Beyond Microfinance
Two new players in the world's social investing scene seek financial returns along with social impact.
Social Issues - Most Popular
Podcast
Thomas M. Siebel - Using Marketing Techniques to Fight Meth Abuse
The abuse of the synthetic drug known as methamphetamine has become a top crime problem in the United States, and now a global epidemic. In this audio lecture, part of the Stanford Social Innovation Review's conference on evaluation, IT leader and philanthropist Thomas Siebel discusses the nature of meth addiction as well as the efforts of the Meth Project, a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing first-time meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach.
Podcast
Panel Discussion - Human Rights in the Information Age
How many of us take for granted the simple freedoms and rights we enjoy in this digital age? James Woolsey, past director of the Central Intelligence Agency, leads a fascinating panel discussion on "Human Rights in the Information Age," with Samantha Power and Michael Posner. The panel was part of the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Podcast
Wendy Kopp - Raising the Bar for Low-Income Students
Teach For America places thousands of energetic and committed college graduates as teachers in under-resourced schools for their first jobs. In this audio lecture recorded at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wendy Kopp shares why and how she started Teach for America in 1980, and its progress in raising the bar for under-achieving children. She also discusses how the organization rode out its "dark years," when enthusiasm and corporate support for the effort began to wane.
Podcast
Panel Discussion - Skoll World Forum: Hybrid Business Models
How do you use for-profit activities to fund your social entrepreneurship mission? In this panel discussion at the Skoll World Forum, experts talk about how to combine for- and nonprofit activities for greatest effect. They show that business and nonprofit can mix, drawing on examples such as efforts to profitably provide water to poor villagers by training street children to run businesses, and franchising medical care to creating a transparent market place for handmade goods.
Podcast
Gary Hirshberg - Making Money While Going Green
Scientists predict that we have less than 10 years to sufficiently reduce carbon emissions to avert a total environmental disaster. Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm "CE-Yo", tells of his company's efforts over the past 25 years to reduce its environmental footprint while increasing profits. Hirshberg shares lessons from his book Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, in this Stanford Center for Social Innovation audio lecture.
Podcast
Mohammed Abbad Andaloussi - Corporate Citizenship Supporting Education
Can we change the world by engaging in corporate citizenship one hour per week? Al Jisr, and its founder, Mohammed Abbad Andaloussi, are convinced that we can. In this audio interview, host Sheela Sethuraman interviews Analoussi about his efforts to improve education in Moroccan schools by involving businesses. So far, more than 100 corporations have "adopted" some 200 schools, providing volunteers, support, and a real world perspective to students.