From Tribeca to Tanzania
Wow. I'm actually a little shell-shocked having read this post, being a huge fan of both Keely's work, the Acumen Fund, and SocialEdge.
In short, on assignment for the Acumen Fund, Keely assumed the fake identity of a poor, pregnant, abused, single-mom; she went to New York Human Resource Administration in an attempt to procure social services (and was unsuccessful because she could not produce her fake social security card because she had left it behind as she 'escaped' her fake abusive boyfriend's house). After wasting an administrator's time to actually get this prognosis, she then went to a medical clinic to apply for a fake abortion. Unable to assist her, the medical clinic directed her to Planned Parenthood Federation who could not help her either. Not because her pregnancy was FAKE, but because she needed $500 of real dollars, which her fake identity did not possess.
Oh my.
Acumen's goal was to help Keely understand her clients -- the Poor.
Being in a position to understand your clients' perspective is not only noble, its critical for designing appropriate/relevant products and services. People learn to understand in many different ways and often experiential is the most effective.
There are, however, so many non-disruptive, ethical methods for gaining this experience. There are good immersion programs out there:
- Living with your constituency
- Managing for a day with the purchasing power of your constituency
- traveling without resources
Experiences like these help you learn desperation and helplessness. However, we must gain this perspective without abusing public resources, under false pretenses.
While Acumen's approach was creative for sure, it lacked the ethical fiber that I expect in any organization that understands the power of the social entrepreneur in social change. Social entrepreneurs are able to develop a broad base of support that is ultimately critical for changing behaviors at the individual level. To do this, they must be truly worthy of our trust; they must have the public's confidence.
Escapades such as Keely's is not worthy of our confidence or support.
It is disheartening and discouraging.
About Me
- Eli Stefanski
- I am Eli The Chef -- social innovator, systems thinker, and architect of all things edible. I believe unbridled creativity will make the world a better place. I love a good design challenge, from building better philanthropic systems to rethinking how work gets done.
1 comment:
You know, I think perhaps the most disturbing part of this is that Keely writes that she was disheartened by the bureaucratic (unfriendly) system--but the reason they are as bureaucratic as they are is, in fact, primarily to weed out fraud ... like hers. You can't write in despair about a system that tries in its own fashion to eliminate misuses of taxpayer resources if you are engaged in an activity that is potentially fraudulent ...
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