CHANNELINGOUTRAGE
TOSPARK PRACTICALACTIVISM
STEVEDAVIS
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Davis,Steve(Businessleaderandactivist),author.
Title:Undercurrents:channelingoutragetosparkpracticalactivism/ SteveDavis.
Description:FirstEdition.|Hoboken:Wiley,2020.|Includesindex. Identifiers:LCCN2020025369(print)|LCCN2020025370(ebook)|ISBN 9781119669234(hardback)|ISBN9781119669289(adobepdf)|ISBN 9781119669258(epub)
Subjects:LCSH:Socialhistory–21stcentury.|Social change–History–21stcentury.
Classification:LCCHN18.3.D382020(print)|LCCHN18.3(ebook)|DDC 306.09/05–dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2020025369
LCebookrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2020025370
CoverDesign:Wiley
CoverImage:Modernfontdesign©pialhovik/GettyImages PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica 10987654321
Tothemanyinvisiblepracticalactivistsaroundtheglobe, workingtirelesslyeverydaytoimproveourworld.
AndtoBobandBen, makingthisjourneypossible,andjoyful.
Forewordix
Introduction:FromOutragetoActivism1
Chapter1ReadingtheWater:UndercurrentsPowering MyJourneyinPracticalActivism15
Chapter2PyramidtoDiamond:HowHumanProgressIs ReshapingtheActivist’sAgenda33
Chapter3CommunitiesAretheCustomers:How ActivistsMustHeedtheVoicesandDemands ofCommunities55
Chapter4LevelingtheField:ActivismthroughtheLens ofEquity79
Chapter5DigitalDisruption:HowActivistsMust HarnessNewTechnologiestoChangethe World97
Chapter6TheSurprisinglySexyMiddle:Crossingthe ValleysofDeathtoScaleInnovation117
Chapter7TheUndercurrentsRippleandConverge: PracticalActivistsNavigatingNewWaters145
Chapter8CatchingYourCurrent:AllofUsCanChange theWorld163
AppendixA:NotesandFurtherReading169
AppendixB:OrganizationsMentionedinThisBook181 Acknowledgments185 SpecialThanks187 AbouttheAuthor189 Index191
Introduction FromOutragetoActivism
Iamfundamentallyanoptimist.Whetherthatcomesfromnatureor nurture,Icannotsay.Partofbeingoptimisticiskeepingone’shead pointedtowardthesun,one’sfeetmovingforward.Thereweremanydark momentswhenmyfaithinhumanitywassorelytested,butIwouldnot andcouldnotgivemyselfuptodespair.Thatwaylaysdefeatanddeath.
NelsonMandela
ArefugeecampsprawlingacrossalargepatchofjungleinThailand isnotthefirstplacemostpeoplewouldexpecttoenjoyamemorable pickupsoccergame.Northelikeliestwellspringforalife-changing insight.ButthatiswhereIembarkedonmyjourneyasapractical activist.Iwasn’tthereasareliefworker,justa22-year-oldteacher visitingafriendofafriendwhowasworkingfortheUnitedNations. ItwasJanuary1980.TheVietnamWarhadendedonlyfiveyears before,andthousandsoffamiliesacrossSoutheastAsiawerestill reelingfromdislocation.Theywerelivingincampsandtryingto recover,findrelatives,andmaketheirwaytowhateverplacewould nextbecomehome.
Thephrase“fishoutofwater”hardlydoesjusticetohowout ofplaceIwas,withmybackpack,travelguides,andlonghair.
ThecampsatneartheMekongRiver.ItwasfilledwithLaotians andCambodianslivingintentsconnectedbydustyroads,scattered wells,andtemporaryfeedinghalls.Theairsmelledofburning wood.Almosteveryonearoundmewashomeless,grieving,and confused.Mosthadnoideahowlongtheywouldlivethereandno placeelsetogo.I’darrivedasaclueless,butcurious,American.
