KI EcoCenter

Imagining the New Economy

Guest Writer — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:32 +0000

Blog by Amy Rubin What can any individual of any socio-economic status do for the economy and the future? Coalescing around an opportunity to create meaningful progress for people experiencing ideological and/or economic distress or detachment in our community, a group of independent thinkers and creators came together at the KI Eco Center to develop new approach to conceptualizing and synthesizing relevant issues. Responding to Rockefeller Foundation's Centennial Innovation Challenge, offering cash and support for new solutions that improve the lives of people living in the "informal economy," six community-based activists, who had been working directly or indirectly on a wide range of loosely connected concerns facing disenfranchised groups here in Indianapolis, came together to address this challenge and use it as leverage for examining meaningful street-level solutions and learn more about the "informal economy" and what that term means here in the Mid-North of Indianapolis. As a result of this effort, a new approach to participating in community-based critical thinking and synthesis began to appear: the Imaginarium. Come to KI EcoCenter (159 W 28th St) Saturday May 25, 9am-12pm for an information and inquiry session, where we'll share what we learned about the informal economy and a new style of group thinking that avoids "groupthink"--the Imaginarium process--and your place in it going forward.

In Pursuit of Social Entrepreneurship

Job Creation Review — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:44:15 +0000

I would like to welcome you to a new blog on the topic of ‘Social Entrepreneurship’. My first task is to review a Social Entrepreneurship website containing links to “need to know” organizations such as Ashoka, Changemakers and the Unreasonable Institute. To access the website go to socialentrepreneurshiplaw.com --> click on the social entrepreneurship organizations link.

However before delving into these links I decided I needed first to learn a little bit about what Social Entrepreneurship is. A page on the website addresses this question:

The job of a social entrepreneur is to recognize when a part of society is stuck and to provide new ways to get it unstuck. He or she finds what is not working and solves the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution and persuading entire societies to take new leaps.

Identifying and solving large-scale social problems requires a committed person with a vision and determination to persist in the face of daunting odds. Ultimately, social entrepreneurs are driven to produce measurable impact by opening up new pathways for the marginalized and disadvantaged, and unlocking society's full potential to effect social change.

The past two decades have seen an explosion of entrepreneurship and a healthy competition in the social sector, which has discovered what the business sector learned from the railroad, the stock market and the digital revolution: Nothing is as powerful as a big new idea if it is in the hands of a first class entrepreneur.
This revolution is fundamentally changing the way society organizes itself and the way we approach social problems.

Next Blog: I will examine each link on the site and provide a review. At the top of the list: Acumen Fund - a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. They seek to prove that small amounts of philanthropic capital, combined with large doses of business acumen, can build thriving enterprises that serve vast numbers of the poor. Their investments focus on delivering affordable, critical goods and services – like health, water, housing and energy – through innovative, market-oriented approaches.

Highlights from the Urban Education Real Talk Forum

Charlie Williams — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:10:34 +0000

On May 3, 2013 in partnership with the IUPUI Urban Education graduate program KI EcoCenter hosted a Real Talk Discussion. Check out some highlights below and stay tuned for more footage! ________ Videos by Charlie William KI NuMedia Video Producer

Crime in the Black Community: An Old Story Begging for Deeper Analysis

Imhotep Adisa — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:50:29 +0000

Too much needs to be said. Too much already said. Not enough time to say it. Too much needs to be done. Not enough being done. Not enough of us doing. The above comments reflect some of my random thoughts about IMPD request for federal involvement in the fight on crime in the city of Indianapolis. I am a 55 year African American male, often referred to as an old G by some of the younger guys in the neighborhood. I live in one of the zip codes now labeled a hot spot. The issue of additional police presence is always a two edge sword for black people in general black men in particular. Black men face daily micro-aggressions from a culture that often fears all Black men - regardless of class. The police -local and federal are simply the enforcers of this culture mindset. Some of us realize that the increase police presence will lead to an increase of disrespect at a minimum and civil rights violations at worst. I also realize that the increase in gun violence must be addressed in order for all residents to feel safe and hopefully be safe. In addition I recognize we must hold ourselves and other members of our communities accountable for their actions and behavior. When a house catches on fire - the fire must be contained and put out. But at some point - the root causes of the fire must be addressed if there is any real desire to correct the systemic problems. Otherwise the fire will simply be shifted to other communities, often of color, and often communities that have little or no current “economic” value. Those root causes include :

