Gamechangers Among Us

In 1979 I had a t shirt that said, “if you can’t win the game, change the rules”. I was constantly razzed for changing rules. Last night, I quickly realized I was among good company.  At the SparkClub + Pecha-Kucha = Gamechangers event we heard from an array of people who have realized that no one is winning the game, so it’s time to change the rules and they are doing just that.

The ability to get things done in a meaningful way was a core tenant in all 8 presentations. Four community organizers, two architects, one artist, a developer and restauranteur all shared the stories of their passion projects and business models which are making our community a better place to live.

THIS IS DALLAS!  What a pleasure to hear innovative thinkers approaching their work and communities.  they showcased their drive, their vision the higest calling for our community.

Jason Roberts talked about his vision inspired by trips to Europe in which he began asking “where are my plaza’s with fountains, coffee shops and children on bikes”?  Chris Zielke and Brent Jackson talked about a guerrilla restaurant at an abandoned taqueria to benefit the Mass Care Task Force and a new mixed use development anchored by a grocery store featuring sustainable, locally grown and produced foods. Marianna Griggs is inspiring a movement of community gardens to address food security and social justice.  Tori Trad presented an approach to architecture and design that celebrates community leaders and cultural richness in the newly renovated building for the The Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute at Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center.

Greg Metz shared images and philosophies on how art pushes our thinking, questions the norm and catalyzes change.  Omar Jahwar talked about invading the culture of the youth to provide positive exchanges and stem youth violence.  Benje Feehan‘s shifted our thinking from how do we “create something beautiful” to how do we “preserve what is beautiful”.  Finally, Stacy Caldwell ended the night with a call to look beyond the “Land of Non” (the old world of nonprofits) to change the game, innovate the structures and realize the passion that is often lost in the institution.

An inspired film showing the power of Pecha Kucha.  The lesson encouraged people to abandon the old-school, check-writing philanthropy and just get “engaged”.  For, without action and personal involvement, we are not going to address the challenges our communties face.

We are greatful for the fine crowd that gathered at Sons of Herman Hall representing an amazing mix of do-gooders from all walks of life, ages, backgrounds and geographies.  I was unbelievably proud to be here in Dallas among such kindred spirits.

All of this would not have been possible without the generous and brilliant work of Scott Horn who came through on the A/V. Scott is a Gamechanger himself as artist, event planner, and co-curator of the Magnolia Gallery. I would also like to thank the SparkClub co-conspirators, sound by David Wilson, Sons of Hermann Hall and PKN.

Brian Murphy and Sarah Jane Semrad have brought our little city a major gift with Pecha-Kucha Night. They are doing more, so watch for future events like the one we had last night. It is amazing, inspirational and lots of fun.

We will have videos of each of these presentations soon from our man Jax Daws, so stay tuned.

RSVP for Spark Club + PKN = Gamechangers!

Spark Club and Pecha Kucha Dallas present 20×20 Game Changers
Quick, fun presentations showcasing people shaking things up in Dallas

DALLAS, Texas (April 26, 2010) – Spark Club, a network of social entrepreneurs and artists collaborates with Pecha Kucha Dallas, an international phenomenon brought to Dallas for  the second time on May 13, 2010 at 7pm at Sons of Hermann Hall.  The event is free, although a $5 contribution is suggested. Sons of Hermann Hall is located at 3414 Elm Street in Dallas.  RSVP and bookmark on the dedicated PKN event site.  Visit the official PKN Dallas site.

Confirmed presenters include Stacy Caldwell, President of Dallas Social Venture Partners, Jason Roberts with Oak Cliff Transit Authority and Better Block Project, Marianna Griggs of the Community Gardens of Oak Cliff, Chris Zielke and Chris Jeffers of 48 Nights, Tori Trad of Perkins + Will, Brooke Bowen of Well Coffee Roasters, Benje Feehan of BC Workshop, Omar Jahwar of Vision Regeneration and Greg Metz of University of Texas Dallas.   Other presenters are still in the works.

Put Wall Street Bonuses to Social Good

Image via Wikipedia

There have been many stories over the last couple weeks about Wall Street Bonuses. The bonuses are given after many of these institutions recovered huge profits in 2009. However, the source of the investments that led to the profit comes from us, the taxpayers, in the form of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP.) Reports suggest that the largest firms receiving these funds are giving out over $90 million in bonuses. The outrage comes, logically, as it seems that the money that the government invested was meant to jump start the economy and get the same banks making loans. Instead of making loans, however, many many millions have gone directly to bank execs and investors, the very people blamed for the economic crisis. As a result lawmakers are looking at ways to regulate or even tax these bonuses. The UK has already instituted large taxes on bonuses. Our own congress is debating 50% taxes on bonuses over $50k and using the tax to help small and midsized businesses. Instead of adding more bureaucracy to these funds, the government should consider encouraging a ‘good returns,’ or social venture model.

I propose giving tax cuts to people receiving these bonuses if they invest 100% for a year or more in social ventures. Many organizations have begun giving microloans to the nation’s and world’s poorest people, helping spur entrepreneurship among the most poverty stricken people, as we heard at our second Spark Club meeting from Salah at Soap Hope. His organization withholds a year of profit to grant microloans to women in poverty in the DFW area. These loans are repaid and there is only a 2% default rate. However, the businesses and entrepreneurship spurred by these loans create further wealth in the community, potentially making more customers for Soap Hope and the businesses they have inspired.

I am all for spreading the wealth, however the Robin Hood methods of government agencies moving wealth from one place to another has proved inefficient and unsustainable. Social Ventures and microfinance however are offering very interesting models that are creating social change that is sustainable. If the government wants to do something about these greedy bastards and their fat cat bonuses, stop looking at old tax and regulation policies and start looking at ways to inspire social good.

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Great description of SparkClub

Anne Bothwell of the KERA blog Art & Seek wrote a very nice post about us yesterday. In the article she describes our purpose as “sound[ing] more like something for Seattle than North Texas, for technology start-ups rather than artists.”

I loved that. A lot of people who have been to our meetings express surprise that this is happening in Dallas. Frankly I am too. I’m pleasantly surprised that we’ve created a buzz here and that people are looking for opportunities for social innovation. Now that our network is growing, we want to move beyond networking events to seminars, unconferences and PechaKucha to try help entrepreneurs get their ideas spawned, developed, pitched and perhaps even funded.

Let us here from you. Tell us what you want to learn, who you want to meet or how you can help.