TwofriendsandI,onbreakfromourteachingfellowshipsat TunghaiUniversityinTaiwan,haddecidedtospendourlunar newyearholidaytravelingaroundSoutheastAsiaonashoestring budget.WedidexactlyasyoumightexpectfromatrioofadventurousyoungAmericans—hungoutonthebeachesinMalaysia, island-hoppedonfishingboatsofftheGulfofThailand,trekked acrossopiumfieldsintheGoldenTriangle,crashedinthebustling hostelsofHongKong,andateenormousprawnsinthenight marketsofSingapore.Oneofmycompanionshadafriendwho wasworkingattheUnitedNationsHighCommissionforRefugees (UNHCR)campinnortheastThailand,sowe’ddecidedtodropin foranimpromptuvisit.
Becauseourhostwastendingtothecamp’schildrenthrougha makeshifteducationprogram,Ivolunteeredtooccupytheteenagers withagameofsoccer,mostlytomakemyselffeeluseful.Despiteour lackofacommonlanguage,weenjoyedanintenseandcompetitivematch,refereeingthroughhandsignalsandbitsofLao,Thai, English,French,andChinese—thoughIwasbadlyoutplayed.
“Whereyoufrom?”askedthegoalieafterwe’dbeenkickingthe ballaroundforawhile.Helookedtobeabout16andhadclearly appointedhimselfleaderofthepack.
“America,”Isaidwithsomehesitation,givenourrecenthistoryintheregion.Whilethe“killingfields”ofCambodiahadfaded, theresultingdislocationhadaffectedeveryvillageandrefugeecamp acrosstheregion.
“Oh,U.S.WeloveU.S.!”hereplied,grinning.“America’sgreat. WeallwanttogotoAmerica!”
“Whereareyoufrom?”Iasked.
“LuangPrabang.ButIhavenohomenow,”hesaid.“Myparents aregone,butI’mokay.”
Thoughhewasjustafewyearsyoungerthanme,Iwondered howmuchthisteenagercouldpossiblyknowaboutthewhereabouts ofhisfamily,thecomplexitiesofworldpolitics,orthefuturethat mightbefallhim.Frankly,Iwastreatinghimlikeachild,ahapless victim,stumblingthroughmysillygradeschoolquestionsspoken tooloudandtooslow.I’llsayitplainly:myinnocenceandarrogancewereobvious.Bornandraisedinsmall-townMontana,educatedatanIvyLeagueuniversity,Iwasopentonewexperiences butwildlynaïveabouthumansufferingacrosstheworld—notto mentionnuancednotionsofjustice,dignity,andgrace.Theteenage goalieseemedtounderstandand,thankfully,cutmeoff.
“Wearesurvivors,”hesaid.“We’llmakeit.”
OurconversationhadquicklyveeredintoterritoryIwas ill-equippedtonavigate.
“So,whatdoyouwanttodowhenyougrowup?”Iasked,awkwardlytryingtoguideitbacktowardbenign,introductoryquestions.
“Becomeadoctor,”heansweredwithgreatconfidence. “Whyadoctor?”
Hepointedtowardthecamp.“Becausewemusthelpeach other,”hesaid,thenlookedmedirectlyintheeyes.“Youandyour friendsprobablyalsoneeddoctors,soIcanhelpyoutoo.”
Thiskidmovedme,andchangedme.ThoughI’dbeenat thecampjustashorttime,Ihadn’tmissedthedeterminationof everyonetheretryingtocreatesomesenseofnormalcyintheir upendedlives.Theiroptimismflooredme.NotasinglerefugeeI met—includingtheteenagerwho’dlosthisparents—appearedto considerthemselvesvictims.Theyseemedtobefocusedonlyon takingcareofoneanotherandfindingadignifiedpathforward.
Afterthesoccergame,IwanderedovertotheUNHCRprocessingtent,tryingtogetmyheadaroundtheimmensityofthisplace andthecomplicatedissuesitpresented.Ourfriendwasworkingwith theU.S.StateDepartment,andhe’dsaidIcouldlisteninonan
immigrationinterviewbetweenaU.S.officialandarefugeeapplyingforresettlementinAmerica.Wesatinasmall,airlesstent—the StateDepartmentlawyer,astoutHmongmanapplyingforasylum, atranslator,andme.
