SOCIAL IMPACT - ci4si.org€¦ · business and is raising awareness about the 4th Sector of our economy and Social Impact Businesses. Previously, Jonathan served as Vice President

MAGAZINEby Colorado Institute for Social Impact

SOCIAL IMPACT

A COLORADO COLLECTIVE PUBLICATION

SOCIAL IMPACT MAGAZINE COLORADO INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT • CI4SI2 3

“We believe Social Entrepreneurs can shape the economy, provide enormous societal value and

bring elegant solutions to social problems.”

Jonathan A. Liebert,Colorado Institute for Social Impact

CONTENTS

5 Vision & Mission

14 What is SROI?

24 Local Impact

7 Impact Statement

16 Feature: Tyler Peoples of Mission Catering

26 Organizing the Sector: The Time is Now

9 CI4SI Contributors

18 Feature: Bridge to Justice

28 PRISM Awards

10 Defining the Continuum

20 Feature: Blue Star Recyclers

32 Recommended Reading

34 Creative Contributors

12 A Sense of Purpose, A Letter from the CEO

22 Feature: Who Gives a Scrap

33 CI4SI.org: Accelerating the Evolution of Business

35 Certification in Social Impact Strategy


THE SOCIAL IMPACT ECONOMY POWERS A NEW BUSINESS DEFINITION FOR SUCCESS. OUR MISSION: TO HARNESS SOCIAL IMPACT TO ACCELERATE THE EVOLUTION OF BUSINESS.

PHOTO SEAN HOLVECK


We must think beyond the bottom line

and look to businesses with a higher

purpose to lead us in the new Impact

Economy. We believe Social Impact can

evolve capitalism and that Social Impact

businesses can inspire others to strive

for a higher purpose. We believe Social

Entrepreneurs can reshape the economy,

provide enormous societal value and

bring elegant solutions to social problems.

We believe Social Impact can align a

business’ values with its customers

through transparency of the business

goals and measurement of their impact on

the community. We seek to bring people

together in this sector to build on each

other’s successes and failures, evolving

business with collaborative competition.

We seek to accelerate the evolution of

business, starting in our own community.

IMPACT STATEMENT


Jonathan Liebert is the CEO and Executive Director of the Colorado Institute for Social Impact and the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Jonathan is a Colorado Springs native, a recognized Leader in Colorado by the Beanstalk Foundation, and a 2016 Rising Star Award recipient by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. In his current position since June 2015, Jonathan has increased understanding of the importance of integrity and trust in business and is raising awareness about the 4th Sector of our economy and Social Impact Businesses.

Previously, Jonathan served as Vice President of AspenPointe Enterprises, where he spent 14 years building a stronger community through social enterprise, solving prevalent social issues, and serving disadvantaged populations. Jonathan is one of the co-creators of the Peer Navigator Model, an innovative peer support model for the military that was presented to the White House Joining Forces Team and has been featured in the New York Times and Time Magazine.

Jonathan is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and currently serves on various community boards. Jonathan has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center.

JONATHAN A. LIEBERTCEO, Executive Director

Gina Sacripanti is the Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Colorado Institute for Social Impact and the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. As the builder of marketing, communications, and events that serve to promote both organizations’ vision, she is dedicated to innovative ideas and storytelling that drive greater community engagement and involvement among business communities. Gina has over 20 years of experience in the not for profit financial services and media industries leading events, community outreach, sponsorships, media relations, marketing, and communications.

Prior to her current role, Gina was a marketing consultant for a national credit union and was responsible for marketing strategies and financial literacy programs. Gina also served as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for The Washington Examiner, the second largest news media organization in the DC-metro area. In this position, Gina was responsible for increasing brand equity and creating sponsorships and promotions of DC’s signature events, including The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Marine Corp Marathon, National Memorial Day Parade and pro-teams Washington Nationals, Washington Redskins, and Washington Capitals.

Gina did her undergraduate studies in marketing at Villanova University and has a MBA from George Washington University.

GINA SACRIPANTI Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations

Nicola Roark is the Vice President of Development and Operations for the Colorado Institute for Social Impact and the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Nicola has over 20 years of professional Operations and Marketing experience and has helped shape the cultural development of businesses of various sizes by organizing people, process, and programs to drive strategic initiatives.

Nicola has a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of North Wales in Great Britain and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. In addition to being an alumna of UCCS, Nicola is also the co-chair of the UCCS College of Business Alumni Outreach Committee and a member of the College of Business Alumni Leadership Team. Nicola also volunteers for DECA, an international association preparing leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas.

Originally from Manchester, England, Nicola has lived in Colorado Springs since 1995 and is proud to call it home. Nicola is especially excited about the possibilities afforded to Colorado Springs and its community, driving the evolution of business by organizing and providing education about Social Impact and the 4th Sector.

NICOLA ROARKVice President of Development & Operations

Stacey Burns is thrilled to be a native of Colorado. She has been a strong advocate for Social Impact Businesses, veterans’ transition programs, as well as healing through the arts. She started the Spotlight on Hope event to increase behavioral health awareness, and was one of the creators of the Military Creative Expressions program in conjunction with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Stacey’s absolute favorite part of any opportunity is developing mutually beneficial partnerships and helping people find their potential.

Stacey is currently the Vice President of Business Innovation at the Colorado Institute for Social Impact and the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Stacey is working to increase the understanding and measurement of Social Return on Investment (SROI) through CI4SI, a process she has been developing since 2009. Stacey was chosen in 2015 to become a Beanstalk Foundation Leader and is Chair of the El Paso County Community Services Block Grant Advisory Board. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from CU-Boulder and a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from CU-Denver Health Sciences. Stacey loves reading, movies, water skiing, but most of all she loves spending time with her daughter.

