Flourish

Segregation, racism and inequality are systemic issues. We are committed to solving them through action at the vulnerable or sufferers end. A common question arises- How do we do it without power?

We propose a social networking platform/space with glocal (global outlook, local solutions) action elements that connects BIPOC with growth opportunities, healthcare access, safe and compassion environments for them to flourish.

If scaled globally, this solution with the power of social connections for the larger good will make the world to be fair, inclusive and flourish.

Our aim is to solve the basic necessity elements of health, wealth, peace, happiness and opportunities for BIPOC. Time and again public and private racist attitude have and are still segregating Americans resulting in dramatic, persistent inequalities in social, economic, and educational opportunities. Black and other minority Americans live in poorer neighborhoods, attend lower-quality schools and receive health care at lower-quality hospitals(1). Racial funding gap is shutting out BIPOC(2) from accessing capital for businesses, farmers, employed people leaving them with no access to dignity of life.

40% of American population (2020) are BIPOC. Worldwide, the same problems are reflected as problems of minority populations where gender, religious and caste discrimination are suppressing them with irreversible consequences for generations.

The basic humane factors of unity in diversity, compassion and positivity are the building blocks for happy and prosperous living. We have lost these due to selfishness, bad leadership that has created the fear of the unknown.  Our solution will be driven for and with these humane factors for a flourishing world. 

(1) Rothstein, Richard. The Color of Law. Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2018

(2) Goldschein Eric,Racial Funding Gap Shows Black Business Owners Are Shut Out From Accessing Capital, Fundera,Jan 2021.

Flourish is a social networking support space for BIPOC that connects them with financial, health and  law, educators, entertainment industry experts/people, philanthropists, Public/Private institutions, NGOs/NPOs so that they can rightfully access decent living standards (health, education, water and sanitation, law) and income opportunities to realize their dreams (jobs, entrepreneurship, artists and so on.).   Most importantly, its Positive Vibes feature connects BIPOC with each other through chat and media options for them to share good things about work and entertainment places so that they can choose and be in the best, safe and environments.

It can be logged onto like any other social networking website. Once logged in, for instance- One looking for financial help to start a business or an education/house loan/medical help will be connected to potential investors, banks and social good actors.

The application is developed on design thinking and symphonic thinking principles for the larger good. It follows a human-centered, possibility-driven, option-focused approach, big picture thinking, pattern recognition, multi-ness, multi-discipline, multi-cultural, multi-lingual to get the user to the right solution/s for them. The application will be developed using Javascript technology stack.

Our solution serves BIPOC population and acts as a catalyst by providing them the needed platform and support system in the form of a social networking space for them to share and receive the necessary information and support towards having a bright lives.

This solution paves way for them to be in secure environment and opens up pathways for good health, better education, income and opportunities.

This will potentially lead them to lead a fair and peaceful life more than anything else first- the basic right to human dignity.

This solution deals with lack of opportunities and support systems to address the problems caused due to inequality, racism and segregation. To overcome these, we will need the right tools and systems in place which is the aim of this solution.

We have delved into the history of racial structuring to understand the depth of the problems so that we provide holistic solutions at least from now. To overcome the systemic problems of suppression and unfairness- We believe that we need to be the change. Hence, starting at the door of the problem that is with cooperation of the sufferers and working on their progress with positivism and compassion irrespective of the negativity and suppression around is our plan of action. 

Problem is systemic in nature and our solution is designed to address it holistically, through the concepts of bottom-up approach by addressing the necessities for achieving decent living standards. It is a catalytic approach that puts the power in the hands of people rather than relying on top-down approaches for positive changes to take place.

The solution effects for broader positive impacts of compassion and power of positive actions around the world other than good health, prosperity and secure environment for BIPOC and minority population. It basically, acts on the concepts - Let me be the change with compassion and positivity for us. Unlocking the power of actions is the key factor of our social networking space for a flourishing life.

For instance: If the user is looking for financial help for starting a business or an education/house loan it will connect him to his potential investors and banks. One who needs medical help, will be connected to the doctors and NGOs and social good actors who are willing to support him. One who wants to be a scriptwriter, can pitch stories to the entertainment experts.  Most importantly, it provides them the secure environment with Positive Vibes feature for them to share their positive quotes, thoughts, images, videos about the social/entertainment/food/ home and work places they felt safe in so that people have the information power in their hands to choose the best for them from the best. 

Our scope for changes to effect is 40% of American population i.e  around 132 million people.

In the first year we intend to touch atleast 25mn. In 5 years we intend to cover USA and start addressing minorities in other countries who are suffering from discrimination of all types.

Our impact metrics will be gauged by improved living standards, good health and wellbeing for individuals and communities and opportunities success scale which is unique to the our solution.

Also, we will measure our progress against the UNSDGs 1,2,3,4,5,8,10,11 and 17.

We aim to startup with a team of 5-7 internal full-time staff  and collaborate with the concerned app development teams with around 5 members and other services suites and scale up as necessary.

Our team will consist of change-makers who believe in equality causes and take action for unlocking opportunities towards it.

I am Sai from India- Independent researcher for sustainability transitions policy and practice.  I have mentored sustainability based entrepreneurs across the world for United Nations- Sustainable Development Program. Three working papers for Health of Nations and systemic thinking policy and practice approaches and frameworks have been presented at International conferences (UNSDSN- Colombia University, USA; OIDA, Canada-Harvard University, USA on Sustainable Development). Another paper of Micro Delivery Impact Pathways for Non-Profits (submitted to University of Pennsylvania’s Research Fellow Program) is the one on which this social networking application will be designed on.