“IwasadriverfortheU.S.teamattheembassy,”therefugee began,speakingthroughthetranslator.Atthetime,itwashelpfulforrefugeestoprovethatthey’dworkedwithU.S.forcesduring thewar.
“Wheredidyoudrive?”askedthelawyer,checkingoffboxeson hisclipboard.
“IdroveofficialsaroundVientiane,”themanresponded,referringtothecapitolofLaos.
“Whatkindofcar?” “AFordtruck.” “Whatmake?”
“F-150.”
“Doyouknowhowtodriveastickshift?”thelawyercontinuedwithanofficiousnessthatstruckmeasstrange,consideringthe question.
“Ofcourse.”
“HowmanygearsdidtheFordhave—fourorfive?”
Thiswasatrickquestion,asthatmodelofpickuphadjustthree gears,andIcouldseethattherefugeewasconfused.Hisanswer mightdeterminethefateofhisentirefamily,andheknewit.Would theybeallowedontothelistforresettlementintheUnitedStates? Forcedtoremaininthecamp?OrreturnedtoLaoswheretheycould beinconstantdanger?
“Four,”themanguessed.Immediately,heknewitwaswrong. Andtheinterviewwasover.
Iwalkedoutofthattentfeelingagitatedandconfused.My assumptionsaboutAmerica’sbeneficence,thepresumptiveroles ofaidworkersandrefugees,andmyownblithedetachmentfrom thecausesof,orsolutionsto,thiscrisis,hadallbeenchallenged.
TheboywithwhomI’dplayedsoccerwasnotsodifferent fromme.Infact,wewerejustafewyearsapartinage,both strong-willedandathletic,andIhadonceconsideredbecoming adoctortoo.Heclearlyconsideredhimselfmyequalinavery unequalworld.AndnowtheHmongmanwouldbedenieda chancetorebuildhislifeintheUnitedStates,simplybydintofa gear-shiftquestionposedbyaself-importantlawyer.Thesethoughts swirledinmymind,upendingmyideasaround“usorthem”and “survivorsorvictims,”asitbecameincreasinglyclearthatthe differencesbetweenuscamedowntolittlemorethanchance. TherewasnothingexceptionalaboutmeasanAmerican,nothing morethanprivilegeconferredbytheluckofcircumstance.
NowIwonderedabouttheaidworkers.I’dbeenimpressedby theirrelentlessdedicationandgenerosity,evenwhentheirtask involvedmakingdifficultdecisionsaboutindividualfutures.YetI couldn’tignorethenaggingsensethateasingpeople’sday-to-day suffering,whileanecessaryBand-Aid,didnotreallyaddresstheir underlyingproblems.Nordiditprovideasustainablesolution.It wouldn’tchangethepoliticalconditionsthatforcedfamiliesto fleetheircountries,northeeconomicduresstheysuffered,northe governmentsystemsthattossedthemaroundlikefacelesscargo.As weleftthecamp,Ikeptaskingmyself,wasthereanythingaperson likemecoulddotochangethis?
BackintheStates,Iwouldworkextensivelyonrefugee-related programsandinterviewhundredsofapplicantsforresettlement, learningonthejobtorecognizethemanyforcesatworkinthese stiffconversations.Sure,sometimespeoplelieorshadethetruth, butoftentheirmemoriesaretangledbyanxiety.Ourbureaucratic questionnairesrarelygotattherichcomplexityoftheirlivesor maderoomtonotetheheart-rendingsacrificesthey’dmadeand thedifficultyoftheirjourneys.YetevenbackinthatThaicamp, Igraspedthebasicunfairness.AndIsensedafewotherthingstoo: ourworldisfilledwithoutrageousinjustices,Iwasgoingtocommit
timeandtalenttoaddressingafewofthem,andeverystepofthe waywouldbefraughtwithdifficultdecisions.