STACEY BURNSVice President of Business Innovation

CI4SI CONTRIBUTORS CI4SI CONTRIBUTORS


DEFINING THE CONTINUUM

A NEW WAY TO DO BUSINESS

This innovative model was developed to show the continuum of options for being a Social Impact Business. The continuum can range from nonprofit to for profit, although we believe tax designation should not limit a company from having Social Impact. A Social Impact Business is a business that exists to solve a social issue or a business that considers commercial and social goals equally to businesses that have a clearly stated higher purpose with a culture built around it. While many businesses incorporate Corporate Social Responsibilities into their models, CSR is different from a business that incorporates Social Impact.


Social Impact, Social Enterprise, Higher Purpose, Conscious Capitalism. These are some of the terms being used to describe a new type of business and an innovative way of thinking about how companies and nonprofits should operate. At the Colorado Institute for Social Impact, it is our mission to harness Social Impact to accelerate the evolution of business. Over the last few years this is exactly what we have begun to see; an evolution of business.

Consumers are interested in companies that provide a social and/or an environmental value and will switch from a favorite brand to support one with a social cause. Consumers will pay more for a product or service if that company gives back to their community. And perhaps most importantly, a majority of job seekers state that they will take a pay cut to work for a company with a higher purpose.

Social Impact is the outcome of a mission-driven business or a business with a “higher purpose” that uses the powerful economic engine of capitalism for good, not merely for gain. Social Impact also refers to the emerging 4th Sector of the economy and is made up of Social Enterprise, Social Business,

Conscious Capitalism and Public Benefit Corporations. These businesses often adhere to a philosophy of the triple bottom line: Purpose, Profit and Prosperity. Businesses and organizations that create Social Impact have this effort woven into the core of their products, employees, culture, and how they support the community.

In January of 2018 Larry Fink, the CEO and founder of the $6.3 trillion asset manager BlackRock, sent a letter titled “A Sense of Purpose” to CEOs of public companies, stressing the need for a clear long-term strategy and an understanding of the societal impact of their business. In the letter Larry states:

“Without a sense of purpose, no company, either public or private, can achieve its full potential.”

Larry also states:

“To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society. Companies must benefit all of their stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate.”

These are powerful words from this CEO of an extremely wealthy and highly influential company and it has accelerated the conversation that we have been having here at the Colorado Institute for Social Impact about the 4th Sector at a national and international level.

The Colorado Institute for Social Impact, or CI4SI, subscribes to the following Impact Statement:

At the Colorado Institute for Social Impact, it is our belief that we must think beyond the bottom line and look to businesses with a higher purpose to lead us in the new Impact Economy. We believe Social Impact can evolve capitalism and that Social Impact businesses can inspire others to strive for a higher purpose. We believe Social Entrepreneurs can reshape the economy, provide enormous societal value and bring elegant solutions to social problems. We believe Social Impact can align a business’ values with its customers through transparency of the business goals and measurement of their impact on the community. We seek to bring people together in this sector to build on each other’s successes and failures, evolving business with collaborative competition. We seek to accelerate the evolution of business, starting in our own community.

We believe Colorado is the ideal location and is well positioned to lead the national movement on Social Impact and the State of Colorado is proving to be fertile ground to launch these types of businesses. As more awareness of the 4th Sector is generated it will be the catalyst for more businesses that generate a Social Impact to be created.

I am very encouraged by the positive response that Colorado has had to this movement and by the excitement that this is generating throughout the State. I am thrilled that the Institute has secured a space in this developing marketplace and that Colorado has a huge opportunity to be a leader in this movement. 2018 marks a very important moment in time for capitalism as the market continues to expand how businesses can offer more to our communities.

We invite you to be a part of this growing movement as we Accelerate the Evolution of Business.

Respectfully,

Jonathan Liebert

CEO, Colorado Institute for Social Impact

“Without a sense of purpose, no company, either public or private, can achieve its full potential,”A LETTER FROM THE CEO

PHOTO SEAN HOLVECK


Colorado Institute for Social Impact believes each and every one of us is an investor. Why is that? Simply put, every one of us has, at one point or another, spent money on something. In the most basic economic terms, when you support a business, your money is casting a vote, “investing” in that company, telling it to keep doing what it’s doing. For years, the way for a company to earn that investment was pretty simple—offer the best product for the lowest cost to the company, offering the most competitive price to the consumer. Quarterly earnings and “the bottom line” were the main focus of how business worked, from Wall Street to Main Street.

However, things are changing. With the emergence of the new 4th Sector, we’re seeing the growth of a new way to do business. Instead of focusing on quarterly reports and short-term earnings, Social Impact Businesses are starting to think

bigger. What if, instead of simply focusing on profit margin, businesses were focused on changing the world as well?

Sure, businesses and entrepreneurs can toss around the phrase “change the world” pretty liberally these days, but what if that truly was the goal? Social Entrepreneurs are trying to do just that—build a business that doesn’t just make money, but also makes a lasting difference in the community. It’s a lofty, admirable goal, and could change the very fabric of capitalism as we know it. However, for such a thing to exist and thrive, we must have a way to monitor that impact. Instead of just saying “for every dollar you spend here, we give 10% to the homeless”, what if there was a way to monitor and study a company’s Social Impact just like we can monitor and study stocks on Wall Street?

