Synopses & Reviews
Praise for Rippling"Rippling is a wonderful and highly accessible book about people advancing creative and pragmatic solutions to the world's toughest problems. The remarkable breadth of global examples, combined with the depth of Schwartz's observations and analysis, make it a must-read for anyone who wants to understand some of the most powerful forces, ideas, and solution patterns that are reshaping society."
—David Bornstein, author, How to Change the World and coauthor, New York Times "Fixes" column
"Rippling will resonate with anyone who is eager to know more about how to create an (eco)system for positive change. It will lift your heart and change your outlook on what is possible when one combines innovation with entrepreneurship. Schwartz's skillful storytelling covers the challenges of 'life without' while sharing creative approaches to designing a world that nourishes human potential."
—Arthur Rubinfeld, president, global development, Starbucks Coffee Company
"Rippling is a must-read in the growing but often confusing literature on social entrepreneurship. Writing with great skill and passion, Beverly Schwartz weaves a beautiful tapestry of stories and insights that takes us from the traditional call to change to clear lessons for achieving impact. It is essential reading and will become a classic in the conversation."
—Paul C. Light, Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York University
"Anyone who feels overwhelmed by the thought of making a difference in the world will be reassured by these changemakers, who teach us how small steps can lead to enormous global progress. For all of us who dream of a more equitable, peaceful, and safer world, Rippling is a welcome invitation to hear the voices of changemakers everywhere. It's an inspiring read guaranteed to fill you with hope."
—Susan Grant, executive vice president, CNN
"Rippling's concepts are relevant and accessible for businesses of all sizes, from individual entrepreneurs to global corporations. Organizations that tap into the changemaker vision can spark innovation, engage employees, and better meet customer needs while improving the bottom lines for business and society as a whole."
—Ronald L. Sargent, chairman and CEO, Staples, Inc.
Synopsis
Principles for driving significant change throughout an entire systemDrawing on the knowledge and experience of working with hundreds the world's top social change leaders in all fields, Beverly Schwartz presents a model for change based on five proven principles that any individual leader or organization can apply to bring about deep, lasting and systematic change. Rippling shows how to activate the type of change that is needed to address the critical challenges that threaten to destroy the foundations of our society and planet in these increasingly turbulent times.
These actionable principles are brought to life by compelling real-life stories. Schwartz provides a road map that allows anyone to become a changemaker.
- Presents some of today's most innovative and effective approaches to solving social and environmental challenges
- Offers a vision of social entrepreneurs as role models, catalysts, enablers and recruiters who spread waves system changing solutions throughout society
- The author offers a model of change that begins with the end result in mind
- First book from an insider at Ashoka, the foremost global organization on social change through social entrepreneurship
Rippling clearly demonstrates how and when empathy, creativity, passion, and persistence are combined; significant, life-altering progress is indeed possible.
Synopsis
How can we address the critical challenges that threaten to destroy the foundations of our society and planet in these increasingly turbulent times?
Rippling reveals proven principles that drive significant change and draws on Beverly Schwartz's vast knowledge and experience of working with hundreds of the world's top social change leaders. Schwartz is vice president at Ashoka, the global organization that works to ensure that social entrepreneurs and their innovations inspire a generation of changemakers to help sustain and support large scale social change. In this groundbreaking book, she presents a time-tested model that any individual leader or organization can apply to bring about deep, lasting, and systematic change, based on five principles:
These actionable principles are brought to life by the book's compelling stories of everyday people who have made real changes around the globe. Throughout the book, Schwartz provides a blueprint to demonstrate how anyone, anywhere, can become an effective changemaker.
As Schwartz explains, the next-generation changemakers are in many ways the champions of this movement: the corporations that embrace new and more sustainable ways of doing business; the donors who want their money to effectively and ethically impact people's lives; and the citizens who are trying to make a better life for themselves, their families, their neighbors, and their communities.
Rippling presents some of today's most innovative and effective approaches to solving social and environmental challenges, and clearly demonstrates that when empathy, creativity, passion, and persistence are combined, significant, life-altering progress is indeed possible.
