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If you’re just joining us, this is part two of our three-part series on social innovation. (Part one can be found on the B2C site or ANTVibes blog) Social innovation can be broadly described as new ideas that meet a need of society, and today we highlight some of our favorite social innovation programs and contributors. We feel these programs are making a particularly significant impact in society today, although there are many other worthy programs we won’t get a chance to mention.

1) Micro-financing

 Micro-financing provides financial services to people lacking regular access to banking, such as those living in rural or poverty-stricken areas. Micro-finance can include nearly any financial service, such as money transfers, loans, savings, insurance, or advising. The idea behind micro-finance is that by providing banking services not normally available, the poor will have better opportunity to pull themselves out of poverty.

 A giant part of micro-finance is micro-credit, but the two terms are not interchangeable. Micro-credit mainly provides small loan opportunities to individuals or groups hoping to start or expand their business, or who are looking to make upgrades to their homes. If not for micro-credit efforts, the majority of these borrowers would never get the opportunity to start their own small business, whether it be to sell household items, make pottery, or operate a restaurant. This economic boost is the intended goal of micro-credit.

 Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist, is largely recognized as the present-day father of micro-credit. He founded Grameen Bank, which originally provided the poor of Bangladesh with small loans, promoting economic activity and growth from the bottom up. Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for their efforts in micro-finance, and still believe that the poor can pull themselves out of poverty if given the opportunity.

Get involved:

Kiva (http://www.kiva.org/) is a non-profit organization that provides a platform for individuals to make loans in $25 increments to thousands of people from around the world. Since 2005, Kiva has provided over $300 million in loans to needy people in 60 countries, with a repayment rate of 98.9%. Choose a new loan recipient today!

 2) Clean Energy

 Earth Day 2012 is less than a week away, and in honor we would like to recognize some of our favorite clean energies. Clean, green, or renewable energy is finally getting the look (and some of the investment) it deserves. Over the past few decades, technology has increased the availability, efficiency and affordability of many energy sources that were once widely untapped. Although cost of implementation will always cause concerns, clean energy sources like these are sustainable and offer ample opportunities for expansion.

Solar power: The concept and practice of harvesting the sun’s energy is an age-old tradition, but modern technologies and policies can push solar power to a new level of impact. The grasp of solar power is immense; the amount of solar energy absorbed by the Earth in one hour is more energy than the entire world uses in a calendar year. And even better, this sun is an inexhaustible source (in the foreseeable future).

According to a 2011 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), “if effective support policies are put in place in a wide number of countries this decade, solar energy in its various forms can make considerable contributions to solving some of the most urgent problems the world faces: climate change, energy security, and universal access to modern energy services.”

Solar energy is versatile, and is well-suited for a variety of applications. Some popular uses include solar lighting, heating, water heating, water treatment, and cooking. Even solar vehicles are being developed, and as technology advances, a owning a solar-powered car may not be too far-fetched. For the big picture, experts at the IEA estimate that if we follow, embrace, and implement a global solar-power regimen, in 50 years it is possible that 1/3 of all global energy can be supplied by the sun.

Wind energy: Like solar power, harnessing the wind’s energy is not a new practice. Windmills have long been used as water pumps and grinding stations, and in the late 1800’s, the first electricity-producing windmill was created. Today, clusters of modern windmills, generally called wind turbines, constitute wind energy sites, or wind farms.

 Global wind usage for electricity is still relatively low, currently providing approximately 3% of Earth’s electricity demands. However, the rapid growth of wind farms has already made a significant difference in many countries. For example, in Denmark, nearly 1/3 of all power is wind-generated, and nearly 1/5 of Portugal’s electricity is wind generated.

 One main problem with wind energy is the aesthetic value. Since windy areas are generally raised or elevated, the wind turbines are usually visible to people in the surrounding areas. Although considered eyesores, wind turbines cause no emissions or fuel consumption, and are compatible with other land uses such as agriculture. If all goes well in the next decade, by 2020 hopefully 10% of Earth’s power can be wind-generated.