That is where SROI comes in, or Social Return on Investment. SROI is what happens when you take a business model and combine it with your heart and your passions. SROI is how a Social Impact Business can prove to traditional investors, customers, and aspiring entrepreneurs alike that their work is making an impact on the community. Bridge to Justice is just one of those companies that has blended Social Impact into their everyday business model. When someone decides to invest in Bridge to Justice as a consumer or a traditional investor, the best, or the most convenient. Instead, the focus is on the company’s mission and goals aligning with their own.

SROI can empower investors with the information on how each and every dollar spent at a Social Impact Business was spent to impact the community. It can monitor the short and long-term effects of that investment and having that information readily available can utterly revolutionize how we do business. Business competition will evolve to focus on the work a company is doing in the community. How do they compensate their employees? Where do they obtain their products? If they serve food, what kind of chemicals are in the product? How are they plugging into the community and giving back? SROI can help a Social Impact Business tell this story in a clear, understandable, and transparent way so investors and consumers can “vote with their dollars” and support those businesses that line up with their own. Competition in business would evolve into a more collaborative environment, as the real draw for customers and investors is found in a business’ Social Impact, not who has the lowest prices.

Numbers can be intimidating for those of us who aren’t particularly math-minded, however, they are a common ground and cross-cultural. They are an easy way for us to gauge progress and impact across the board. SROI gives companies these numbers, and it helps citizens come together to effect change in their community in an accessible, tangible way. While many of us might not feel we have the income to donate to a nonprofit we’re passionate about in a

regular fashion, we still have to do things like buy groceries, grab coffee, see a doctor, and other things that cost money. A Social Impact Business can show their SROI to consumers, and empower them to buy the coffee, get the groceries, or see the doctor that doesn’t just provide excellent service, but also aligns with an investor’s personal passions and has made a measurable impact on their community.

The truly remarkable thing we’re seeing with Social Impact Business is that this focus on giving back while also earning a profit makes a business stronger. Because a Social Impact Business’ goals reach beyond an interest in their bottom line but instead focus on strengthening their communities and making lasting, positive change, they are more profitable and have a greater Social Impact in the long run. Consumers and investors are becoming more and more concerned with a company’s passions and interests. They want to give their money to those companies who are more focused on doing good, and those who can report SROI don’t just build brand loyalty, they create true partners in their customers.

Social Impact Businesses are changing the way we do business, they’re redefining the meaning of success, and they’re changing the world in ways we never imaged possible. SROI has empowered them with a transparent, effective way to tell their story, and allowed each of us, each investors in our own right, to take an active part in changing our communities for the better.

WHAT IS SROI?STORY KENDALL ASHLEY CONTRIBUTOR STACEY BURNS


TYLER PEOPLES OF MISSION CATERINGCI4SI PRISM AWARD SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

STORY E. ALEX RIEGELMANN | PHOTOS ALLISON DANIELL MOIX

In downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, old brick buildings from the 19th century line Tejon Street, some as old as the city itself. Peppered amongst them are buildings that are more recent; from just a few decades ago. It’s another “new” American city. And like any other American city, there’s a great deal of opportunity here. The Front Range region of Colorado is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, and Colorado Springs boasts idyllic natural beauty, mild year-round weather, and a central location within Colorado, one of the most scenic and wild states in the Union.

Just like anywhere else, however, it has problems. Colorado Springs, despite its urban sprawl over an area larger than the entire countries of Liechtenstein, Andorra, and the isle of Malta, to name a few—is a city with a very old problem: homelessness.

Among us are many who sleep outside; who we may recognize spending their time on the same street corner. Some hold signs asking for help—others simply trudge on through rain, snow, hail, and scorching sun. They live in tent cities near the Springs Rescue Mission, and are often moved along by police and security guards.

Each of them has a story—one which tells how they got where they are now. Stories of homelessness or poverty are always diverse and different. Some remain homeless; many do not. Often, homelessness is a “dark night of the soul” that tells of one’s lowest place before achieving a new, better life.

And that better life, like any endeavor, is achieved in stages. There’s always a beginning; often it’s at a place like Springs Rescue Mission, and progresses to programs, like those offered by Mission Catering, a company, like many others, that is designed to give a new chance to people left behind.

“We’re a for-profit company. We’re a social enterprise,” said Tyler Peoples, the head chef, and leader of Mission.

Tyler was awarded Chef of the Year, 2014 by the American Culinary Federation (ACF), and thus, is no amateur. Yet his demeanor is strikingly humble.

Some homeless outreach programs are designed to give people somewhere warm to sleep, or a few meals to survive the day. Mission Catering is a little different—it’s a for-profit company that operates out of First Presbyterian Church, in downtown Colorado Springs. The same church which supports the Springs Rescue Mission, a homeless outreach program. But what’s different about Mission Catering is the unique chance it offers to people who want to pull themselves out of their situation.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from in this world. You can do good,” Tyler said.

Mission Catering is made up of 7 permanent staff, with rotating “interns” who spend one year working with the regular staff, learning about how to do the job, how to work with others, and (of course), prepare delicious food. If they can show that they are exemplary workers in this time, they’ll be hired by Mission as actual employees; not as volunteers. For anyone who has been homeless, this is huge. After one year, regardless of your background (no matter how dark), you can be a part of Mission Catering.

Dennis, one of Mission’s staff, described by his peers as “one of the best cooks I’ve ever met,” described his experience: “I was homeless for 20 years. Lost, really. But I always loved cooking. It just made sense to me. And here I am, working [with] Mission. This has been everything—a passion; a life for me.”

