Are 3 Key Actions to Help Bridge the Inequality Gap.” World Economic Forum, 12 Sept. 2023, www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/3-key-actions-to-help-bridge-the-inequality-gap/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Chugh, Abhinav, and World Economic Forum. “How Can the World Address Inequality? 7 Experts Explain.” World Economic Forum, 5 July 2021, www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/how-can-we-mitigate-inequality-7-experts-explain/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Downman, Scott, and Kasun Ubayasiri. “Introduction to Journalism for Social Change.” Palgrave Macmillan UK EBooks, 1 Jan. 2017, pp. 1–23, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/978-1-349-95179-6_1, https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95179-6_1. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Lewis, Mitzi, and Jeffrey C Neely. “Stories, Students, and Social Justice: Literary Journalism as a Teaching Tool for Change.” Springer EBooks, 1 Jan. 2022, pp. 293–309, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-89420-7_19?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=685769&awc=26429_1724039134_8327e47b9da6c8b675cf8d7ef8d026f7&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=awin&utm_campaign=CONR_BOOKS_ECOM_DE_PBOK_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=685769, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89420-7_19. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Martin. “Reduce Inequality within and among Countries – United Nations Sustainable Development.” United Nations Sustainable Development, 20 Oct. 2023, www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/inequality/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Schmidt, Thomas R. “Challenging Journalistic Objectivity: How Journalists of Color Call for a Reckoning – Thomas R Schmidt, 2024.” Journalism, 2024, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14648849231160997. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Staines, Zoe, et al. “Social Science as Social Action to Address Inequalities.” Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 59, no. 1, 7 June 2023, pp. 108–127, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajs4.272, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.272. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

“Tips for Reporters Seeking to Reveal the Scale of Inequality.” Gijn.org, 2021, gijn.org/resource/tips-for-reporters-seeking-to-reveal-the-scale-of-inequality/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

The post 5 Lessons from Journalism on How to Uncover Social Inequities appeared first on Green Also Green.

9 Lessons from Economics on Driving Social Innovation

Sofia — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

By Sofia Perez

“The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.”

– John Maynard Keynes

Intro

There is an unspoken paradox in the world of social innovation: a simultaneous awareness that “money makes the world go round”, but that it is also the “root of all evil”.

Turns out, Madonna got it right- we do live in a material world.

Indeed, global markets, politics, patterns of consumption,the survival of some businesses over others, and in fact, social innovation, are all ruled by economics.

Those who grumble at the power generated by the flow of money, arguing that morality and justice should take priority, are missing the point.

Money is not the source of all evil. Money is a tool.

So, like most tools, its effects are more contingent on who is using it and how.

For this reason, it is a top priority for the power of economics to be placed securely into the hands of social innovators- regardless of their background, industry, or nationality.

That is exactly what we are about to do, starting with the 9 lessons below.

Pixabay. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/numbers-on-monitor-534216/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.

#1: Incentive Structures

Incentive structures are systems of rewards and penalties that motivate people to behave in certain ways.

They can be financial (like bonuses or fines), social (like praise or criticism), or moral (like the satisfaction of doing the right thing).

The idea is that people are more likely to do something if they have a compelling reason to do it. Namely, something that benefits them or helps them avoid a negative outcome.

They are crucial for driving social innovation because they can encourage people and organizations to act in ways that promote social justice.

By understanding what motivates individuals and groups, we can design policies and programs that align with these motivations to address issues like racism, gender equality, education access, and political unrest.

Steps to Implement Incentive Structures for Social Innovation:

Identify Key Behaviors: Determine the specific actions or behaviors that need to change to address the social justice issue.
Understand Motivations: Research what motivates the target group (e.g., financial gain, social approval, ethical satisfaction).
Design Incentives: Create a system of rewards and penalties that align with these motivations to encourage the desired behaviors.
Implement and Monitor: Put the incentive structures in place and continuously monitor their effectiveness, making adjustments as needed.
Promote and Educate: Raise awareness about the incentive structures and educate the target audience on how they work and how they can benefit from participating.

