"Alleviation"

The first day of the Acumen Student Leaders Workshop, we had an intensive discussion about development, what it means, and how to define it. During this discussion, we talked very briefly about the word "alleviation" itself.

Perhaps it is just semantics, but I've been thinking about the appropriateness of this word. Choosing specific words can have a powerful impact, and so I was thinking about what "alleviation" actually meant. It means to make something more bearable, or to mitigate.

But the goal is not to make poverty more bearable. If that was the case, we would simply continue doing what we've been doing for the past 50 years. We would continue to give the poor the impression that they should be dependent on the aid of the rich. But what Acumen does, and what I believe should be the ultimate goal of development, is to ERADICATE poverty, not simply make it more bearable.

"Alleviation" is used extensively in literature and discussions, and I am definitely guilty of using it myself. However, it is important to discern the specific meanings of specific words. In this case, the implications are subtle, but highly important. We should reassess how we use the word in this specific context.

While we want to alleviate poverty in the sense of mitigating it, ultimately, we want to eliminate it.

Let's Eradicate poverty.

Acumen Student Leaders Workshop 2009 Recap

Among 17 students from around the US and around the world, I was humbled to attend the Acumen Student Leaders Workshop 2009 in New York this past weekend. The experience was truly inspiring, both challenging my thoughts and leaving me with insightful ideas. The weekend began for me after a crazy trip to New York, in which my first flight got canceled, I missed my second flight, and I took the 6 AM straight to the Acumen office. Regardless, as promised, Acumen had caffeine ready for me, and my eyes didn't shutter the rest of the weekend.


Thursday:
Seth Godin launched the workshop in Seth-style, challenging our notions of leadership, and offering this simple, sagely advice: DECIDE. Having read his most recent book, Tribes, we asked Seth about building tribes in our own communities, overcoming our fear of failure, and taking ownership of our lives by leading and taking action. His message was simple and powerful, and it was a great start to the workshop.

The conversations and discussions that took place the rest of the day were greatly thought-provoking. They centered on the biggest questions in development and poverty eradication, Acumen's model and values, and an analysis of a social enterprise in which Acumen had already invested.

Bowling and pizza afterwards offered more time in a casual setting to really get to know the students attending the workshop. Hearing others' life stories, while bowling an embarassingly low score made for a great evening.

Friday:
It took me some time to figure out New York's subway system, as I took the wrong one and ended up walking a few extra blocks on Friday morning.
Friday allowed us to enter into more personal discussions about our leadership styles. Blair gave a great talk on leadership, in which we participated in an exercise on the intersection of what our skills are, what brings us joy, and what our needs are. We then heard from Sasha, Harry, Raj, and Ann, all of whom offered us their personal stories and provided advice on paths for changing the world. Conversations with Acumen staff and partners over wine and hors d'oeuvres concluded the evening.

Saturday:
Saturday morning began a bit more casually, although it was apparent that the intensity had not diminished. In small groups, presentations were made about ideas to engage our campuses once we returned to our schools. Ideas ranging from a viral video sparking interest in social enterprise to launching a website and organizing a summit on social enterprise were presented. Not only that, but steps for action were provided, a testament to the passion of the students attending the workshop. The conference concluded officially with a discussion on both staying engaged with each other, and engaging students at our own campuses. A delicious picnic at Chelsea's Pier awaited us, where the discussions continued to flow. Later in the night, we overwhelmed the Flea Market Restaurant in East Village, after which we talked and walked through the streets of New York.

We all had our own unique stories and backgrounds, but what united us was our passion for eradicating poverty and our vision for changing the world. While we all had different interests and paths for achieving our goals, our goals were indeed the same. The workshop was about co-optition, rather than competition. It was about coming together to discuss and take action on some of the most pressing issues of our generation. Everything from the endless list of books to the parking lot of ideas and the debate between Seth's and Teddy's notion of tribes marked the weekend.

While the notion of social enterprise is indeed highly attractive and effective, what makes it so is the dedication of individuals who work in organizations such as Acumen and Water Health International. What makes it so is the passion of the individuals launching the social enterprises to bring individuals around the world to a certain threshold of capabilities. Witnessing and being a member of a cadre of action-oriented individuals provides me with realistic hope about the future of our society. Thanks to the other members of the group, and the staff at Acumen, for providing this. I look forward to working with the community as we look to change the world together.