Agents of Social Change

Folks who want to grab a bite to eat are welcome to. By and large, people I've been to El Paraiso with have enjoyed the food. Our conversation will in part bounce off of the book "Can't Not Do: The Compelling Social Drive that Changes Our World" by Paul Shoemaker (2015). Read it beforehand if you want, but the conversation should be a good fit whether or not you've read the book. We'll talk about what the forces are that bring about change to improve our world. You can share your own perspective, facts, and/or the perspectives of people you admire. Here are a couple of paragraphs from the publisher of "Can't Not Do": “Can’t Not Do” is a catchphrase for the urge that captures the heart of effective social change agents—explaining, in their own words, their passion and drive: “I can’t not do this.” “It’s not that I can do this, it’s that I can’t not.” “I could not imagine not doing something about this issue.” The surprising truth from the trenches is: we already have numerous proven solutions for our many social challenges; what our world needs most, and what most changes our children’s future, are more people prepared and committed to act on their social impulses for the long haul. Innovation helps. Money helps, too. But greater numbers of committed people help the most." "If you feel an internal, persistent call to do more for the world, Can’t Not Do will help you to bridge the gap between “wanting to do” and “doing”—to access the drive of an effective change agent, to break through self-imposed barriers, to learn key principles for success, and to start seeing yourself acting as a change agent."