They may sound like a nonprofit, donations-based business, but they’re not. Mission is a catering company, and they are even pioneering a new coffee shop in the Phil Long of Motor City Center, called Mission Coffee.

According to Tyler, one of the greatest endeavors is to give back and invest in people who don’t believe in themselves, or whom others don’t believe in. “I’m most proud of the fact that we get to inspire hope. One of our top cooks is Dennis—a guy who went from being homeless, and almost non-functioning because he was so angry... to becoming, one of our best team members. He’s a few semesters into

culinary school, and you should ask him about his dream to work at the Waldorf Astoria.”

In his words, Mission Catering is a “God-sent social enterprise that’s advancing the mission of Springs Rescue Mission.” Tyler’s goal is to become the Rescue Mission’s #1 donor.

According to Tyler, almost everyone at Mission Catering has a story like Dennis. People at Mission have a plan, and some are content where they are and others pursue other opportunities that might not have been available to them without Mission Catering.

As Dennis said: “Without [Mission Catering], I’d be gone. Just gone. There’s a [great] life out there for you. You just have to find it.”

Their kitchen, unremarkable by itself, is full of these remarkable people. They seem overjoyed just to be there,

and they laugh, joke, and banter as they do their work. It seems no different from any other successful catering company; you could not guess that each of these people has a checkered past.

In Tyler’s opinion, what our homeless community needs is more opportunities; more chances to work as human beings amongst everyone else.

“All [our program] requires is one year of your life. One year of your life for the rest of your life. You have to have an anchor of hope, and we want to be that anchor for people if we can.”

“[Colorado Springs] could be a great city—if it was brave enough.”

Visiting Mission Catering, it’s clear: one thing they’re never short on is bravery.

FEATURE

“There’s a [great] life out there for you. You just have to find it.”

COLORADO INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT18 19

Q: Tell us a little about who you are and why you are passionate about affordable law practices.

I am the founder and executive director of Bridge to Justice. My training is as an attorney. I was born and raised in New York. My first job out of law school was for a corporate law firm in New York City. I was laid off after nearly 6 months at the height of the Great Recession. This forced me, at the start of my career, to re-evaluate what I wanted to get out of my legal training. I decided to move to Colorado, where I have family, and to start “from scratch” in my career. At first, I volunteered extensively with Boulder County Legal Services, making connections with local attorneys and gaining valuable experience. I then secured employment with a modest means law firm called the Boulder Law Shop. That was my first exposure to family law. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the work and observed that I could help a lot of people in difficult and emotional situations. The Law Shop closed approximately one year after I started work there, due to the founder’s health issues and the financial instability of our business model. Along with my colleague at the Law Shop, we decided to spin the Law Shop off into its current iteration--Bridge to Justice---in March 2013. I believed that with a few changes to the business model, most significantly becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we could serve an unmet need in the community while making a difference and a decent living. B2J has grown significantly in the last 4+ years and has assisted over 1,000 clients. We have also broken important ground in demonstrating that attorneys don’t have to charge prohibitive fees to make a living and “keeping the lights on.” I am passionate about leveling the playing field in domestic and civil legal issues by helping ordinary folks who can’t afford significant legal retainers.

Q: Why did you do an SROI study?

Ted Stolberg, the founder of the Beanstalk Foundation, commissioned the SROI study, as Ted has been a longtime supporter of our work at B2J. B2J, like many nonprofits, did not track hard data other than the basic information, such

as number of clients served, demographics, income, etc. Ted wanted to quantify the broader impact of our services in the community, using salient metrics that could help us attract additional grant and other external funding and hone our message about the impact our services have on the community.

Q: Why was it beneficial – what did you find out, and how are you using it to tell your story?

The SROI study quantified the impact of our services in the community, amplifying and clarifying our message about the importance of our work. We found out that our work impacts various areas of people’s lives and the broader community by reducing the costs of litigation, domestic violence, and health-related costs, and dependence on public entitlements. The study has allowed us to apply for funding in new areas--for example, health-related grants--that are not typically associated with legal service agencies. I also believe the study will potentially allow us to apply for funding from more conservative-leaning organizations that prioritize self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.

Q: Where do you see the Social Impact movement going?

I see the Social Impact movement continuing to grow in different fields, including the legal industry, which has historically been staid and resistant to change. I believe this is the right time and place for the Social Impact movement to take hold, as the private sector is not adequately addressing the needs of many ordinary people, and the government (particularly the federal government) is wracked by dysfunction and is not picking up the slack. This creates an opportunity for social enterprise organizations like B2J to serve unmet societal needs by bringing together various stakeholders--clients, attorneys, grant partners, donors, and other supporters. I see B2J as a leader in Colorado and potentially nationwide in providing low bono, or reduced fee, civil legal services in family law and other civil legal matters in a manner that is sustainable to the clients and to the attorneys providing the services.

The gap between legal needs and

access to legal services is a wide one.