Fortyyearslater,it’sclearthattheseedsofmyapproachto activismtookrootinthatcamp.Myworkhasalmostalwaysbeen behindthescenes.I’veneverbeenonetostormthecastlegates. Exceptformarchinginafewdemonstrationsintheearlydaysofthe AIDSepidemic,Ihaven’tspentmuchtimeshoutinginthestreets. Andunlikeother,morecelebratedactivists,Ihavenotdesigned agame-changingsocialinnovation,discoveredabreakthrough scientificformula,startedapowerfulsocialmovement,orgiven awayhundredsofmillionsofdollars.Yet,bypartneringwithmany like-mindedcolleaguesaroundtheglobe,I’vestillbeenlucky tocontributetotheimprovementofmillionsoflivesthrougha roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-things-doneformofsocialactivism: practicalactivism.
Thereisnosimpledefinitionforpracticalactivism.It’san approachtotheworkofmakingourworldfairer,focusedon long-termsystemicchange.Unlikebuildinghomesfortheneedy orhandingoutfoodormedicineonthefrontlinesofahumanitariancrisis,practicalactivismisofteninvisible,indirect,and unsexy—aimedatshiftingpublicpolicies,negotiatingpartnerships, andinnovatingtoimprovegovernmentsystems.Muchofthework isgearedtowardbuildingnetworksthatdevelopandintroducenew approachesorservices,and,morerecently,newtechnologies.But alloftheseendeavorsstemfromthesamemotivation:addressing inequitiesthatcausetoomuchpainandhardshipfortoomany people.
Thisbookisaboutthepowerfulforcesthatwilldrivepractical activismforwardoverthecomingdecades.Itisofferedasahopefulassessmentofthechallengesandopportunitiesthatconfrontus, andtheabilityofsocialactiviststodoevenmoretowardimprovingourplanetandthelivesofitspeople.Itisn’tadiatribeaboutall thethingsthatarewrong.Nordoesitofferaspecificprescription
forradicalchange.Ihaven’tchronicledthebiographiesofinspiring activistsatwork—thoughtherearemanyinthesepages.Rather,this bookfocusesonfivelargethemespoweringactivismtoday.Ihave writtenitinhopesthatthosewhowanttohelpothersmightfind aveinofinspirationtomineforpractical,meaningfulsolutionsto theproblemsthatconfrontusall.
ThoughIapproachthisworkasadisciplined,oftentechnical andnuanced,undertaking,everybitofit—frommeetingswith governmentofficials,toconferencecallswithfunders,toconversationswithhealthprovidersinthefield—isstillrootedinsheer outrage.It’saboutourcollectiveoutrageand,really,angeratthe enormousinequityandunfairnessinthisworld.It’sabouthowwe trytochannelthatoutrageintoquietereffortstofindsolutionsby connectingthedotsbetweengovernmentsandpeople,organizationsandcommunities.Andit’saboutscalingthosesolutionsto getrealstuffdone,forrealpeople.
Consequently,acentraltenetofpracticalactivismisbuilding bridges,usuallybehindthescenes.Itsometimesrequiresforging alliancesbetweenunlikelybedfellows—settingasidepreconceptionsandrefusingtobedissuadedbypoliticaldifferences—in ordertoreachacommongoal.Mypracticalactivismhaslaunched meintoadvocatingforforeignaidwithstaunch“AmericaFirst” politicians.IthasputmeinfrontofWallStreetinvestorstoexplain whyaccesstoeducation,healthcare,andahigherstandardofliving inruralAfricaareintheirinterest.IthasledtoquietworkonHIV preventionincountrieswheregayrelationshipsareillegal.Forthe trulypracticalactivist,opportunitiestobuildbridgessurfaceagain andagain.
Allofus,whateverwedo,areworkingwithinthecontext ofpowerfulforcesthatshapeouroutcomes,thoughwemay notalwaysbeawareofthem.So,too,inactivism.Thereare dynamics—economic,political,andcultural—operatingbeneath thesurfaceofourdailylivesthathaveenormousinfluencein dictatingtheworld’sagenda.Thisbookexploresfiveofthose
undercurrentsandthewaysthatactivists—fromtheaspiringtothe seasoned—canchannelthemtobuildamorejustandproductive planet.
