If you asked the residents of Pioneer Square’s 220 & Change building, they would report that everything was very LOUD between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm on March 6th. And then they would tell you, decibel levels aside, how neat it was that we were hosting a Youth Philanthropy Summit and that 140 student idealists (ages 5-14) were in the building to explore the concepts of community, philanthropy and social change.
The students’ first task? To gather as much information as they could about the 25 organizations participating in the morning’s resource fair. Armed with a cleverly-designed BINGO card, the children raced around the building asking the cheerful non-profit representatives, “Can you please tell me about your organization?”
Unlike those young idealists, we are often all too aware of the challenges of making change: The frustrations of government, the power of bureaucracy, the tension between the theories of change held by for-profit and non-profit organizations, and the urgency of technology and communication.
220 & Change is the physical space we have created to facilitate that. I like to call it a “living switchboard for the common good” – a place where spontaneous connections can happen anytime.
But just as important to a strong, vibrant community is a virtual space to gather and stay informed. A place where people with different ideas and perspectives and values can find common ground.
For that, we turn to Crosscut.
Crosscut’s commitment to strong reporting on important local business, policy and cultural issues provides a dynamic online space for change-makers to stay engaged, aware and motivated. And their pursuit of multiple perspectives from local thought leaders and ideas for improving our region means that they take us beyond Seattle’s polite, passive process.
Young, old, rich, poor, idealistic, or on the verge of capitulating to cynicism, we need one another’s support to make a meaningful difference.
And it’s okay to make a little noise in the process.
Crosscut is in the middle of its spring membership drive and we need your support to continue bringing you strong reporting on important local business, policy and cultural issues. Click here to donate to Crosscut.
