Social Change

Here are my resources to help you create social change! Please email me if you have questions or comments. I’d appreciate learning how useful you find these resources.

Singapore Focused

  • Singapore Social Enterprise Starter Kit: 13 key reports, studies, and databases for understanding the social enterprise landscape in Singapore. Compiled from multiple sources and most helpful for new social entrepreneurs or capacity builders. Latest version: 4/13/13. Download: ZIP
  • Singapore: Asia’s Social Silicon Valley?: in this article I advocate for Singapore as being one of the best places in the world for a social entrepreneur. I begin with: “Where’s the best place in the world for a social entrepreneur to live and build a social enterprise? That’s a tough question. It appears there are two schools of thought when it comes to attempting an answer: go close or go big…” Download: PDF
  • Singaporean Changemakers Call to Action: a short and practical “call to action” for people in Singapore who want to create social impact. Focused on youth, but relevant to any Singaporean. Latest version: 10/21/10. Download: PDF
  • Singaporean Social Change Enterprises & Initiatives List: my personal list of the most interesting social change enterprises and initiatives in or connected to Singapore. Latest version: 2/26/11. Download: PDF
    • Concern.sg: a “Wikipedia for people who care”. It’s a community-edited directory for the social sector in Singapore. Courtesy Jared Tham. My list is far less developed so I joined him to popularize Concern instead.
    • Social Enterprise SG Facebook Group: A networking platform for individuals and companies in Singapore involved in the social enterprise scene. This is an independent, volunteer-run initiative–several of us moderate. Started by Jared Tham.
  • Social Impact Consulting: as time allows, I consult for and support social enterprises and impact investors in Singapore and the region.

University Focused

  • Alternative Spring Break Resource Kit: 50 useful files for creating and managing an “Alternative Break” service-learning program. Request kit by email.
  • American Red Cross Club Resource Kit: 450+ useful files for creating and managing a high school or college club. Focus is on Red Cross, but applicable for any high school or college club leader around the world. Latest version: 8/13/08. Download: ZIP
  • American Red Cross Mass CPR Training Resource Kit: 100+ useful files for creating and executing a Mass CPR Training. Includes an itemized task list for every sub-team (there are ~250 individual tasks required to execute a Mass CPR Training). Also useful for any event planners around the world, especially for youth- or volunteer-focused events. Request kit by email.
  • American Red Cross Leadership Development Conference Resource Kit: 50+ useful files for creating and executing a Leadership Development Conference (LDC) or Retreat (LDR). Also useful for non-Red Cross youth leaders holding any kind of large leadership event. Request kit by email.
  • Student Organization Resource Kit: Up to 500 useful files for any student organization leaders starting and operating organizations. Focus on team building material. Request kit by email.

Metaphors

Here are a few social change metaphors I would like to spread.

Creating Change Requires a Cannon

  1. Cannonball = Social Innovation. You need a great idea to punch through society’s ingrained status quo defenses.
  2. Cannon = Social Enterprise. You need a capable vehicle to hurtle that great idea forward.
  3. Gunpowder = Social Investment. You need a powerful injection of funds and support to get things moving fast enough to make a huge impact.
  4. Spark = Social Entrepreneur. You need a burst of energy to set things in motion in the first place.
  5. Ground = Social Ecosystem. You need a solid base from which to shoot.
Batman is a Change Agent
  • Batman = Social Entrepreneur. Batman strategically employs resources like the Batmobile, Batwing, and other innovative weapons to fight crime.
  • Bruce Wayne = Social Angel Investor. Bruce Wayne is the financial benefactor behind Batman’s activities. Without him, Batman wouldn’t be possible.
  • Bat Symbol = Social Innovation. The symbol of the bat strikes fear in the hearts of criminals. Its mere existence induces positive behavior.