Theword undercurrents referstodeepandmightytidesinvisible toapersonnavigatingonthesurfaceofanocean.Undercurrents donotalwaysflowinthesamedirectionasthewavesontop ofthewater;indeed,sometimestheseunderwaterchannelscan pullusbackward.Butoften,theysurgeforward,propellingthe waywaterdrifts,orlandscapesform,orsocialchangemoves.For thepurposesofthisbook,Iamtalkingaboutundercurrentsthat arecreatingenergyandpositivemomentumtopushusforward; macrotrendsthatwillshapetheworkofactiviststhroughthis decadeandbeyond.Whiletheseforceshaverhythmsthatare sometimesinconsistent—orpossessthepotentialfornegative consequences—eachoftheundercurrentsdiscussedinthisbook representsamacrotrendthatIbelieveisvigorous,intractable,and generallypositiveforourcollectivepursuitofimprovingtheworld welivein.
Thefiveundercurrentsare:
1.Pyramidtodiamond:Globaleconomiesaremovingawayfrom theoldmodelofapyramid,withmainlylow-incomepeople andcountriesatthebottomandafewwealthyonesatthetop, towardafatdiamondwithvastlymorepeoplejoiningthemiddleclassandlivingbetter,realizingpowerfulnewpossibilitiesto linkentrepreneurialismwithimprovedwell-being.
2.Communitiesarethecustomers:Communitiesareincreasingly becomingcustomerswithagencyandvoice,ratherthanpassive recipientsofaidandsocialchange,increasinglyplayingmoreof aroleinshapingtheirownfutureswithcommunity-andhumancenteredactivism.
3.Levelingtheplayingfield:Improvingequity—whetherbased aroundgender,ethnicity,orsexuality—isradicallyreshaping thefieldofsocialactivism.
4.Digitaldisruption:Dataanddigitaltoolswillcontinuetobring valuablenewcapabilitiestoourworld,revolutionizingeverythingfromhealthcaretoeducationtoconservation—evenas theypresentdauntingnewchallengesforactiviststonavigate.
5.Thesurprisinglysexymiddle:Adaptingandscalinginnovations forwidespreadimpact,thecomplexmiddlewarethathasoften beenignoredasoneofthelessglamorousaspectsofsocialchange isbecomingmoreimportantand,surprisingly,moresexy.
Understandingandexploitingthesefiveundercurrentsatwork inourworldwillhelppractical-mindedactivistseverywhereturn theiroutrageintoaction—maybeevenoptimism.
Sowhywritethisbooknow,whentheworldseemsconvulsed withsuchimmensechallenges?HowcanIpossiblybehopefulin thefaceofgrowingglobalunrest,alarmingpatternsofinequality, shockwavesfromaglobalpandemic,andpotentiallycatastrophic climatechange?Actually,Ihaveneverbeenmoreencouraged. Despitedailyheadlines,whicharefrighteningindeed,apractical activistfocusesontheoverarchingtrendlines,mostofwhichare prettygreat.Thankstosomeamazinginnovationsandextraordinarycommitmentsfromcitizens,leaders,governments,and institutionsacrosstheglobe,thisplanetismakingundeniable progresstowardbecomingaplacewheregreaternumbersofpeople livelonger,healthier,andmoreproductivelivesthaneverbefore. Infact,welivewithinreachofrealitiesthatwereonceunimaginable:aworldwhereabjectpovertyisrare,fewdieofpreventable diseases,andeveryonehasachancetobehealthy.Despitesome persistentchallenges,thisisbecomingtrueformoreandmore communities.EventheCOVID-19globalpandemic,whilelaying barevulnerabilitiesinourglobalhealthandeconomicsystems andpotentiallysettingusbackonmanyfronts,hasdemonstrated arenewedspiritofcollaborationaroundsolutions,innovations, andstrengthenedcommunities.Ifnothingelse,thepandemichas
illuminatedexactlyhowthefiveundercurrentsinthisbookcanbe harnessedtokeepbendingthecurveofhistorytowardprogress.