 Geothermal energy: Electricity that is made using the Earth’s underground heat is known as Geothermal energy. This relatively unknown energy source does not constitute a significant amount of the world’s electricity supply, but certain regions such as North America are good potential suitors.

 Geothermal energy capitalizes on the excess heat that escapes from inside the Earth. Some of this heat is residue from the planet’s formation billions of years ago, and now the majority of heat results from the radioactive decay of minerals. In the past, geothermal power stations were geographically limited to areas along tectonic plate borders, such as around the Ring of Fire in the Pacific. However, technological advances have expanded the capacity and potential for geothermal electricity.

 Although less than 1% of US energy comes from geothermal sources, some countries utilize considerable amounts of geothermal energy. For example, about 25% of energy in the Philippines, Iceland, and El Salvador come from geothermal sources.

 A large part of what energy sources are used depends on the geography and location of the site. Obviously some locations are better than others for certain types of energy harvesting, and a large part also depends on the amount of investment and funding that goes into the projects.

 In addition to solar, wind, and geothermal energy, other worthy clean energy sources existsuch as hydroelectric, tidal, methane, wave, and biomass energy. With due investment and policy, perhaps one day the majority of all Earth’s power consumption will be clean and renewable.

Get involved:

Even small differences can add up to large changes. An array of personal power supplies exists, and http://personal-solar.com/ offers some interesting ways to charge your electronic gadgets, while http://windenergy7.com/turbines/ offers family-sized wind turbines for individual residences or businesses.

3) Women’s rights

It’s been about a hundred years since women have been allowed to vote in the US, and although many women are now viewed as equals in politics and business, a constant strugglefor rights and equity remains. The situation is dire worldwide, especially in developing nations where an unsettling number of women aren’t viewed as equals, but as property.

Whether it be domestic violence, human trafficking/prostitution, or lack of education and healthcare, monumental struggles for women take place everyday, on almost every front. The right to vote, the right to choose whether or not to reproduce, and the right to pick one’s own significant other are just a few major issues, and they cannot be solved overnight. In fact, mainly due to tradition, the worldwide acceptance and support for women’s rights is mediocre at best.

However, there is a positive side. Progress is being made, and the value of women participating in economic activities has stirred some thought and action. It has been demonstrated that women’s education can increase not only economic activity, but the overall standard of living. And while many women around the world still struggle for equity, there are programs and people dedicated to helping. Each of the following organizations are wonderful places to start.

 Get involved:

In the US, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest feminist organization, comprising over half a million contributors. Their goal is clear: “To take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men." Learn and get involved today at their website, http://www.now.org/.

The Association for Women’s Rights in Development, http://www.awid.org/, is multi-generational, international organization dedicated to gender equity, sustainable development, and women’s rights. The AWID offers up to date information and resources for current issues, activities, and ways to get involved.

What’s next?

Part three of our social innovation series will be available soon on the ANTVibes blog, www.antvibes.com/blog. Check in soon for our final piece of the series, cross-cultural communication.

In an effort to become more aware and involved with social innovation endeavors, ANTVibes presents “What is social innovation?” as the first section of a three-part series detailing some of the most important facts, trends, opinions, and contributors to social innovation today.

What is Social Innovation?

We’ve heard the term tossed around in newscasts and the occasional weblog, but social innovation is something we should all be aware of. The English word “social” is derived from the Latin word “socii”, meaning allies or associates, while “innovation” refers to introducing something new or different. So in a nutshell, social innovations are new ideas (or programs) that meet a need of society.

But what are needs of society, you ask? A need of society could be anything that increases the quality of life for a population or group of people, such as a faster way to bring water to a village, a new kind of motor that requires less energy input, or a program to provide financial services to those without. Many social innovation programs focus on providing services such as healthcare, job training, and education that will allow individuals to make better decisions and in turn, reduce the overall rate of poverty.

While most of us should agree that social innovation is a positive thing, it doesn’t come without its problems. A major setback of social innovation is, and has been, the lack of speed at which progress is made and the limited reach of the implemented programs. In addition, tracking and monitoring the success and impact of social programs can be a complicated and daunting task.