Too often stories surface of people

needing sound legal representation,

not having the funds they need,

and finding themselves either at

the mercy of overworked public

defenders, or without means to

legally protect themselves. Obtaining

quality, affordable legal services has

been somewhat of an unattainable

goal for a great portion of the

population, turning the American

right to an attorney into an issue of

class. Bruce Wiener with Bridge to

Justice saw this gap and sought to fill

it, by creating a firm that gives the

opportunity for everyone to see the

legal aid that they need. By providing

services to those who need them

most and don’t have the income to

hire expensive attorneys, Bridge to

Justice is leading the way in ensuring

that everyone in our community,

regardless of income, can find

honest, sound legal representation

when they need it most. »

BRIDGE TO JUSTICECI4SI SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT STUDY

STORY MUNDI ROSS | PHOTOS ALLISON DANIELL MOIX

FEATURE

SOCIAL IMPACT MAGAZINE20 COLORADO INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT 21

America is in love with the idea of start-up companies. It’s one of those quintessentially American things—a business starts with just an innovative idea, some venture capital, and a few bold workers. What’s often forgotten is that a startup can take almost any form—they are just as diverse and unique as American businesses can be—and many are even in contrast to our early 21st century ideal of a Silicon Valley overnight software giant.

The truth is, startups appear wherever society has a need. In cities like San Francisco, with its dense, overcrowded roads and transport network, a novel idea like Uber can appear and take the whole municipality by storm—and in that particular case, has taken the entire country with it.

Colorado Springs has its own challenges. Some look much like other cities’, such as homelessness, crowding, or traffic, but others are a little less common. For example, it can be difficult to recycle in Colorado Springs. Many don’t even have a service provider in their area. It’s from “gaps” like this that startups are born.

In 2009, Blue Star Recyclers began. Specializing in certified e-waste, recycling the company recycles old computers, monitors, phones, tablets, and most other types of personal electronics. They started in Colorado Springs, but now serve the entire Front Range region, with additional locations in Boulder and Denver.

Like many startups, they started with a new, innovative take on an old system (in this case, electronics recycling). Waste-processing companies are usually plagued with high turnover rates and employee efficiency problems; it seems that many people just don’t like working with waste. Unfortunately for these companies, it shows.

But when your processes require human labor and precision, what can you do? The vast majority of people can only tolerate a certain amount of repetitive, detailed work while standing in one spot. Blue Star Recyclers CEO Bill Morris describes such an employee’s first day as being their most productive—then falling, predictably, over time, until they just can’t take any more. He says this takes 6-8 months for the average worker.

Blue Star Recycler’s solution is unique.

It was in 2008 when Bill visited a “day program” facility for adults with developmental disabilities. Congregated in a warehouse, these people were supervised by service providers. These were mostly lower-functioning people with severe developmental disabilities. Yet, Bill noticed something: sequestered from all of the others was another group. These were all young men, in their early 20s, with some form of autism. And they were quietly gathered together around a various electronics. Captivated by curiosity, these men were carefully and meticulously disassembling the machines.

Despite having no experience in the recycling or waste processing industry, Bill couldn’t shake this idea: of a business that employs people like those he stumbled upon.

Only 16.8% of adults with disabilities are employed, and for adults with autism, it can be very difficult to get a job because so many jobs have changing conditions, loud or otherwise distracting environments, and require a lot of interpersonal interaction—all things which autistic adults can find extremely challenging.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is complex and poorly understood. Generally, it involves difficulties socializing, making eye contact, and having fixated behavior; that is, being focused completely on a small, detailed process or aspect of something without regard for the thing as a whole. Many autistic adults are high-functioning, coherent people. While they have the same emotions and feelings as anyone else, an autistic adult is often assailed by extreme sensory overload. Imagine being forced to go about modern life while wearing headphones that blast Scandinavian death metal 24 hours per day—this is analogous to what a person on the spectrum is dealing with their whole life. It leads to “coping behaviors” like waving of the hands, making strange sounds, or self-injury, to name a few.

But Bill Morris discovered something else about autism—an affinity for detailed, repetitive processes, such as taking something apart. And thus, Blue Star Recyclers’

future workforce was born. Blue Star has been able to take autistic adults and gradually introduce them to electronics disassembly. Usually, in less than 6 months, that new employee has almost doubled their productive output.

“It’s funny to see how when we hire neurotypical people, It’s like a tortoise-and-hare effect. The hare [neurotypical person] typically starts at [a rate of] about 16 units on their first day. But this will drop off after 6 months, then they often quit by [month] 8,” Bill said. The “tortoise,” as he calls it, is an autistic worker, whom he says usually start around 12 units per day, and end up soaring to over 20 in 6 months, and continuously improving afterwards.

“What really amazed me was the change I saw in these people,” Bill said. “In a very short time, they quit acting like patients, and started acting like men. They stood differently; talked differently.”

On top of that, they don’t get tired of the job. According to Bill, the company went 6 years with zero turnover, absenteeism, or accidents; statistics that are unheard of in this industry. That’s 100% personnel efficiency, which is any employer’s dream.

People classified as autistic are a huge untapped workforce in the United States. About 3.5 million people have autism (and 50,000 turn 18 every year), and other waste processors are taking note. Blue Star is now helping other waste processing companies form their own models for employing autistic adults. They plan to start operations in two new cities in 2018; locations could be in Austin, Salt Lake City, Omaha, or Nashville. According to Bill, Blue Star will likely end up in all of them.

“We only recycle 13% of the 21-35 million tons of e-waste our country produces. That’s not a lot,” Bill said.

Everywhere the company goes, they create jobs for autistic adults. When they began their Boulder operation, that created 8 jobs alone, with more likely to come. An added benefit of employing autistic adults is that it also removes them from the American disability system; instead of them continuing to be a burden on public services, they become taxpaying, productive members of society.

Bill hopes to bring jobs to every unemployed disabled person he can.

