FHC Social Innovation envisions a world where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to tackle systemic injustices and create lasting, positive change. By harnessing the collective knowledge, creativity, and passion of the University of Pittsburgh community, the program seeks to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and empower the next generation of changemakers.
Championing the Plan for Pitt
FHC Social Innovation plays a vital role in advancing the University of Pittsburgh's mission by fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and social responsibility. By providing students and faculty with opportunities to engage in transformative research, education, and practice, the program supports the University's commitment to excellence, diversity, and public service. Furthermore, FHC Social Innovation contributes to the University's broader goal of having a transformative impact on society by nurturing a community of changemakers who are equipped to address the most pressing challenges of our time.
Fostering Inclusive Innovation for Social Change
The FHC Social Innovation program's theory of change is grounded in the belief that fostering social inclusion is the key to catalyzing social innovation and ultimately cultivating lasting social change. This approach emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity, promoting equity, and nurturing a sense of belonging to create an environment where individuals from all backgrounds can come together to develop innovative solutions to pressing social challenges.
- Fostering Social Inclusion: The first step in the FHC Social Innovation theory of change is to create a supportive, inclusive environment that values and respects the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all community members. By breaking down barriers, building connections, and encouraging open dialogue, the program aims to create a strong foundation for collaboration and innovation.
- Catalyzing Social Innovation: With a diverse and inclusive community in place, the FHC Social Innovation program seeks to foster a culture of creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking that drives the development of innovative solutions to social problems. By supporting interdisciplinary research, experiential learning opportunities, and collaborative initiatives, the program aims to ignite the passion and potential of students, faculty, and community members to become changemakers in their own right.
- Cultivating Social Change: The ultimate goal of the FHC Social Innovation theory of change is to translate social innovation into tangible, positive outcomes that improve lives, communities, and systems. By equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to implement their ideas and scale their impact, the program seeks to cultivate lasting social change and create a more just and equitable world.
Engagement Framework
At the core of FHC Social Innovation is a systems thinking engagement framework that guides the program's approach to tackling complex social issues. This framework emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of the underlying factors that contribute to societal inequities and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing innovative solutions. By connecting research, education, and praxis, FHC Social Innovation fosters a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures the growth of social equity consciousness and equips participants with the tools and skills necessary to become agents of change.
The FHC Social Innovation program encourages embracing different social perspectives as a springboard for inclusive and equitable social change. By engaging diverse experiences, identities, cultures, and heritages, individuals can gain a more complete picture of the world and foster growth in their social equity consciousness.
Through its expansive array of programming and resources, FHC Social Innovation fosters the exploration and embodiment of six bilateral and interconnected spheres of consciousness development behaviors:
- Recognizing Social Oppression and Advancing Social Liberation: Gain insight into systems, histories, and impacts of social dominance, privilege, and inequality while working to transform social systems and address patterns of social inequality.
- Examining Social Identities and Addressing Social Biases: Explore the meaning and significance of social identity groups while confronting preconceived ideas and biases related to them.
- Embracing Social Diversity and Growing Social Literacy: Encourage the inclusion of all social identity groups and develop the ability to maintain healthy cross-societal relationships, analyze social dynamics, and confront social oppression.
- Building Social Empathy and Enhancing Social Stamina: Develop compassionate connections across social differences and improve the capacity to engage matters of social difference and social oppression openly and constructively.
- Acknowledging Social Trauma and Fostering Social Healing: Recognize the emotional, mental, and physical impacts of social oppression while promoting processes that restore wholeness, repair damage, and transform societal structures to affirm the inherent value of all people.
- Gauging Social Inequities and Championing Social Justice: Assess settings where social group identity predicts disparate societal outcomes, identify root causes and systemic interventions, and advocate for fair treatment and equitable opportunities and outcomes for all social identity groups.
Areas of Focus
- Research: FHC Social Innovation supports cutting-edge research projects that explore the root causes of social injustices and identify potential solutions. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting a rigorous, evidence-based approach, the program aims to advance the field of social innovation and inform policy and practice.
- Education: The program offers a variety of educational initiatives, including workshops, seminars, and certificate programs, designed to deepen participants' understanding of social justice issues and develop their skills in addressing these challenges. Through these offerings, FHC Social Innovation aims to inspire and empower students, faculty, and community members to become effective advocates for change.
- Praxis: Recognizing that meaningful social change requires action, FHC Social Innovation encourages participants to put their knowledge and skills to work in the real world. The program supports a range of hands-on initiatives, from community-based projects to innovative start-ups, that translate research and education into tangible, positive outcomes for society.