Social Innovation Looks To The Private Sector:

The downturn in the economy has certainly had its effects on social innovation. Government spending on social programs has decreased as budgets tighten, and many contributors to non-profit organizations find themselves out of position to donate.

Traditionally, many social programs have been plagued by bureaucratic policies and inefficiencies, or lack of funding, both leading to slow rates of growth or progress. And while funding is always going to be somewhat of an issue, more recently, social innovation has started to take a different approach.

Of late, the private sector has been looked upon to provide and transform social programs. By utilizing the creativity and inventiveness of people in the private sector, particularly entrepreneurs, many people believe that social efforts can be streamlined and accelerated.

Because successful small businesses and their owners often experience rapid growth and expansion of their companies, it is believed that the same concept and growth can be applied to entrepreneurs working on social solutions. These entrepreneurs, called “social entrepreneurs”, hope to develop new technologies, practices, or solutions to social issues. Run with business-like efficiency, the hope is that greater impact can be attained and more people can be reached.

What’s Next?

Part two of this three-part series features some of our favorite social innovations and programs, and will be available soon on the ANTVibes blog. In the meantime, feel free to visit some of our favorite social innovation resources:

The Stanford Social Innovation Review provides a wealth of information, along with some of the leading opinions, in the realm of social innovation. While the SSIR is available in print as a magazine, the website also offers a variety of blog readings, podcasts, webinars, book reviews, and more.

The Case Foundation invests in people and ideas that can change the world. Their website provides an assortment of information about social causes, as well as resources for volunteers and advocates. In addition, a mix of publications, blogs, and videos is available.

It's been a busy month behind the scenes for our team in both Toronto and Waterloo. This week, we're excited to announce our first conference collaboration with the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN). 

Speakers and conference goers are encouraged to register for their ANT (promo code: CDMN) prior to the event, record their name, and utilize the tool to easily communicate with fellow peers and professionals who will be attending the Digital Media Forum on April 24th and 25th. The event will see more than 2,000 delegates – representing industry, government and academia, and will travel from across Canada and from as far away as Brazil and the Netherlands to gather in Stratford, Ontario. 

Canada 3.0 2012 will focus on the progress and benefits of digital media as it enriches communication, facilitates knowledge transfer, drives innovation, and improves productivity across all industry verticals.

In support of this approach, Canada’s premier digital media forum will celebrate Canadian leadership in digital media as evidenced by best practices, lessons learned and grassroots initiatives — showcasing our success in business and technology, arts and heritage, research and academia.

If you're interested in attending the Forum, you're able to register here. Our team will be on-site, ready to provide you with more information about our product, and are looking forward to connecting with the many businesses and professionals who will be speaking and exploring the space.

What's in a Surname? A new view of the United States based on the distribution of common last names shows centuries of history and echoes some of America's great immigration sagas. To compile this data, geographers at University College London used phone directories to find the predominant surnames in each state. Software then identified the probable provenances of the 181 names that emerged.

Many of these names came from Great Britain, reflecting the long head start the British had over many other settlers. The low diversity of names in parts of the British Isles also had an impact. Williams, for example, was a common name among Welsh immigrants—and is still among the top names in many American states.

But that's not the only factor. Slaves often took their owners' names, so about one in five Americans now named Smith are African American. In addition, many newcomers' names were anglicized to ease assimilation. The map's scale matters too. "If we did a map of New York like this," says project member James Cheshire, "the diversity would be phenomenal"—a testament to that city's role as a once-and-present gateway to America. —A. R. Williams

On March 25, 2012 - In less than a week, we'll be attending the Canadian Supplier Diversity Conference. 

Diversity is recognized as a necessity for corporations competing globally. The focus of the conference is the ROI which flows from a properly implemented supplier diversity strategy.

The keynote speaker for the conference will be Stephen Frost, Head of Diversity & Inclusion for the London 2012 Olympics. The Olympic Games truly epitomize global diversity. Stephen will speak about the experience of London's supplier diversity initiatives in support of the Games.