“When I started this, I didn’t know anything about electronics recycling. I didn’t even know that electronics were recyclable,” Bill said. “I just found four young men—and I was just sort of obsessed with this idea to get them working, and experience what it was like to have a job... Electronics recycling was just a means to that end. So I would say: don’t wait until you have all the answers to start your social enterprise. Have your impact in mind, then get started. I think if you build something that’s needed, the Universe gives you the nod of approval, and gives you what you need.”

Bill started with a “why” for his business—to employ people with autism and related disabilities. Success has followed that “why.”

Which begs a question: how many other problems are just waiting for a business to solve? “Social” impact describes something that makes a difference for people, directly.

Blue Star Recyclers is making that happen.

“The truth is, startups appear wherever society has a need.”

BLUE STAR RECYCLERSCI4SI PRISM AWARD SOCIAL IMPACT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

STORY E. ALEX RIEGELMANN | PHOTOS ALLISON DANIELL MOIX

FEATURE

COLORADO INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT • CI4SI 23

While visiting her niece in Texas the summer of 2015, Lorrie Meyers stumbled upon a creative reuse center and was inspired by the vision and the long term positive impact it had on its community and so she brought the idea back to her longtime friend Jayne Blewitt and the rest is history. Who Gives a Scrap fills a niche market for crafters and for those who care about sustainability, offering a variety of different craft supplies without the price tag. And outside of Who Gives a Scrap’s affordable, sustainable supplies, they also have a collection of vintage items that you won’t find in the larger big box donation centers. It is a space that is thoughtfully curated and well-loved. Since November 2015, Who Gives a Scrap has diverted 81 tons of craft supplies from the landfill, which includes the Colorado Springs and Fort Collins locations.

Q. What is a creative reuse center?

L: We are still trying to figure that out, but what we have discovered since opening that it’s an art supply and hardware store on steroids. Every community that has one drives what it looks like. We chose arts and crafts because we both have a lot to offer with our knowledge and history. Ultimately it is a space in which we reuse, repurpose, and upcycle arts and crafts supplies, allowing the opportunity for those goods to have a second chance avoiding the landfill. Part of our long-term vision and goal is to be able to provide job opportunity, pay living wages, and be 100% sustainable.

J: We also wanted to make sure our space didn’t feel like a warehouse. It has more of a boutique vibe. It was important for us to create a warm and inviting experience for everyone who comes through the door.

Q: When did you open Who Gives a Scrap?

J: We started as a 60-day popup inside Ivywild and exceeded our goals. We managed to process four and half tons within those 60 days. That was when we knew we were onto something and that we were filling a need within our community.

L: After the 60 days, we agreed to stay at Ivywild for a year but knew we needed to expand and so we began looking for a storefront location. February 1st of 2016 we moved into our current location in Old Colorado City.

Q: You’ve expanded to a second location?

L: Jayne’s daughter Carly lives in Fort Collins. She came down to Colorado Springs for a visit and help us move into the Westside location. During her time helping she let us know how much she liked the idea and desired having a space in Fort Collins and we gave her our blessing.

J: It was difficult to find a location at first as we had only been in business for about 6 months. Landlords didn’t quite understand the vision nor did anyone think we could be financially sustainable.

L: We have gone from 4 days a week in 800 square feet to now being open 5 days in a 3000 square foot storefront in a matter of a couple months.

Q: Where did the name come from?

L: We would have these business meetings before we opened and it was our homework to come to the meetings with ideas of names. Jayne and I met and I couldn’t think of any names yet Jayne had pages and pages. Who Gives a Scrap was so sassy. I just knew that was our name.

Q: What’s the future of Who Gives a Scrap?

J: We have one more year left on our lease. It is our hope to move into a larger location and become a full reuse campus within the next 2-5 years. We would like to include architectural, have a larger classroom for workshops, and have a maker space studio stocked with sewing machines, tooling etc.

L: We have outgrown our location in Old Colorado City. We have so many donations that they are beginning to overflow into our garages. We can’t process fast enough.

WHO GIVES A SCRAPCI4SI PRISM AWARDS SOCIAL IMPACT STARTUP OF THE YEAR

STORY MUNDI ROSS | PHOTOS ALLISON DANIELL MOIX

FEATURE


All over the state of Colorado, Social Impact Businesses are making a difference in their local communities—from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins to Pueblo to the Western Slope. Spanning various industries and multiple business models addressing a spectrum of complex Social Issues, the 4th Sector continues to grow in size and awareness.

LOCAL IMPACT

COLORADO INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT 27

Social Impact businesses have arguably been around since Benjamin Franklin, who modeled an entrepreneurial culture that built thriving business communities at the same time as solving social challenges long before anyone realized that the two were not mutually exclusive.

Since then the 4th sector has continued to quietly grow with the help of Social Entrepreneurs who are growing our economy at the same time as creating impact for our communities. The momentum in the sector is building daily bringing the need for organization and education into plain sight.

The time is now to empower people with the education they need to understand how our economy is evolving. It is never too early, or too late, to start teaching communities how they can start a business or support a business that not only provides goods or services, but that also impacts the community.

What so perfectly sets up communities now to organize this new 4th Sector is how generations are merging to make positive changes in their community.

Millennials are interested in working for and supporting companies that take care of their employees while also having clearly laid out plans to impact the environment or society. This generation is not only changing how people do business, they are also changing how consumers make buying choices showing that it’s no longer necessary to choose between doing good and earning a profit.

Of course, it isn’t only the millennials creating this change in our communities. Generations with years of business experience under their belts have had the opportunity to move away from the endless pursuit of profit and are also building businesses that leave a better world for the generations coming behind them.

