Great things grow from small seeds, and sometimes, the inspiration for a career can come from one conversation. We're excited that our 2007 alum Sayako Matsumura returned as a Social Innovation Education Fellow for our Social Innovation program this summer while she is completing her Masters at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. Read below to learn about the experience that inspired her to choose a career for social impact, and also what she learned about possibilities for governments to create social innovation in U.S. and Japan this summer.
Homelessness is one of San Francisco’s most stubborn problems. According to the most recent count in January 2015, 6,686 people were homeless in the city. During this July’s VIA Exploring Social Innovation Program, we had a chance to visit 13 different organizations, ranging from non-profit to technology companies. Their missions and services cover a lot of ground; some non-profits are working for people who are homeless by providing shelter, daily necessities, and advocating for the rights of the poorest people. Others are empowering underserved youth, young adults, and low-income immigrants, and yet others are using technology to lift the voices of all.
Having visited these organizations, I was inspired by their enthusiasm and success stories. Despite monumental financial difficulties and changing social issues, many remain completely mission-driven, committed to providing essential social services to society. Not only do they serve other people, but many of the founders of these organizations have their own personal stories if having overcome severe hardships in the past. Mr. Kevin Mccracken, a co-founder and chief operating officer at Social Imprints, which is a branding company that provides career opportunities and a living wage, said that he was also one of those people who were helped by “others” and completed a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program at Walden House in the past.
Some social issues are simply too complicated to solve. In spite of that, many policy makers have not given up trying to tackle them. For me, an important moment in my own commitment to this work was a short conversation I had with a homeless man when I participated in VIA’s 2007 program called “Serving American Community (SAC)”.
Having visited these organizations, I was inspired by their enthusiasm and success stories. Despite monumental financial difficulties and changing social issues, many remain completely mission-driven, committed to providing essential social services to society. Not only do they serve other people, but many of the founders of these organizations have their own personal stories if having overcome severe hardships in the past. Mr. Kevin Mccracken, a co-founder and chief operating officer at Social Imprints, which is a branding company that provides career opportunities and a living wage, said that he was also one of those people who were helped by “others” and completed a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program at Walden House in the past.
Some social issues are simply too complicated to solve. In spite of that, many policy makers have not given up trying to tackle them. For me, an important moment in my own commitment to this work was a short conversation I had with a homeless man when I participated in VIA’s 2007 program called “Serving American Community (SAC)”.