MY ACTIONs:

My ACTION RESEARCH concept revolves around:

Social Entrepreneurship

  1. I am helping to build a traditional 501c(3) non-profit benefiting people in Pandytown, Honduras.  We are calling it HUMBLE ISLAND SERVANTS.org.
  2. I am developing a progressive, profit-for-purpose model:  a trademarked, online, social network featuring video podcasts and interactive media.  Working title: the tarZen Diet, a Total Life Nourishment health creation company.

To re-iterate:

The PROFIT FOR PURPOSE model will be the website: the tarZen Diet (www.tarzendiet.com) : an entertaining, health-creation company with online video episodes shot in various locales: Africa, Honduras, & the US.  At the end of these episodes I want to interject health-related advertisements or product, giving the viewer opportunity to buy directly from the site and thereby provide sustainable revenue in addition to charitable donations made to Humble Island Servants.org -the traditional NON-PROFIT model.

AN EXAMPLE:  Michelle Lorusso, Brand Manager for Guess and Bill Moseley of Haitian Creations have already collaborated to develop purses made by the women in Pandytown, Honduras.  These socially motivated, commerce creating designs can be featured on both Humble Island Servants.org and www.tarZendiet.com.

However, the tarZen diet: will be supported by a traditional limited liability company organizational structure.
Humble Island Servants will be supported by a traditional 501(c)(3) organizational structure.

BOTH of these entities will implement a new framework of humanitarian influence called:

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Please see my LIT REVIEW for more info on Social Entrepreneurship.

PREFACE:

MR’s critique of my Force Field Analysis is still quite pertinent:

“This is a big project and the whole project is not your action research (although your overararching question can be connected with what you have written.)”

So, I have started taking baby steps towards my overarching purpose which is:

PURPOSE: The purpose of my Action Research is to:

  1. Globally, accelerate the rate of change for humanitarian issues such as oppression of women, education of children and health & wellness initiatives.
  2. Locally, increase my ability as a humanitarian/filmmaker by implementing learning technologies to further integrate with my “guerilla filmmaker” CoP while exploring progressive concepts such as social entrepreneurship.
  3. Specifically, as a subset to these objectives I will experiment with new media technologies, such as HD 60p DSLR cameras, Video Internet, WordPress Vlogging and SEO.

CHALLENGE:  How does all of this come together as an Action Research Plan and Timeline?  It will.  I am just having difficulties articulating the academic side of the mission.

PHYSICAL SETTING:  The physical setting for this Action Research starts in Pandytown, Honduras—a microcosm island community ideal for data collection, research, and implementation of various cycles.  Other locales include Santa Barbara, CA, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa, and possibly Haiti.

PROBLEM/SITUATION: The problem that I want to solve is how can a freelance filmmaker/humanitarian create an organized venue to synergize humanitarian ideals with a self-sustaining revenue model  (social entrepreneurship).  As a freelance filmmaker my work has been scattered across different media platforms for a wide variety of philanthropic purposes.  Personally, I would like to run my own Video Internet site that establishes a following and provides cohesion as a quality “brand.”  This endeavor necessitates a combination of Education Technology and Business Entertainment.  Action Research principles will help me consolidate these diverse objectives, collaborate with leaders in the field, reach new members, raise further awareness, provide momentum for new projects, and enhance the overall efficiency of my efforts by systematically measuring and influencing change.

RESEARCH QUESTION: A good Action Research question promotes the process of inquiry and influence.  Therefore, what question will inspire me to investigate guerilla filmmaking and humanitarian endeavors more deeply?  As the CCAR website states, “What will compel you to engage in cycles of continuous learning from the everyday practice of your craft? These questions come from a desire to have practice align with values and beliefs.”

Question #1: What am I trying to do?  How do I align my practice with my values and beliefs?
Answer #1: I am trying to develop professional expertise as a filmmaker and social entrepreneur.

So what is my ACTION RESEARCH QUESTION>

How can the development of a centralized, social software platform streamline computer-mediated communications to enhance group dynamics and collaborative effort across a geographically and thematically distributed community of practice; namely guerilla filmmakers, social entrepreneurs and a peripheral online consumer base?

Cycle 1-6

If I create an online, episodic Video Internet forum with a built-in “profit-for-purpose” revenue model will it help amplify humanitarian efforts and unify my geographically dispersed Community of Practice?

There are so many different cycles contained within this umbrella question.  IE: build a 501(c)3, build a website, apply for a trademark, film interviews of leading social entrepreneurs, start marketing, provide stop-gap measures where needed while laying foundations for future work:  IE: Reality Church in Carpinteria is accepting tax-exempt donations until we can finish our 501(c)3 status.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH: The resources that have helped me the most are:

  • My Literature Review.
  • Face-to-Face meetings with leading humanitarians, academics and business professionals.
  • Consulting technical experts in Web 2.0 technology, ecommerce, multi-media and SEO.
  • Studying Paul Reynolds and Fablevision

What have I learned from resources?

The big-tent definition of social entrepreneurship is not particularly helpful in zeroing in on a targeted community of practice as it is an exciting new field but somewhat nebulous.

Additionally, guerilla filmmaking is in its nature, a bare-bones low-budget endeavor that promotes underground mobility and small-scale change.  Self-funding both objectives simutaneously will be challenging.

Community of Practice:

1. Guerilla Filmmaker
2. Social Entrepreneur

MY ACTIONS

Please see above.

ARTIFACTS COLLECTED:

Mostly audio/video interviews, blogs, photographs.
Also website reports & analysis wherein I can study metrics to advance online marketing and strategic planning for the overall cause.

EVALUATION:

  • Metrics, namely sales of product, services and donations.
  • User participation
  • Advertising dollars
  • Collaborative links
  • Audience participation/awareness/empowerment.
  • Funding received
  • Grants or Awards.
  • Social progress as measured by improved quality of life for beneficiaries, participants and co-creators.

Cycle 1: December & January:  Build websites, obtain legal status, start fundraising campaign: namely, climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa.

Cycle 2: February through March:  Develop online strategies.  Streamline efficiency.  Travel to Pandytown, Honduras and implement socio-economic opportunities:  Purses for the women, afternoon computer lab for the children, etc.

Cycle 3: April through June:  Possible trip to Haiti.  Refine, Recruit and Expand operations.