ARTICLE
Around the Web
January 17, 2018
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We honor Dr. King's legacy the best way we know how, by highlighting human progress through innovation and social good. We'll kick off this week's weekly roundup of interesting articles about philanthropy, innovation, and the future with a look back to Dr. King's history of inspiring words and actions.
The Future
Articles about Dr. King were in abundance this week, here's three thought-provoking articles about the legacy of Dr. King and how his actions reflect on today's forms of activism and social justice.
In What Does MLK Have to Teach us in Philanthropy about Campaign Strategy and Tactics?, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy reminds those who tend to advise groups seeking social justice to not be so disruptive and to seek to work within the system, that Dr. King was often told the very same thing and his Letter from a Birmingham Jail proves that.
In Owning the Dream and Remembering Rev. Dr. King the founders of Dream Builders 4 Equity, illustrate how Dr. King's words and actions inspired them to found their organization, which works to "provide at-risk youth with the opportunity to attain financial ownership in real estate located in low-income/highly distressed communities."
In Finding MLK's Daybreak: Racial Healing for Philanthropy, the Director of Equity and Social Justice at Northern California Grantmakers reminds us that January 16 was the second annual Racial Healing Day and shares three ways you can facilitate conversations around racial healing in your community.
Innovation
In a dramatic turn of events, perhaps inspired by Dr. King's work, the chief executive of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager with $6 trillion under management, served notice to corporate CEOs that their companies "must benefit all of their stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate." Here's a great analysis of this groundbreaking action by a leading financial firm, by our friend Ross Baird, founder of Village Capital (and full disclosure, an adviser to GivKwik in its earliest days)
As if on cue, here's some advice for new companies that hope to be in a BlackRock portfolio some day, 3 Ways Even Cash-Strapped Startups Can Do More Good In 2018.
A topic that is sure not going away, here's another article highlighting a couple more platforms working in cryptocurrency and philanthropy: Bitcoiners turn to philanthropy.
Philanthropy
Since it's still January, people are still in "Predictions-for-2018" mode. Here's the Denver Post's take on trends to affect philanthropic landscape in 2018.
Since it's almost February, we can soon start talking about the year 2030. Here's a new report from a variety of partners, including the United Nations, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the University of Cambridge that forecasts the market opportunities for tech solutions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Your Moment of Zen
The Funk Music Hall of Fame is now open!
There you have it. Some new reading to help keep you one of the smartest people in the room. We'd love your thoughts on any of these interesting developments or if you have interesting news to share with us, @ us on twitter. In the meantime, remember to chew your food thoroughly and floss regularly!