In a previous post, we discussed an article from Harvard Business Review, which identified four essential elements of a successful social movement. In this post, we will focus on the second of these elements as it relates to Johego: shared values.
In the United States, more than 45 million people live in poverty, including one in five children. In addition, approximately 600 thousand people are homeless, around ten percent of whom are military veterans.
If you believe that more must be done in order to address such profound destitution, you are not alone. In the United States, there are more than one million charities, 300 thousand congregations, and two thousand federal assistance programs working to alleviate poverty. However, only one quarter of US residents participated in volunteer opportunities last year.
What can be done to get more people involved? Based on our research, people are more likely to engage in community development when one or both of the following are true:
- They feel like their contribution is likely to make a meaningful impact.
- They have a personal connection to a particular cause or to those supporting the cause.
With that in mind, here’s one more statistic: in the United States, there are more than 180 million smartphone users. We see this as a tremendous opportunity to address both significant motivators for community development:
- Our app will provide users with a directory of nearby social services — food banks, job training centers, etc. — so that, with the tap of a few buttons, users become able to direct members of their community to resources that address their needs in a very meaningful way.
- In addition, our app will leverage social media to make it easier for users to find, organize, and engage in volunteer opportunities with friends and with organizations that match their interests.
We’re convinced that we can build stronger communities together. We hope you are too.
– Michael
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