As we continue to think about how to value social impact one thing becomes clear. These elements are interrelated. It is an intricate web of problems that creates a child who is malnourished, a parent that cannot support their family, a spouse suffering from domestic violence. There are many ways to go about solving those problems. If you choose to solve the problem in one way, you are not choosing to solve it in another. You have to look at the problem the way Geoffrey Canada and the creators of Masdar look at their problems.
What do Masdar and the Harlem Children's Zone have in common? The solution to the problems they wish to address require many solutions functioning together - entire ecosystems of solutions. Masdar uses solar power, a mass transit system, wind catchers, a smart grid, a recycling plant, walkable design, and more. Geoffrey Canada uses charter schools, tutoring, parenting classes, health initiatives, family support centers, violence prevention, and more.
The world of the future allows for more holistic approaches, blurs more lines, and therefore makes categorization of initiatives like the ones listed above more complicated. Money - the great equalizer - is not the only nor the best measure for understanding how these initiatives are faring.
The Social Progress Index (SPI) provides an interesting way to measure social good for a nation, but the question remains which measures matter most when looking at an initiative. The SPI has selected some measures; would they translate to the realm of a social venture?
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