#2: Behavioral Economics

Behavioral economics is a field of study that looks at how people actually make decisions, rather than how they would make decisions if they were always rational and logical.

It combines insights from psychology and economics to understand why people sometimes make choices that aren’t in their best interest and how those choices can be influenced by various factors.

It’s important for driving social change because it helps us understand the real reasons behind people’s actions and decisions.

By recognizing these patterns, we can design better policies and programs that encourage positive behaviors and discourage harmful ones.

Steps to Implement Behavioral Economics for Social Innovation:

Identify Behavioral Patterns: Study the behaviors related to the social justice issue you want to address. Understand why people act the way they do.
Design Behavioral Interventions: Create interventions that leverage these insights. This could include nudges, incentives, or informational campaigns.
Test and Refine: Pilot your interventions on a small scale to see what works. Use data to refine and improve your approach.
Implement at Scale: Roll out successful interventions on a larger scale, ensuring they are accessible and effective for the target population.
Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor the impact of your interventions and make adjustments as necessary to maximize their effectiveness.

#3: Market Failures

Market failure happens when the free market, which is the system where prices are determined by supply and demand, doesn’t work perfectly.

This means that the market doesn’t allocate resources in the most efficient way, leading to problems like overproduction, underproduction, or unfair distribution of goods and services.

Understanding market failures is important for driving social change because these failures often contribute to social injustices.

For example, pollution (a negative externality) can disproportionately affect poorer communities, or monopolies can lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.

By recognizing where the market fails, we can design policies and interventions to correct these failures and promote fairness and equity.

Steps to Implement Solutions for Market Failures in Social Innovation:

Identify the Market Failure: Determine where the market is failing to allocate resources efficiently or fairly, and understand the specific impacts on different social groups.
Design Targeted Interventions: Develop policies and programs that directly address these failures. This could include regulations, subsidies, or the provision of public goods.
Engage Stakeholders: Work with affected communities, businesses, and government agencies to design and implement effective interventions.
Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously assess the impact of your interventions and adjust them as necessary to ensure they are effective and equitable.
Educate and Advocate: Raise awareness about market failures and advocate for policies that promote social justice, ensuring that the broader community understands the importance of these interventions.

#4: Coase Theorem

The Coase Theorem is an idea in economics that helps us understand how people and businesses can solve problems involving externalities, which are costs or benefits that affect someone who didn’t choose to be involved in the situation.

For example, if a factory pollutes a river, the people living nearby suffer from the pollution even though they didn’t cause it. The Coase Theorem suggests that if people can negotiate with each other and if there are no costs to making these negotiations (called transaction costs), they can come to an agreement that solves the problem in the best way for everyone.

The Coase Theorem is relevant to social innovation because it provides a framework for resolving conflicts and externalities through negotiation and cooperation, rather than relying solely on government intervention.

Steps to Implement Solutions Using the Coase Theorem for Social Innovation:

Identify the Externality: Determine the specific problem or externality that needs to be addressed, such as pollution, discrimination, or lack of resources.
Establish Clear Property Rights: Ensure that everyone involved knows their rights and responsibilities. This clarity helps in making fair negotiations.
Facilitate Negotiations: Create a platform or environment where affected parties can discuss the issue openly and honestly. This could be through community meetings, workshops, or mediation programs.
Minimize Transaction Costs: Make it as easy as possible for people to negotiate by reducing legal barriers, providing mediation services, and ensuring transparent communication.
Reach an Agreement: Encourage parties to come to a mutually beneficial agreement that addresses the externality. This agreement should be fair and consider the needs and rights of all involved.
Monitor and Adjust: Once an agreement is in place, continuously monitor its effectiveness and make adjustments as needed to ensure it remains fair and effective.

#5: Collaborative Consumption

Collaborative consumption, also known as the sharing economy, is an economic model where people share access to goods and services instead of owning them individually.

This can include activities like car sharing, bike rentals, house sharing (like Airbnb), and even sharing tools or clothes.