It’s this merging of generations and partnership with businesses in a community that is paramount to Social

Impact. This style of business creates collaborative competition in the marketplace, as it doesn’t simply focus on pulling in bigger numbers at the end of a quarter. Instead, it’s about using the business to solve social challenges in the community. We’ve seen companies like TOMS Shoes do this on a global scale, but businesses right here in Southern Colorado are also leading the charge in positively impacting employment, homelessness and education, to name just a few social issues while serving coffee, recycling, and even offering legal services.

There are three things that CI4SI is acutely aware of in this moment. The time is now. We’re seeing the emergence of a movement that has the power to dissolve the boundaries between non-profit and for-profit and offers an alternative.

This is all of us. With organization and education, the opportunity to truly evolve how business is done can flourish. It will result in something that’s inclusive rather than exclusive – something that’s accessible to all.

The possibilities are endless. If we can organize the sector and provide education that drives action and solves social challenges as well as building healthy infrastructures, we all benefit. What if we could change the mindset so that businesses ask themselves not IF they can make a social impact but HOW?

It is because of this Social Impact boom that CI4SI seeks to educate prospective Social Entrepreneurs, to offer resources to those interested in changing how they run their business, and to educate communities about how they can participate. The Social Impact market is moving and evolving rapidly. CI4SI seeks to create a gathering place both for those who know how they want to help their community and those who are looking for a place to plug in. CI4SI seeks to harness the power of each individual, pair it with education, and turn everyone into an advocate for this new sector.

ORGANIZING THE SECTOR: THE TIME IS NOWSTORY KENDALL ASHLEY | CONTRIBUTOR NICOLA ROARK


The PRISM Awards were created to provide awareness of the 4th Sector and Social Impact Businesses and give recognition to the social entrepreneurs that are contributing to our economy while creating impact for our community. We offer awards in three different categories: Social Impact Business of the Year, Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and Social Impact Startup of the Year. By honoring this exciting new sector, we hope to drive more innovation and create more social entrepreneurs in our community.

2018 marks the second annual PRISM Awards—a celebration of Social Impact Businesses and Social Entrepreneurs that are contributing to our economy and expanding the definition of business success. These awards are presented by the Colorado Institute for Social Impact and Vectra Bank Colorado Springs to focus on bringing us all together, uniting us by the desire to change our communities for the better.

The PRISM Awards enhance CI4SI’s goal to create awareness of the growing 4th Sector. By empowering consumers with knowledge, people can make informed purchasing decisions. It allows consumers to engage with businesses that align with their own missions and passions, and become an active part in helping the community while doing everyday things like buying meals, recycling, or purchasing outdoor equipment. Each year, the event highlights a different industry. The 2017 PRISM Awards integrated Social Impact catering businesses and chefs; this year’s event highlights the Social Impact Apparel and Accessories industry. CI4SI is proud to work with so many innovative Social Impact models. They are companies that have given consumers an outlet to buy quality products and services while also making a direct, positive impact on the community.

CI4SI produces the PRISM Awards to honor these businesses, magnify their storytelling and their mission while also engaging our community. The event recognizes three categories: Social Impact Startup of the Year,

Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and Social Impact Business of the Year. All three will have demonstrated Social Impact in Southern Colorado while living and working here as an active part of the community they’re seeking to change. These companies are an example and an inspiration to emerging Social Entrepreneurs.

Vectra Bank Colorado Springs returns for the second year as the PRISM Awards co-presenting sponsor. “Vectra Colorado Springs really feels a connection to the development of the social impact movement, and we are excited about what it could mean to our community,” said Shawn Gullixson, vice president of Vectra Bank. “The support of this effort is critical to the long-term health of our economy. More jobs, more families, and the opportunity to outreach to all sectors of Colorado Springs.”

Social Impact has brought our community together, breaking down silos and encouraging collaborative conversations. Individuals across generations, economic statuses, political affiliations, and industries can come together to applaud the ways businesses are impacting our community with the PRISM Awards. It’s precisely why they have named this event the PRISM Awards, as they bring together a beautiful and vibrant community to create something inspiring. CI4SI is proud to host an event that honors the social entrepreneurs among us while also unifying our community to effect change.

“This award focuses on unification and bringing us all together.”

STORY KENDALL ASHLEY | CONTRIBUTOR GINA SACRIPANTI



READING LIST CI4SI.ORG

MISSION, INC.Kevin Lynch & Julius Walls, Jr.

Business exists to solve a social issue. Combines commercial and social goals, but with emphasis on a social mission.

CONSCIOUS CAPITALISMRaj Sisodia and John Mackey

Recognizing that every business has a purpose that includes, but is more than, making money. By focusing on its Higher Purpose, a business can create more value.

BUILDING SOCIAL BUSINESSMuhammad Yunus

Combines commercial and social goals. Investment would lead to equivalent increase in Social Impact.

THE B CORP HANDBOOKRyan Honeyman

For profit corporate entity that includes positive impact on society, workers, the community and the environment in addition to profit. (Can also receive a certification)

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Mission, Inc. Kevin Lynch & Julius Walls, Jr.