My aim is to build a global team for glocal (global outlook and local positive actions) impact as per the symphonic thinking design principles- Multi-ness, multi-discipline, multi-cultural, multi-lingual. Most importantly from a mix of formal education and informal work backgrounds, from middle and low income countries who understand the depth of the problems and the need to act towards it.

This core team comes with the strength of similar scenarios and settings of BIPOC and minority communities, placing us with the advantage of getting to understand the root of the problems so that systemic and holistic solutions could be offered via the social networking space.

Flourish’s foundational strength comes from equality and positivity. We seek holistic, systemic, symphonic thinking pathways to realize them. Action through bottom-up approach is the fundamental concept of this social networking space to realize the vision of a fair world with health, wealth and secure environment as the goals.

Respect, Compassion and unlocking the power of BIPOC within the organization is our first step towards implementing our solution.

Flourish aims to provide a safe environment for its users to flourish. Solve is that powerful environment which will spearhead us in that direction to develop a high impact social networking space that enables actions for opportunity creation and also to be a secure environment support. 

Most importantly, we strongly believe that Solve will help us to be a resilient structure to withstand the flashpoints of political, legal, institutional and other suppression powers who will see us as the problem creators instead of solution seekers for the larger good.

We aim to be a systemic impact and secure networking space for BIPOC in US and minorities in other countries by supporting them to overcome their hurdles, enable opportunities to flourish and also build capacities for a compassionate and fair world.

It will be really helpful to gain Solve’s support to transcend boundaries and be a positive force across the world.

We will most importantly be needing a legally sound and safety structure for the social networking space to continue irrespective of.  Apart from that we will be needing communications and support for reaching out to the right people, institutions to effect large-scale impact.

We would need support from;

Solve- It will be our Solver in making the right moves as an impactful social networking space.

MIT Innovation Institute- Will be our catalyst from idea through impact. Our mentor and partner in robust tool development and deployment.

MIT Presencing Institute – Will be our mentor and partner for positive and systemic impact process

Flourish is an equity based Social Networking Space for BIPOC community in the USA.  Access to Health and Wellbeing is the core concept, infact the idea of the app is centered around sustainable and holistic life. Our aim is to systematically provide them with the systemic essentials of health, wealth and safe environment for leading a good life.

As part of it, we will be specifically focusing on healthcare access for the BIPOC by connecting them with the best doctors and also social good actors who will provide the required financial support so that their health problems are addressed. We believe that Health equity is a basic human right, especially, women’s health sets the pace for a healthy world. It is the number one priority of Flourish- Providing health connections and opportunities fairly for all.

The prize amount will be used to create a secure online health infrastructure in the Flourish networking space for BIPOC to be able to access 24*7.

Flourish through its social networking space aims to provide education support for BIPOC communities in USA. One of our key aspects, is to connect them with income based opportunities through education access. We will also be connecting them for financial support to support their education needs with social good actors and banking services.

We will specifically be having an online education opportunities support infrastructure and connect them with educators of different subjects that will ensure them to secure income opportunities. We will use the ASA prize to make the education support space in the app robust.

Flourish is an equity based Social Networking Space for BIPOC community in the USA.  Access to Health and Wellbeing is the core concept, infact the idea of the app is to enabling sustainable and holistic life. Our aim is to systematically provide them with the systemic essentials of health, wealth and safe environment for leading a good life.

Flourish envisions to elevate humanity with compassion and unity and diversity as the fundamental principles to lead lives securely and happily. Its on these fundamental principles that the social networking space is centered.  We operate as a hybrid organization with sustainable processes are the key to effect  an anti-racist and equitable future.

We will use the prize amount to transcend the concepts of compassion, positive actions- the core working principles of our social networking space by specifically working on the Positive Vibes feature in the app which allows BIPOC to share about good things, work and entertainment places where they felt safe. This acts as a potential checkpoint to influence positive thoughts and actions and change in attitudes and acceptance that We are all one and compassion is that power we have in our hands to contribute to a harmonious world and is the true meaning for our lives.

Also, another important aspect that we are working on is to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem where we provide entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs with the most crucial vitamins of financial and venture support that will lead to success. We also intend to use this prize amount to strengthen this virtual entrepreneurial hub/space within the application for BIPOC entrepreneurs to flourish.

Flourish is an equity based Social Networking Space for BIPOC community in the USA.  Providing them with access to Health and Wellbeing is the core concept, infact the idea of the app is centered around sustainable and holistic life. Our aim is to systematically provide them with the systemic essentials of health, wealth and safe environment for leading a good life.

Support for inclusion and economic opportunities is the most important part of our social networking space where we provide them with the supporting mechanisms of job orientation, entrepreneurial support and the most important financial support options of venture support and bank loans. 

We intend to use this prize amount to strengthen the entrepreneurial hub space and job orientation feature within the social networking space for economic opportunities and income security.

I am a woman who believes in the wonders women empowerment can make to the world. Especially, compassion and multi-hat seekers being their innate qualities- it is imperative that we act now.

Flourish, social networking space enables BIPOC to flourish with good health, wealth and secure environment. It particularly makes sure Women and adolescent girls concerns are addressed holistically and securely.

The prize amount will be specifically used to chart out health, wealth and opportunities infrastructure and privileges by creating a space for Women Power within the Flourish app. This will be a separate space to share and voice out their concerns and will be provided with support systems to overcome their problems strongly and independently.