The idea is that by sharing resources, we can use them more efficiently, reduce waste, and save money.

Because it promotes sustainability, reduces inequality, and strengthens community ties, collaborative consumption is an essential idea to cultivating social innovation.

By sharing resources, we can help ensure that everyone has access to the things they need, even if they can’t afford to buy them outright.

This model can also foster a sense of community and cooperation, which is essential for addressing social justice issues.

Steps to Implement Collaborative Consumption for Social Innovation:

Identify Needs and Resources: Determine what resources are needed in your community and what can be shared. This could include books, tools, transportation, or space.
Create Sharing Platforms: Develop platforms (physical or digital) where people can easily share and access these resources. Examples include online groups, apps, or community centers.
Promote Inclusivity: Ensure that everyone in the community knows about these sharing opportunities and feels welcome to participate, regardless of their background or economic status.
Encourage Participation: Organize events and programs to get people involved in sharing, such as swap meets, community potlucks, or skill-sharing workshops.
Monitor and Improve: Continuously assess how well the sharing programs are working, gather feedback from participants, and make improvements as needed to ensure they are meeting the community’s needs.

#6: Microfinance

Microfinance is a financial service that provides small loans, savings accounts, and other financial products to individuals who do not have access to traditional banking services.

These services are typically aimed at people with low incomes or those in developing countries who need money to start or grow their small businesses. The loans are usually small amounts, hence the term “micro.”

Nevertheless, despite the size of these loans, microfinance empowers people, especially those in poverty, to improve their economic situation.

By giving people access to financial resources, they can start businesses, create jobs, and support their families.

Ultimately, microfinance can help break the cycle of poverty and promote sustainable economic development.

Steps to Implement Microfinance for Social Innovation:

Identify Target Groups: Determine which groups or communities would benefit most from microfinance services, such as low-income individuals, women, minorities, or young entrepreneurs.
Establish Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): Set up or partner with MFIs that have a mission to promote social justice and economic development. Ensure they have the resources and expertise to provide loans and financial education.
Develop Tailored Financial Products: Create loan products and savings accounts that meet the specific needs of the target groups. Consider low-interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and small loan amounts.
Provide Financial Education: Offer training and resources to help borrowers understand how to manage their finances, run a business, and repay loans. This increases the chances of successful outcomes.
Monitor and Support: Continuously monitor the progress of borrowers and provide additional support or adjustments as needed. This could include mentorship, business advice, or additional financial products.
Promote Success Stories: Share the success stories of individuals who have benefited from microfinance to encourage others to participate and to attract more support and funding for the programs.

#7: Open Innovation

Open innovation is a concept where organizations use external ideas, knowledge, and technologies in addition to their internal resources to drive innovation.

Instead of relying solely on their own staff and resources, companies and organizations collaborate with outside experts, researchers, and the public to develop new products, services, or solutions.

This approach can lead to more creative and effective outcomes because it harnesses a wider pool of ideas and expertise.

By tapping into the collective intelligence and creativity of a diverse group of people, we can develop innovative approaches to address social justice issues.

Steps to Implement Open Innovation for Social Innovation:

Identify Key Challenges: Determine the specific social justice issues you want to address, such as education inequality or environmental racism.
Engage a Diverse Community: Involve a wide range of stakeholders, including community members, experts, NGOs, and government representatives, to ensure diverse perspectives and ideas.
Create Collaborative Platforms: Develop or utilize existing platforms that facilitate open innovation, such as online forums, collaboration tools, or innovation hubs.
Facilitate Idea Sharing: Encourage the sharing of ideas through workshops, hackathons, innovation challenges, and other collaborative events. Provide incentives for participation and recognition for contributions.
Develop and Test Solutions: Work collaboratively to develop prototypes or pilot projects. Test these solutions in real-world settings and gather feedback to refine them.
Scale Successful Innovations: Once a solution has been proven effective, work on scaling it up to reach a larger audience. This could involve seeking additional funding, forming new partnerships, or using larger platforms for implementation.
Monitor and Iterate: Continuously monitor the impact of the implemented solutions and make necessary adjustments based on feedback and changing conditions.