About the Author
Beverly Schwartz is vice president of global marketing at Ashoka, the world's largest association of leading social entrepreneurs. Schwartz is an "entrepreneurial" behavioral scientist and has made her career in the field of social marketing. She has devoted her career to working on some of the world's most challenging societal issues, including smoking and drug prevention, gender equity, educational and environmental reform, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. She holds an MS degree from Queens College, City University of New York. Please visit her at www.changemakers.com/Rippling.
Table of Contents
Foreword: Are You Ready for The Big One? (Bill Drayton)
Prologue
Introduction: Rippling Solutions to Systems Change
Part One: Restructuring Institutional Norms
Reflections by Esther Dyson
1 Power to the People—Germany
How Elektrizitatswerke Schönau works with communities to buy back, manage, and control electric grids so it can replace nuclear power with renewable sources of energy.
2 The Teaching of Teaching—United States
Changing the dynamics of how and what teachers teach; appreciating the vision of the Center for Inspired Teaching.
3 From Servitude to Solution—India
How the Rickshaw Bank is reinventing the lives and livelihoods of rickshaw drivers.
4 Lifting the Veil for Women Who Don't Exist—Nepal
Removing age-old restrictions on women who lose their rights, property, and freedom after the death of their husband; understanding how Women's Human Rights is changing the face of Asia.
Part Two Changing Market Dynamics
Reflections by Peter Senge
5 Using MicroConsignment to Open a Door to Economic Inclusion—Guatemala
Exploring the way Community Enterprise Solutions offers “a basket of solutions” to rural villagers by lowering the cost of economic entry for suppliers.
6 Dialing Maize 411—Kenya
Using technology to connect small-scale farmers with real-time competitive prices; how the Kenya Agricultural Commodities Exchange improves the lives of small farmers.
7 Creating a New Economy That Promotes Fiscal Vibrancy—Brazil
Stimulating local economies by creating a new currency and a system of community banks for low-income citizens; the story of Bancos Palmas.
Part Three Using Market Forces to Create Social Value
Reflections by William Jefferson Clinton
8 From Garbage to Gold—Peru
How Ciudad Saludable creates microenterprises around garbage collection and increases the economic viability and positive health outcomes of communities in which they operate.
9 A Better Model of Capitalism—United States
Ensuring a fair price for farmers by transforming global trade practices.
10 Shit Business Is Serious Business—Nigeria
Building a culture of sanitation and hygiene in crowded urban areas in Africa and Asia; why DMT Toilets is literally changing the landscape and much more.
11 Putting the Public Back in Public Housing—France
Applying a quintuple bottom line to eco-housing, Chenelet energizes low-income neighborhoods while creating community with dignity and grace.
Part Four Advancing Full Citizenship
Reflections by Geeta Rao Gupta
12 Financial Freedom for Children—Global
Equipping a generation of youth to take charge of their financial survival, Aflatoun balances the scales in favor of their future.
13 Overcoming the Barriers Between Us and Them—Germany
Redefining disability as ability and otherness as likeness; the story of Dialogue Social Enterprise, creator of the “Dialogue in the Dark” experience.
14 Autistic Abilities—Denmark
How Specialisterne (Specialist People Foundation is transforming autism from a handicap to a competitive advantage.
15 Crazy Becomes Normal—Argentina
Reconnecting the mentally ill with society and vice versa, La Colifata uses a weekly radio show broadcast by the patients as the link.
Part Five Cultivating Empathy
Reflections by Arianna Huffington
16 From Babies to Behavioral Shift—Canada
The effectiveness of Roots of Empathy in ending aggressive behavior among children.
17 Cultivating Champions of Interfaith Action—United States
Building widespread public support for interfaith youth work on University campuses; embracing the mission of the Interfaith Youth Corps.
18 Beautiful Resistance—Palestine
How Alrowwad creates a space to express normality in conflict zones? 19 Conclusion: Turning What Is and What If into What Can Be
Epilogue: How to Think About Tomorrow
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index