Can Small Social Impact Acts Help Build A Better World These Days?

Forbes

10 hours ago

Four years ago advances were being made on many of the political issues popular with people whose political views ranged from progressive to centrist such as DEI, ESG, CSR, climate change, the expansion of alternative energy and foreign aid.
Even when those liberal agenda items were in vogue, however, there was a long-running debate between what I call ideological purists and incrementalists.
To draw a clear contrast, purists argued that our individual political energies should focus on working for systemic changes (e.g. don't concentrate on food bank donations to fight hunger, but rather on changing the economic system so people can afford to feed themselves.) Incrementalists recognized the need for such big picture changes, but also advocated that it was worthwhile for people to take small steps in their personal lives (think recycling and driving electric vehicles.)
Are recycling and other small acts to build a better world worthwhile?
Over the last six months the Trump administration has diminished through budget cuts and policy changes if not entirely shut down many progressive initiatives at the governmental and nonprofit levels (e.g. eviscerating US AID and shuttering governmental DEI initiatives.) Beyond playing defense through the courts or supporting state and local initiatives in blue areas, people who've concentrated on systemic change have a lot fewer outlets for their energies.
That has left many people confused about what to work on next when it comes to building a more just society. Recognizing this, I reached out to a number of social impact leaders for their views on the value of incrementalism when efforts to create systemic change can seem quixotic at the moment. Two provided particularly valuable guidance.
Unsurprisingly, the first to respond was Billy Shore, the founder of Share Our Strength, who has guided people in many ways on the road to building a meaningful life since 2001 when he published 'The Cathedral Within: Transforming Your Life By Giving Something Back.'
Billy Shore is the founder of Share Our Strength and author of "The Cathedral Within."
'Everyone has a strength to share in advancing a cause that matters to them,' wrote Shore. 'I've seen this in action for 40 years in the anti-hunger work of Share Our Strength, and many years before that in my work on Capitol Hill and in political campaigns. And while systemic change and scaling effective solutions depend on policy change, such policy change is informed by personal experience, bearing witness, and advocacy.
'Each of us can go into a community to personally bear witness to the challenges that exists, whether visiting and volunteering at a food pantry, school, or environmental site. Bearing witness is about seeing for oneself, and letting yourself feel and be moved by what you've seen. This is often the motivation to pick up the phone, send an email or text to elected officials and advocate for an issue we're passionate about. Each of us also has a vote, which signals our desires for the world we want to live in. Each of us has a platform, whether talking to friends and family or posting on social media, to change the narrative about an issue that means something to us. I can think of nothing more powerful and worthwhile than using your voice, loudly and consistently, to make an impact.'
Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, shared that her work with thousands of businesses, individuals and environmental nonprofits had convinced her that individual actions absolutely do matter. 'Systemic change is critical, but it doesn't happen in a vacuum: Individual actions are the spark that drives collective action,' Williams explained.
Kate Williams is the CEO of 1% For The Planet 'For me, two actions stand out as particularly impactful. The first is daily, mindful connection with nature. This doesn't mean you have to summit a mountain. It can be simple acts, like observing a dandelion sneaking up through sidewalk cracks or savoring a breath of fresh air. These moments cultivate a deep-seated appreciation for our planet, which in turn fuels a commitment to its protection.
'The second step is to choose one high-impact habit that you can consistently follow. This might mean taking public transit instead of driving, reducing food waste or aligning your business with environmental giving. The key is consistency—finding one area of your life or work where you can genuinely do better and sticking with it.
'The power lies in consistency and incremental growth. These "small" individual choices—amplified across communities—create change at scale.'
Next week I'll share suggestions of individual choices that other social entrepreneurs suggest we consider as part of our personal work to build a better world.