Tattoos on the Heart Gregory Boyle

How to Change the World David Bornstein

51 Questions Neetal Parekh

Start Something that Matters Blake Mycoskie

The Social Entrepreneur’s Handbook Rupert Scofield

Profit & Purpose Kyle Westaway

How to be a Social Entrepreneur, Make Money, and Change the World Robert Ashton

SOCIAL BUSINESS, CONSCIOUS CAPITALISM, & B CORPORATIONS

Building Social Business Muhammad Yunus

Let My People Go Surfing Yvon Chouinard

Conscious Capitalism Raj Sisoda

The B Corp Handbook Ryan Honeymoon

People Over Profit Dale Partridge

Give and Take Adam Grant

The Responsible Company Yvon Chouinard & Vincent Stanley

The Method Method Eric Ryan & Adam Lowry

Mission in a Bottle Seth Goldman & Barry Nalebuff

Firms of Endearment Raj Sisoda, David B. Wolfe, Jag Sheth

Ben & Jerry’s: The Inside Scoop Fred “Chico” Lager

The Responsibility Revolution Jeffrey Hollender & Bill Breen

Uncontainable Kip Tindell

ACCELERATING THE EVOLUTION OF BUSINESS

EDUCATION & TRAINING

CI4SI has partnered with many of our community’s leading Social Impact experts to bring you the most up-to-date and comprehensive information for starting and growing your Social Impact business or converting an existing model to this sector.

EVENTS & NETWORKING

Join us as we accelerate awareness of this sector through events and networking opportunities. At CI4SI we seek to build a community of social entrepreneurs and create a space where innovative individuals can learn, share and grow.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

With the growing interest in this new sector, let us share with your audience how to incorporate Social Impact into an existing structure, start a Social Impact business from scratch, or just get more informed about how the 4th Sector impacts all of us!

SROI MEASUREMENT

Social Return on Investment measures the social value that a Social Impact business creates by turning their impact into numbers that everyone can understand. This helps them tell a stronger story as well as expand their ideas about their own business’ impact.

CONSULTATION SERVICES

We are proud to offer these services to help social entrepreneurs start, grow or evolve their businesses. New services will continue to be offered as the Colorado Institute for Social Impact continues to grow and evolve.

GET INVOLVED

Facebook/CI4SI

Twitter/CI4SI

Instagram/CI4SI

LinkedIn/Colorado Institute for Social Impact

Email [email protected]


LEVEL 1 COURSES

Why Social Impact

Choosing your SI Legal Entity

Talking Triple Bottom Line Bookkeeping

Making Meaning with Metrics

Beginning your Social Impact Business Plan

Social Impact and Startups

LEVEL 2 COURSES

Measuring your Impact

Disruptive Innovation

Telling your Social Impact Story

Financing your Social Impact Business

Building Relationships to Enhance your Social Impact Business

The first of its kind within the 4th Sector, the Certification in Social Impact Strategy helps strengthen and develop your for-profit or nonprofit business. You can develop the ability to strategize from a Social Impact perspective as well as prepare for the future of the Impact-based economy.

CERTIFICATION IN SOCIAL IMPACT STRATEGY

MUNDI ROSSProject Lead, Writer

Colorado Collective(COCO) founder Mundi Ross is a mother to a son and wife to a whiskey maker. During her time as a farmers market vendor she developed relationships with the different vendors and decided she wanted to start telling their stories outside of a Saturday market. Mundi founded Colorado Collective in an effort to grow and highlight the talented community of artisans, makers, and entrepreneurs in the Southern Colorado region. Aside from Colorado Collective she runs a women’s group, Girl Crush Social Club and a has taken COCO on the road teaching craft/maker workshops around Colorado Springs.

COURTNEY CALDWELLGraphic Designer

Courtney Caldwell is a maker. She is inspired by anything creative, but primarily focuses her attention on outlets that change individuals or her community in meaningful ways. She has spent the last four years as a graphic designer in the tourism and hospitality industries creating brands, campaigns, and publications for her local community. At the heart of all that she does is her immense love for people and the stories that drive them.

E. ALEX RIEGELMANNWriter

E. Alex Riegelmann is a writer and filmmaker from Colorado Springs, Colorado. An avid believer in the power of community, Alex hopes to be instrumental in the genesis of a unique and people-focused media industry based in Colorado. In a community with so many talented and hungry people, Alex seeks to find and lift up natural talents, entrepreneurial spirit, and inspiring ideas; all of which are abundant in this young, ambitious, and beautiful Rocky Mountain state.

ALLISON DANIELL MOIXPhotographer

Allison Daniell Moix is not a Colorado native, but she got here as fast as she could. She spent two summers in college working at a camp in Pike National Forest and fell in love with the mountains. As soon as she graduated college in Tennessee (where she grew up) with a BFA in Graphic Design, she packed her car up (and left anything behind that wouldn’t fit!) and headed for Colorado Springs. That was 12 years ago, and she quickly made this place her home. She immediately became involved in the photography and arts industries, working under other photographers and with the nonprofit Imagination Celebration until 2008. That’s when she started her own business, Stellar Propeller Studio. Since then, she has been hired to photograph all over the world but is proud to call Colorado Springs home and to contribute to the local community, highlighting the greatness of this region.

KENDALL ASHLEYWriter

Kendall is a writer and an editor. She worked for Penguin Random House for five and a half years before starting her own business, Kendall Ashley Creative where she, in addition to her work with Colorado Collective, creates original content and partners with authors to edit their work. Kendall also writes for entertainment sites like HelloGiggles, Nerdist, and Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls.

CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS

Colorado Collective features, explores, and cultivates the vital community of makers, creators, and enthusiasts in the Colorado Region.

Get in Touch

[email protected]

Documents

SOCIAL IMPACT - ci4si.org€¦ · business and is raising awareness about the 4th Sector of our economy and Social Impact Businesses. Previously, Jonathan served as Vice President