10/23/2023
GIVING AWAY THE EVIOLVING VOICE BUSINESS to a deserving and driven social entrepreneur to carry on.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN to take over a social business. Looking for aligned entrepreneur, team, or non-profit. Please pass this to anyone you believe would be able to carry this forward. Time Sensitive
Our world is becoming more divided… It’s Us vs Them, You vs Me, Young vs. Old, Rich vs Poor….\
Voices in politics, on the news and social media are increasingly being used to boost rage, self-righteousness, and divisiveness sometimes with devastating impacts.
Just the Economic impacts and costs from polarization and divisiveness around the world include:
• Reduced economic growth- less trust and cooperation.
• Increased inequality-leading to social unrest
• Increased Poverty- poor health, crime, violence
• Increased conflict & violence between and within countries.- loss of life, destruction of property, economic disruption
In 2018 the World Bank estimated that the cost of conflict and violence was $13.6 trillion per year. This cost includes the loss of lives, productivity, and damage to infrastructure. Their report was a call to action for the international community to invest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
There is no silver bullet to solve all the world’s problems but encouraging those voices to include kindness, empathy & compassion would be a start.
For several years the residents of Design & Source Labs discussed how to create a sustainable social business that would have a positive impact in the world. We decided that instead of focusing on a specific global issue, we could start with helping individuals learn how to evolve to be their best selves. Human nature can be tricky: we may want to always follow our highest values, but in some situations, we need tools and reminders to stay on track.
We called the project EVOLVING VOICE with the mission to provide education and tools to keep kindness, curiosity, and open-mindedness in all conversations. We would support and sustain the business with events, online learning and products that could be tools to help individuals remember to be their best selves.
My company, Design & Source, financed and supported Evolving Voice during the development years. We researched and studied communication skills including Non-Violent Communication, collected information, held successful in person educational events, and designed and developed products which included quality accessories with evolving messages. Once we received our initial inventory, Covid hit and Design & Source Labs needed to close. In 2022, I came to the tough decision after almost 30 years in business to close the funding company, Design & Source.
The mission though, is too important to abandon which is why I am sending out this call for help. I would like to put the project in the right person’s hands to carry it forward. The inventory and assets are all ready to be taken over by a passionate social entrepreneur. There are no rigid rules on how to run it or where to take it. Imagination is encouraged. It is an opportunity for the right person to get a head start on making a positive impact by fostering an “Evolution” of connection.
Please pass this opportunity to anyone you know who may be interested. The below link provides more detailed information and instructions for applicants. Deadline for proposals Nov 30, 2023
https://files.cargocollective.com/c1511920/Evolving-Voice-Summary.pdf
