Amanda Kasmira Brown

Remember to do your best to involve and include ALL stakeholders - even if you don't agree with their opinions or point of view. There is usually some type of common ground that can be found - listen deeply for that commonality. And then start a potential collaboration from there. This is how we brought together both Democrats and Republicans in our documentary film on the criminal justice system.

Yes, pivot when needed. What I have found to be most important is recognizing that by only addressing the surface level manifestations of a problem - without delving deeper into the underlying root causes - that this can often lead to short-term band-aid solutions that fail to create any real, long lasting, sustainable change. Homelessness and poverty are a good example. To truly make a sustainable change here, we have to tackle systemic factors such as affordable housing (lack thereof), job opportunities, & access to mental health services. We have to advocate for policy changes in these areas, so that we can work towards creating long term solutions, which in turn also helps to create a more equitable and just society for all.

When I've created, coached, led, and co-led programs, it helps to define our objectives and outcomes right from the get-go. For example, what does success look like for our programs? It has included many different things, such as changes in people's mindsets, their behaviors, even beliefs, as well as the skills they gained by working with us (qualitative assessment). For me & the colleagues I've worked with, it has also meant measuring the number of participants in a program, & the number of social impact projects initiated, as well as how many people were/are impacted by those projects (quantitative assessment). Pre and post program surveys are a great way to assess changes in understanding of personal agency.

If you don't engage the community, you will not achieve long lasting, sustainable results. Reason being, so many of these issues are very complex. Engaging all stakeholders, even those with conflicting beliefs or backgrounds it vital for different perspectives, building trust, and long-lasting solutions. By working collaboratively & involving the community in decision making processes, this can result in solutions that are more culturally appropriate wherever you are. One of my mentors did this in Africa & she directly impacted more than 4.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Those were her measurable results. The AIDS epidemic required a holistic approach that addressed various interconnected factors.

When working in social impact we have to ensure that our efforts are measurable. We worked on a case to improve access to clean water in Indigenous communities in the USA. We did this by addressing the outdated water infrastructure systems. We engaged w/ tribal leaders, council members & stakeholders to understand top priorities & concerns and conducted an assessment of the key issues. We set a timeline to complete the assessment, establishing partnerships & collaboration w/ government agencies/non-profits/water experts to support the project. KPIs were the percentage increase in clean water access for community members. This was organized by the founder of the non-profit United Global Shift & a campaign we co-created called Be The Shift.

In my experience the first thing to do is to identify individuals and organizations that align with your organization's values and mission. Since one of ours is using ethical supply chain practices, we research & join groups that are focused on ethical sourcing and labor practices to connect w/ potential allies. Everyone is really a stakeholder in social impact work, whether they recognize it or not. Each decision we make, has an impact. And that impact can be on both a local and global scale. It's important to collaborate w/ advocacy groups that are working towards similar goals (ex. ending child labor) and a good idea to seek certification and/or collaboration with organizations that promote ethical sourcing such as GOTS and the RBA.