At this conference diverse-owned businesses and Tier 1 companies will have the opportunity to meet in a forum and breakout sessions where they will learn about practical tools, techniques and opportunities to work together.

  We're happy to announce that ANTVibes will be exhibiting at the Diversity Canada 2012 conference, which takes place on March 5, 2012 at The Hilton Toronto Hotel.

 Our team will be on site all day doing product demonstrations and offering free ANTS to event attendees. Be sure to stop by and say hello, we'd love to hear about your personal name experiences, and how your organization is creating a diverse and inclusive workspace. 

         Has anyone ever addressed you by an unwanted nickname? Of course it's probably happened as a child, but we're not talking about being teased in grade school with silly nicknames like “smelly” or “scooter”.

We're talking about your professional and academic adult life, and most importantly, your real name. Is your name Kenneth, Anthony, Barbara, Elizabeth, or something that is commonly shortened? Have you ever been called Ken, Tony, Barb, Liz, or a shortened version of your name instead of your real name?

As we speak and interact with a growing number of individuals, we have realized that many people who have average North American names actually struggle with people saying their names correctly.

In this case, the names are relatively common and not particularly hard to pronounce. The problem is that quite often common names are shortened to nicknames, without the person’s consent. If a man has been Michael all his life, maybe he doesn’t want to be addressed as Mike. If a woman has been Janice all her life, she probably doesn’t want to be called Jan. Although it often goes unnoticed, this is a common occurrence and annoyance for a growing number of people.

But nicknames save us time and effort, right?

It’s amazing how far the human race has come, but like all species, we don’t want to make any extra effort where we don’t have to. We cut corners everywhere – run that yellow light so we don’t have to stop; pay the extra dollar instead of going to the store across the street; call 411 instead of looking up a number in the phone book. We even call people nicknames, just to save us the effort of pronouncing a few extra syllables. There are hundreds of names that are also shortened on a regular basis. Once in a while, there will actually be individuals who prefer to use a nickname instead of their real name, and it may bother them if you address them by their 'actual'. For example, my first name is Jonathan but from a young age I have used the nickname Jon. When someone at the bank, at a restaurant, at work, or anywhere, addresses me as Jonathan, I tell them, “It’s just Jon.”

Count it. 1, 2, 3.

Three seconds is the very small, yet precise time It takes to make a conclusion about fresh acquaintances. Now that you know that, how would you rate yourself when it comes to first impressions? It's something that each and every one of us experience in our day to day lives, whether it's in person or online. The interaction and exchange between two people is a precious and valuable thing.

I like to look at meeting new people and establishing relationships as an investment, something that's tangible, effective, and lasting. In my experience, many of these supposed 'one-off' connections have resulted in long lasting friendships, relationships, and work opportunities, which has ultimately changed the course of my life.

Something that we are collectively starting to struggle with, particularly as digital technology innovates and evolves, is establishing that real human connection. Our ability to create genuine, lasting impressions, and communicating in a meaningful way has become a lesser priority. Now, more than ever, it's imperative that we devote time and energy into the people in our lives. 

With our shrinking attention spans, and 24 hour accessibility, Information is coming at us from a million different sources. Also, with the emergence of new social networks, online platforms, and mobile apps, it's a wonder we retain any information at all.

Relationship building is a skill, and sometimes not an easy one to master. It takes time, energy, and a certain attention to detail, in order to really work. Although it'll take time and practise, here are a few things you can do to try to condition yourself to stay present and really create a lasting impression:

Active Listening: This is a big one, and something that I learned in University. While you're in the midst of conversation, re-state or paraphrase in your own words, what has been said to you by the person you're conversing with. It allows you to respond to others, focus, and communicate objectively. It also improves personal relationships and allows you to reinforce information throughout the conversation.

Be Genuine: What better representation of yourself than simply 'being you'. Don't sell people a fake bill of goods, and stay authentic, relaxed, and sincere. Put on your smile and engage people in relevant and interesting conversation. If you're shy, the best approach is an outward focused conversation. You can still make an excellent first impression by focusing the attention on that other person.