High unemployment rate in general - extremely high unemployment rate among young people in particular.
Overemphasis on property investment - by anchor institutions - and little or no investment in the infinite human capital that exists in these communities.
A “leadership” circle that too often is monolithic (white male), neo-colonial (corporate professionals who may have the best intentions but not the capacity or power to bring about real change), and last but not least, indigenous leadership (among neighborhood residents) that lacks organizational capacity, courage, or vision.

While these above thoughts are by no means original - all too often their is little space in the community conversation for real critical dialogue and debate about the root causes leading to ecologically toxic communities which then leads to the need or justification of performing triage on those communities. This is the season for new leadership, to provide critical clarity, vision, and courage.

Local Food Councils 101: Doing Councils Right

John Loflin — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:51:13 +0000

On April 25, 2013 a planning group gave birth to the Indy Food Council. The intent of a Food Council is bring together diverse stakeholder to recommend policies, create partnerships, and support projects that help provide affordable, nutritious food to all. A tool to aid in the development of the concept of Food Council is the manual titled: “Doing Food Policy Councils Right: A Guide to Development and Action” To read it online click here According to “Doing Food Policy Right,” over the last 10 years, food experts and activists, especially in urban areas, realized that a vast food system generated many policies. Unfortunately, the average citizen didn’t have much of a role in shaping them. One way to address this lack of participation is the idea of food policy councils (FPC). Such councils bring together all stakeholders in a community food system and give them a say in constructing a system reflecting them. This brings in the issue of “food democracy” and the long process of striving for improvements in food for all not the few. This must also be linked it to economic and cultural empowerment for the people who raise, process, distribute, and sell our food. Achieving these goals means bringing the bulk of society to work together to ensure there’s enough affordable, easily accessible, and nutritious food for everyone. To make sure access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life, people who form a FPC must come from diverse backgrounds--socio-economically, ethnically, geographically, and in regard to age, gender, and ability. Making sustainable changes to urban food systems mean focusing on the three P’s of reform: Projects, Partners, and Policies. These efforts take concerned citizens from all walks of life working on projects and forming partnerships, and shaping the creation of policies at the state and regional level which promote access to affordable, nutritious food for all. To do its work, an FPC must:

Cultivate relationships with as many stakeholders as possible.
Include a diverse range of interests in your work.
Work for consensus when making decisions.
Educate the public and policymakers constantly.
Look for synergy between all levels of government.

Based on the present level of diversity in the Indy Food Council initiative, how will the movement challenge and overcome the barriers to inclusion to benefit all local residents? This blog is a compilation of ideas and quotes from “Doing Food Policy Councils Right: A Guide to Development and Action ” by Mark Winne Associates, Santa Fe. www.markwinne.com

Earth Day Live: Interview with Rasul Palmer

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:05:48 +0000

Keep Cool and Get Your Boots On

Guest Writer — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:16:13 +0000

KI ECOCENTER: Bootstrapping intelligence for self + community

Blog By Amy Rubin

My lyceum is a community center, around the corner in my neighborhood. It is the KI EcoCenter, a small, local community school and center that emerged organically out of need and has grown into a hub of community conversation and participation. KI (Kheprw Institute), whose tagline is "community empowerment through self mastery," promotes an innovative version of the traditional "bootstrap" philosophy.

The phrase "bootstrapping" comes from the idiom 'to pick yourself up with your own bootstraps.' Based in language use over time, there exists a constellation of meanings, interpretations, uses and proposed origins for this phrase, one a scene from The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1781) where the Baron pulls himself out of a swamp by his own hair. Irony is often implied, as the concept involves making possible an essentially impossible task. However, it can also exemplify the achievement in getting out of a difficult situation by one's own efforts.This "rag-to-riches" ideal was popularized by Horatio Alger, Jr., a prolific 19th-century author known for formulaic juvenile novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to a more successful story ending. This popular American myth is sometimes criticized as a false narrative used to support overly individualistic themes that advocate against social welfare programs--that it is only one's gumption that limits achievement, not facts of reality or institutionalized inequities.

