John Heiss is using social innovation to improve the economy in Michigan by creating a network of double-bottom line organizations. Additionally, he has plans to revive and improve a fading, but promising market.
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Recently I had the honor to interview John Heiss of the Southeast Michigan Social Ventures Network. As a social innovator, Mr. Heiss is using the Internet with its “open source infrastructure” to bring together a “network of a network” where organizations are “applying the network technology to get things done.” Various types of organizations including “capital networks, deal flow, entrepreneurship, for profits, and non-profits,” get together to achieve a double bottom line. A double bottom line is where the first bottom line is to make money, and the second one is to fulfill social responsibilities. He is bringing together local organizations with goals to “generate jobs and social purposes” to share ideas, information and resources.
When I asked Heiss about Michigan’s future, he pointed out that we have to look at what resources and strengths we have to offer, as a state. One example he mentioned was the creative class in Florida; where the arts are supporting a good portion of the economy there.
In the next part, Mr. Heiss reveals his innovative ideas to kick-start a fading, but promising market in Michigan.