We live in a world that revolves around its countless moving parts. It is ripe with creative ideas, unique perspectives and constant reminders that innovation may come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. This exposure to a diversity of thoughts and experiences is what informs our micro- level understanding of what seems to be working, what probably isn’t and that some kind of change must occur.
But solving the world’s problems is overwhelming. Each of our global systems are wildly complex. So complex, in fact, that no one has ever been able to illustrate their collective behavior and interconnectedness as a kind of macro-level map to effective, ef cient and synchronized change.
For example, most of us can grasp the major, vertical events around global issues, like climate change, poverty or food choice and access. But it is in nitely harder to delineate such events across an entire spectrum of issues and systems. And while our knowledge-based economy increasingly assigns value to innovative and connected ideas, it is failing to align ideas with action.
At LAUNCH, we believe that, alone, one person or idea is incapable of solving an expansive array of multi-faceted challenges threatening today’s world. So we develop well-curated networks of thinkers, creators, leaders and ground-level workers who, together, can fuel visible, meaningful change. This way, new ideas can be responsible and methodically seeded and nurtured within deeply entrenched systems that are positioned to be reimagined and optimized. Action is what turns an idea into reality; collective action extends that reality into vast and impactful progress. To get there, we need alignment around challenges, resources and ideas.
In this issue, you will read more about our innovative approach to connecting micro-level ideas with a global network of change-makers, including USAID, Nike, the U.S. State Department, the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and IKEA. We are honored to share these stories with you and understand how we can make our world better, together.