#8: Shared Value Creation

Shared value creation is a business concept that focuses on creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society.

This means that companies can achieve financial success while simultaneously addressing social and environmental issues.

Instead of seeing social problems as a cost or a burden, companies look for ways to solve these problems in a way that benefits both their business and the community.

Shared value creation is important in social innovation because it aligns the goals of businesses with the needs of society.

By integrating social and environmental concerns into their core business strategies, companies can contribute to solving major issues.

Steps to Implement Shared Value Creation for Social Innovation:

Identify Social Issues: Determine the social and environmental issues that are relevant to your business and the communities you serve. This could include issues like diversity, education, or sustainability.
Integrate Social Goals into Business Strategy: Align your business objectives with social goals. For example, incorporate diversity targets into your hiring practices or sustainability goals into your product development.
Develop Partnerships: Collaborate with other organizations, including non-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions, to create solutions that benefit both your business and society.
Innovate for Social Impact: Look for opportunities to innovate in ways that address social issues. This could involve developing new products, services, or business models that create shared value.
Measure and Communicate Impact: Track the impact of your shared value initiatives on both your business and society. Communicate these results to stakeholders to build support and encourage further action.
Engage Employees and Stakeholders: Involve employees and other stakeholders in your shared value initiatives. This can increase buy-in and generate additional ideas and support for your efforts.

#9: Network Effects

Network effects occur when the value of a product or service increases as more people use it.

Think about social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram: the more people who join and use these platforms, the more valuable they become to each user because there are more people to connect with.

Network effects can be seen in many areas, from technology and social networks to markets and communities.

Network effects are important for social change because they can help spread positive behaviors and ideas quickly and widely.

When a new idea, practice, or technology is adopted by more people, it becomes more valuable and influential, which can lead to rapid and widespread social change.

Understanding network effects can help activists, organizations, and policymakers design initiatives that leverage these dynamics to promote social justice.

Steps to Implement Network Effects for Social Innovation:

Identify Key Networks: Determine which networks are most relevant to your social justice goals. This could include social media platforms, professional associations, community groups, or online learning platforms.
Encourage Participation: Promote the network and encourage people to join and participate. Highlight the benefits of being part of the network to attract more members.
Foster Engagement: Create opportunities for members to engage with each other and share resources. This could include events, online forums, mentorship programs, or collaborative projects.
Leverage Technology: Use digital tools and platforms to facilitate communication and collaboration within the network. This makes it easier for members to connect and share information.
Measure and Expand Impact: Continuously measure the impact of the network and look for ways to expand its reach. Encourage members to invite others and actively promote the network to new audiences.
Support and Sustain: Provide ongoing support to network members and ensure the network remains active and vibrant. This could include regular updates, resources, and opportunities for involvement.

Conclusion

In Charlie Wheelan’s book Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, he says, “Economics is not just a subject for philosophers, statisticians, and college professors. It is about you and me, what we buy, how much we save, and how much we work.”

This rings true, not only within personal finance, but also in the way we design solutions to problems worldwide.

Applying lessons from economics to the challenges faced in social justice not only help us to understand why the causes exist in the first place, but also how to design effective solutions.

Then, armed with the tools to navigate a world governed by economic principles, money is no longer the root of evil.

Actually, it is the secret to driving widespread good.

Thought to Action

Bank with Ethical Institutions: Choose banks and financial institutions that prioritize ethical practices, such as community development banks or credit unions that invest in local communities.
Support Fair Trade: Purchase products from companies that ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers, promoting ethical consumption.
Microfinance and Peer-to-Peer Lending: Invest in microfinance institutions or peer-to-peer lending platforms that provide small loans to entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI): Invest in companies that follow sustainable practices, prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, and contribute positively to society.
Support Local Businesses: Spend money at locally-owned businesses to strengthen your local economy and support job creation within your community.

Sources

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