Social Innovation Generation

By now you have heard or read the call to action from Jack Layton in his last words to Canadians: “my friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we will change the world.”

Photo by Peter J. Thompson

A profound sentiment from a true change maker and leader. Every day at SiG we are privileged to work with Canadians, young and old who not only believe in a better Canada, they are actually working towards it. These Canadians often choose to make a difference through social entrepreneurship, Jack chose to do it through politics, and others like David Pecaut (someone who I can’t help but think of when I read the tributes to Jack) choose to do it through community building.
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2010′s Waterloo Lecture on Social Innovation featured Reos Partner’s Adam Kahane and served as launch for his book Power and Love: a theory and practice of social change. 18 months and several speeches later, Adam has coalesced his thoughts into the 10 laws of love and power.

While by no means assuming that following the laws is easy, I find his 10 laws heartening. They suggest a change theory that is possible; the first step being a commitment to a collaborative process regardless of background or interest.

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