The phrase also was used in early computing, where simple code was used to build increasingly complex code. Entrepreneurs have also used the phrase in their attempts to create something new outside of the security of organizational employment.

"Bootstrapping for Visionaries"at KI

The KI EcoCenter's entrepreneurial approach--including youth initiatives in sustainable projects from aquaponics, composting and rain barrels to making scented products from dead lavender plants--has an intellectual twist. It embraces the metanarrative. To 'make something out of nothing' teaches youth and adults alike that we don't have to accept the current model of thinking. Their motto "world views create worlds" was influenced by a landmark published work in the history of science. Thomas Kuhn's 1962 The Structure of Scientific Revolutions gave the term "paradigm" its modern meaning. In the language of philosophy, KI's 'way of being in the world' develops the perception that we can and do make our own realities through enterprise, a practice of experimentation, self-definition, learning and self-mastery. At the Eco Center, new green social enterprise experiments are always underway. The process builds resilience.

In a recent video, Executive Director Imhotep Adisa acknowledges their adoption of the entrepreneurial bootstrapping tool, using whatever materials and resources are available when little capital is present. "Bootstrapping for visionaries," he says, "uses different techniques that redefine bootstrapping. One, a focus on a social, not necessarily economic, lens. Two, understanding the meaning of paradigms, the current paradigm shift we are going through, and being part of a new way of doing things, a new way of seeing the world. And three, creating solutions, using the traditional bootstrap model, to address the many local and global issues of sustainability."

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To read more articles by Amy Rubin, click below.

Amy Rubin holds a B.A. from University of New Hampshire and an M.A. from Indiana University. She has served the Indianapolis nonprofit community for 15 years. She created and manages Whitepaper Bluesky, a small practice specializing in facilitating the innovation process using critical analysis and creative thinking— complementary left- and right-brain strategies—to activate imagination and originality. Sketching and concept prototyping combine thought mapping and design thinking strategies. Whitepaper Bluesky partners with organizations, resources and advisors in the areas of education, community and culture. To visit their website click here.

KI NuMedia $500 Giveaway!

admin — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:14:54 +0000

We are excited to announce that KI NuMedia will be giving away $500 in web, graphic design, and social media services to a lucky person/organization. Click below to enter.

Social Enterprise Forum at KI EcoCenter

Imhotep Adisa — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:46:06 +0000

On Friday February 15 at 6pm KI will host a Community Forum on Social Enterprise and Job Creation. The panel of community leaders will discuss critical questions about how social enterprise can create opportunity in our community. See below for bios of our panelists:

Meet the Panelists:

KI Launches GreenHouse Incubator

Imhotep Adisa — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:22:12 +0000

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

-Albert Einstein

As we begin 2013, new year resolutions abound. But the old challenges remain. The global economic crisis continues. The food, water, energy crises worsen. Our education system is in shambles. The dystopian world views of George Orwell’s classic novel 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World inform the challenges we face to our personal freedom in a resource scarce, interconnected world. These crises, rooted in an old paradigm and antiquated ways of thinking, will not be solved using the same tools and mindsets which created them. New ways of thinking and doing must be embraced. New leadership must be nurtured and developed. Each and every one of us must act. Each and every one of us must develop the courage to resist, reclaim, renew. It is in this light that KI launches its Greenhouse Incubator– supporting sustainable ideas for a sustainable future. Over the last ten years we at KI have worked to develop New leadership. Courageous leadership. Creative leadership. Critical thinking leadership. We have created and assisted others in creating social enterprises using the bootstrap model. Social entrepreneurship is a tool of bootstrap institution builders, allowing them to creatively finance the social mission they so boldly embark upon. Join us Friday February 15, 6pm at KI EcoCenter for our monthly Community Forum on Job Creation. A panel of community voices will speak about social entrepreneurs, and KI bootstrappers will share our vision for the incubator, which will provide space, admin assistance, technical support, and mentorship to social entrepreneurs looking to create, grow, and sustain social enterprises that change the world. Only the courageous need apply.