Social Impact Now! Podcast

On this episode of Social Impact Now!, I’m talking with Joel Solomon author of The Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose and Capitalism. Joel is also the Chair of Renewal Funds, Canada’s largest ‘mission venture capital firm" with $98M of assets under management. On today’s show, we’ll discuss clean money, the power of integrated capital, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, local economies versus venture capital and Joel’s personal journey to purpose-aligned investing. Edited for allotted time.

Learn more about Joel Solomon and Renewal Funds  

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Y. Elaine Rasmussen

Social Impact Strategies Group

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On this episode of Social Impact Now, we have the pleasure to have Melinda Weekes Laidlow, founder of Beautiful Ventures. Beautiful Ventures is a fund for early stage businesses focusing on art, social enterprise and social change. On today’s show, we’ll discuss the role of Black creative arts in economic inclusion, Black storytelling through from a black lens, and building meaningful inclusion in homogenous communities.  

On this episode of Social Impact Now, we'll be talking to Topher Wilkins, CEO of Opportunity Collaboration. Opportunity Collaboration is predicated on the powerful idea from diversity can come unity, and from cross-fertilization can come innovation. The power of collaboration draws its power from the conviction that people of good will forge their own solutions, directions and alliances, and uncover new ways to combine and leverage resources. On today's show we'll discuss privilege from white guy’s perspective, how liberalism undermines its cause, the election results and the power and strength of relationship-building to drive innovation and positive impact. This episode was recorded days after the 2016 election. Edited for time.

On this episode of Social Impact now, we'll be talking to Susan Hammel President and Founder of Cogent Consulting Inc. and Executive in Residence for impact investing at the Minnesota Council on Foundations. Cogent Consulting is also leading the charge to map the Twin Cities impact investing ecosystem.  On today's show we'll discuss a stark incident of structural racism in impact investing, how other communities can embark on mapping their own eco-system, as well as the untapped opportunities of corporate and unaccredited investors in the impact investing space. Edited for time.

On this episode of Social Impact now, we'll be talking to Trista Harris, President of Minnesota Council on Foundations. The Minnesota Council on Foundations is a vibrant community of grantmakers who award more than $1 billion annually. On today's show we'll discuss her recent interview with Sir Richard Branson, mogul, futurist and philanthropist extraordinare, the intersection of philanthropy and advancing equity, as well as how to aligning impact with community-led innovation. Content edited for allotted time.

The Social Impact Now! Podcast lifts up work of social changemakers who are creating a positive impact in communities locally and globally. Each week we interview community leaders, philanthropists, investors and thought leaders. We’ll hear stories of community-led innovation, entrepreneurship and thought leadership bringing an equity lens to impact investing and conscious capitalism. Topics covered include social entrepreneurship, cultural responsiveness, sustainability, democratizing access to capital and more. Main episodes are posted weekly on Wednesday.