{"id":961,"date":"2015-02-25T07:55:46","date_gmt":"2015-02-25T12:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/growpurpose.com\/charlestongood\/?p=961"},"modified":"2015-03-01T23:02:15","modified_gmt":"2015-03-02T04:02:15","slug":"social-innovation-series-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growpurpose.com\/charlestongood\/social-innovation-series-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Innovation Series – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

This guest article is the introduction of a series that will provide a comprehensive overview <\/em>
\nof the economic and societal change that is occurring in Charleston. It was previously published in French<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Social Innovation: <\/strong>all around the world, and also in Charleston! (Part 1)<\/strong>
\nby Carole Veisseire Nelson<\/h3>\n

Founded in 1670, Charleston, South Carolina is one of the oldest cities in North America, having been named in honor of King Charles II of England. This southern <\/em>coastal <\/em>town is famous for its natural beauty, its charming downtown, as well as its friendly and polite residents. Having lived in Charleston for a year, I can say it has lived up to its reputation. Charleston is a vibrant city, noted for its bustling economic and cultural scene. Charlestonians have a strong pride in their town but they also are increasingly concerned about its fast expansion since 2009.Curious by nature I started exploring my adoptive city, and decided to \u201ctake the pulse\u201d of the people who have a positive social impact in Charleston. <\/em><\/p>\n

As a new resident from France, I can provide a different way of looking at Charleston. And my ten-year background in the nonprofit sector, after graduating from Sciences Po Paris, allows me to consider the city from a sociological perspective as well as to give an expert view.<\/p>\n

In France when we talk about the United State, we always use the larger metropolitan cities such as New York City, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco or Detroit as examples. We never choose medium-size towns like Charleston as models, even though they are experiencing amazing growth. I am convinced we can learn from them.<\/p>\n

This article is the introduction of a series that will provide a comprehensive overview of the economic and societal change that is occurring in Charleston. Through a field investigation, I plan to meet local stakeholders from the business, political and media world as well as civil society that are working together to find new solutions to the pressing challenges facing the Charleston region. Indeed, I have the feeling that “social change agents” acting in Charleston will help us better understand and describe this new economy unfolding across the United States and the world.<\/p>\n

CHARLESTON, A VIBRANT CITY<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been over a year since I moved from Paris to Charleston to settle down with my American husband. I am learning more every day about this town that offers a large number of known events, recognized regionally, nationally and even some internationally. Let\u2019s mention, for example, the Spoleto Festival, Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Charleston Wine + Food Festival, Cooper River Bridge Run\u2026, as well as Family Circle Cup, DIG South Fest, and the GoodBusiness Summit.<\/p>\n

According to Conde Nast Traveler\u2019s annual Readers\u2019 Choice Survey, it is the all-around nicest city in the U.S. for the fourth year. And yet Charleston is not just a tourist town known for its famous \u201csouthern hospitality.\u201d Charleston was ranked #2 for America\u2019s Most Exciting Mid-Sized Cities (Movoto Real Estate, March 2014) and #3 for Best Cities for Young Entrepreneurs 2013 in Small Cities<\/strong> (OCEO-COM, March 2013). That is why the city was recently dubbed Silicon Harbor<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The good news is that entrepreneurs are likely to act through a more inclusive society<\/strong>. To do so, they set up hybrid organizations that cross the for-profit and non-profit boundary<\/strong>. These structures can be found in all activity sectors but mainly in Information Technology and Communication. They opt for social and economic innovation to ensure their long-term success.<\/p>\n

Charlestonians are hearing about this new form of business through the success stories of local startups that emerged as major companies in their respective sectors: including<\/p>\n

1) Blackbaud<\/a><\/em>, launched in 1981, a supplier of software and services specifically designed for nonprofit organizations,<\/p>\n

2) Benefitfocus<\/a><\/em>, leading provider of benefits technology founded in 2000 which made its debut on the NASDAQ stock exchange this September 2014,<\/p>\n

3) PeopleMatter<\/a><\/em>, a software company founded in 2009 with the goal to help businesses thrive through fun and innovative employer-employee management.<\/p>\n

MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DOING BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL: IN THE U.S. AS WELL<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"part<\/a>Since the mid-2000s, especially since the 2008 financial crisis, an increasing number of business people and community leaders are profoundly rethinking the relationship between work, profit and resources. They propose innovative initiatives that put human capital before financial capital, creating a new “social entrepreneur.” Led by a human vision of the economy and positive values, these economic actors, engaged collectively and individually, find responses to<\/strong> a whole range of social problems that had long been ignored <\/strong>or unsolved by public authorities or traditional organizations.<\/p>\n

Overall, the creative projects produced by these social enterprises make great impact on the economy, society and environment. And a social impact assessment facilitates the financing of these actions through crowdfunding or the ethical and solidarity-based finance (i.e. social impact investment funds or venture philanthropy).<\/p>\n

These entrepreneurs pursue this new approach either for personal reasons (in search of a meaningful career), or for business reasons. According to the 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer, 84% of people surveyed believe that companies can make money while doing constructive work for society<\/strong>. In fact today, consumers expect more from companies than just products and services, as they are more aware of the social impact behind their consumption. To meet these new expectations and these new challenges, large enterprises and SME\u2019s have implemented sustainable development policies, and in particular social responsibility and philanthropy projects.<\/p>\n

As a result, community leaders, nonprofits executives, philanthropists, corporate social responsibility program managers as well as social entrepreneurs and \u201cintrapreneurs\u201d are shaking up the old order by reappraising our economic models based on \u201cgrowth\u201d and \u201cwinning at all costs.\u201d Through their \u201cprofit with purpose businesses\u201d, they are building stronger communities with more opportunities and a brighter future for all.<\/p>\n

To be continued<\/em> \u2026. <\/em>
\nABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carole Veisseire Nelson\u00a0 |\u00a0 Charleston, SC\u00a0 |\u00a0 caroleveisseire@hotmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"JUILLET<\/a>Carole Veisseire Nelson received a MA in History through a joint program in her native France that allowed her to take courses through College of Charleston in 1999-2000. Her 10-years professional background is in nonprofit fundraising, advocacy, and awareness campaigns within sports education, health care and human rights sectors for organizations in France, the UK, and Senegal. She has recently settled here in Charleston where she has built her next career path. She has begun her own international consulting business for nonprofits, corporate foundations and social enterprises. She is writing an article series which explores the myriad initiatives in Charleston that skillfully combine economic, social and environmental performances. Indeed, this southern city is buzzing with great ideas that address our pressing issues as well as have a positive impact on the community. The social economy, sharing economy, circular economy, collaborative economy or social entrepreneurship are some relevant responses to this greater aspiration for societal change and this urgent need of a new economy.<\/em><\/p>\n

 
\n[GOOD CREDIT]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This guest article is the introduction of a series that will provide a comprehensive overview of the economic and societal change that<\/p>\n

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