Ch. 38 The Changemaker Movement

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new."

-Socrates

Some of us see injustice, whether it be racial, social, economic or environmental and we have an empathetic reaction to it. We see something that causes needless suffering, often in the name of profit or warped ideology, and we want to change it. 

However, there is a gap between wanting to change something, and actually making change.

Changemaker: "A changemaker is someone who has found the self-permission to advance change for the good of all. It is someone who is intentional about solving a social or environmental problem, motivated to act and be creative." (Sandiego.edu Changemaker HUB)

Not everyone has the desire to be a Changemaker. Even those who would like to see the world change, may not want to be an agent of change, but rather provide support and encouragement for those who are doing the work. This support, material or otherwise, is invaluable and appreciated. 

For those of us already committed to taking action and making change happen, it is a matter of finding a place to start, then finding "self-permission" to move forward. 

In the previous chapter we talked about how to apply strategic thinking to Project Drawdown. We look for a way to take action that is big enough to make a difference, but small enough to succeed. But perhaps more importantly we look for the thing that touches, moves and inspires us to make that change. 

Project Drawdown gives us a lot of possibilities for taking the kinds of action that will bring positive change to the world. From educating girls, to restoring abandoned farmlands. 

The Third Industrial Revolution (Ch. 26) also provides many opportunities to make a difference by eliminating fossil fuels and providing affordable clean energy to all people. 

It is also crucial to remember that changing the world, building a better world, depends largely on our ability to change our culture and economy over time. 

Culture is already changing, albeit slowly. 

Generation Z is the most ethnically and racially diverse, not to mention the best educated generation ever. Statistically speaking, these characteristics tend to point to a population that is more aware of systemic unfairness and open to progressive solutions. 

I call this generational progress, but part of the job of the Changemaker is to accelerate this cultural change by providing education and information. Help change people's thinking. This takes time, but on a long enough timeline, if we are intentional and strategic in our approach, we can change culture even faster. 

Culture is changing, but what about the economy? 

How can a bunch of "bleeding hearts" that just want to make the world better, be part of building a better economy?

Remember that the Changemaker Movement is one of three movements that make up a new Collaborative Economy. (Ch. 30)

1. Cooperative Movement (Ch. 21)
2. Sharing Economy (Ch. 29)
3. Changemaker Movement

Consider that Changemakers expand existing markets. 

The Third Industrial Revolution will supercharge markets like solar, wind, smart meters, building retrofitting, etc. We are talking about millions of new "jobs" (worker-owner opportunities). 

Changemakers create new markets.

Project Drawdown will create new markets in areas that hardly anyone is talking about, like natural refrigerants, bioplastics, biochar, etc. Also remember that out of the 100 solutions presented by Project Drawdown, 20 of them have yet to be realized. These will represent completely new, emerging markets.

These actions will make the world safer, cleaner, more prosperous, healthy, and sustainable. And all of these actions need to be accounted for in our new economy. Whether we are building "for profit" worker-cooperatives (Ch. 15) or nonprofit services (Ch. 16), we need to figure out how to fund these projects and how each of these projects will increase the velocity of money and provide for community wealth building (Ch. 14). Change will always begin at the community level.

What is desperately needed is a whole new generation of young people who are willing to help make change happen. But I don't think Changemakers are born, I believe they are nurtured. It is a matter of teaching critical thinking and problem solving. Fostering their natural curiosity. Allowing them to explore the world and encouraging them to find their own voice, rather than get entrenched in old outdated dogmatic thinking.

Building a better world is up to us, but we as parents or leaders must first admit that we've been driving in the wrong direction. No one likes to admit they are lost. But admitting we are lost, and may not know the way forward, gives our young people the opportunity to get really curious, to explore, and to find their own way forward. To be themselves, to be known, to find purpose, and to be of service.

We know now that building a better world is a big, complex project that will take us decades. And that's ok. This is our opportunity to take our time and get it right, to build something of which we can be truly proud. 

In the meantime, we wake up, and we do our part to make things a little better every day.