The Marketplace of Ideas: 8/15/08

August 15, 2008 • Email Print

Peter Drucker once wrote that every important idea for social change in the last 100 years has come from the nonprofit sector. And when we look around, there's no denying it. Ideas that have been nurtured and grown in the nonprofit sector include the idea that disabled people should not face discrimination, that women should have equal rights with men, that the earth needs to be cared for, that patients should participate in their health decisions, that being gay/lesbian is not a mental disorder, that people of color still face deep discrimination, and that animals should not be mistreated.

The nonprofit sector is also where many ideas have sprung up and yet failed to gain traction. That's why our sector can be called the "marketplace of ideas." Ideas come to the sector and find embodiment as nonprofit organizations, and some grow and become part of our collective consciousness, while others fade out. We are more than service providers and theatres. We are the crucible for the ideas and movements that change the world.

As you know, in every issue of Blue Avocado we have at least one news/feature story, one practical article, and one fun article. This issue you'll see an article on unfair mileage reimbursement rates for volunteers, practical articles on when to get an audit and how to manage FMLA issues, and fun articles on cookies and on fingernail clipping in the workplace. Enjoy the summer! -- Jan Masaoka