Thisbookisforalotofpeople:anyonewhoisconcernedabout inequitiesinhealth,economicopportunity,andeducation,butgets overwhelmedbythescaleoftheseproblems.Anyonewhowould liketoworktowardbetteringlivesacrosstheplanetbutfeelsparalyzedbycynicismorconfusedaboutwheretobegin.Anyonewho islookingforwaystochanneltheiroutrageintopracticalaction. Anyonewhowantsabetterworld.
I’veframedmyideasasabusinessleaderandpractitionertohelp theinterestedbecomeeducated,thecommittedbecomeactivated, andtheengagedbecomemoreeffective.
ManysuchpeoplesitbeforemeintheclassIteachonsocial innovationatStanfordUniversity’sGraduateSchoolofBusiness. Others,likemyformerconsultingclientsatMcKinsey&Company, leadcorporationsorphilanthropicorganizationsandaretrying tofigureouthowtoengagemoremeaningfullywithsocialissues. Andsomearepeoplelikemanyofmymom’sneighborsinrural Montana—interested,butoftenunderinformed;stymiedbydoomsdayheadlinesbutunawarethatifyoutakealongerview,many trendlinesbodewell.Iamtalkingtoallthesepotentialactivists whowanttorolluptheirsleevesandcontribute,butdon’tknow wheretostart.
TheclassI’vetaughtatStanfordforthepastsixyearsisone sliceofthisaudience.Consistently,thesesmartyoungadultspeppermewithquestionsabouttheroleofbusinessinsocietyandthe effectivenessofourapproachestoalleviatingpoverty.Theywant toknowhowtoengagewithaworldthatseemsbrokenor,atbest, rigged.Andtheywanttoseeproofofprogress.
WhenIshutmyeyesandpicturethesestudents,Iseethreerows. Inthefirstsityoungpeoplefiredupwithidealism.Theyasklotsof questionsandsomealreadyhaveon-the-groundexperienceinventingenvironmentallyfriendlytoiletsorotherproductsdesignedto helptheplanet.Manyarenotevenbusinessmajors.Butthey’re
ready,intellectuallyandemotionally,tochargeoutthedoorand takeontheworld.
Inthesecondrowarestandardbusinessschoolstudents.They’re attentive,andtheyworkhard.Theywanttobefinanciallysuccessful,buttheyalsowanttofeelthattheirliveshavemeaningand purposebeyondearninggobsofmoney.Theywanttoknowhowto achievebothends,simultaneously.
Thenthere’sthemetaphoricalbackrow,fullofpeoplewho remindmeofmyselfasayoungman.Sometimesthey’redistracted, othertimessnarky.Theyseemtobringlittlepassionorcommitmenttothistopic,believingthataclassonsocialinnovationis “soft,”aneasyA.Notlongago,oneofthesestudents—hisnameis Michael—approachedmeafterclass.Hewastallandathletic,with atidycareerpathalllaidout.Michaelwasalreadyworkingasan investmentanalyst,andhestruckmeaslargelyindifferenttowhat Iwasteaching.Overtheterm,he’dlobbedafewquestionsfrom thebackoftheroom,mostofthemsuggestingtomethatMichael thoughtsocialinnovationwasn’treally business andneededmuch hardermetricstoclaimsuccess.
I’dformedallkindsofunflatteringopinionsaboutthisstudent andwhathislifepost-Stanfordwouldlooklike.Butoverthe summer,Michaelemailedme.Hewasworkingforapresidential candidate—someoneI’ddescribeasacentrist—andhewascollaboratingonabookaboutvalues-basedbusinesspractices,the importanceofbusinessinsocietyandhowitcouldbeusedto advancesocialinnovation.Thisblewupallofmypreconceptions. Italsoremindedmethattoday’syoungexecutivesviewtheworld verydifferentlyfromthoseofpreviousgenerations.Theyappreciate thatweneedtoreengineerourapproachtoglobalproblemsifwe aregoingtosustainourselvesasaspecies.Thatgroupinspiresme.
Thisbookisalsowrittenforseasonedbusinessleaderslikethe executivesatFrenchinsurancegiantAXA.Thoughitisamongthe oldestandlargestcorporationsintheworld,AXA’stopmanagersare determinedtoreinventtheircompanyforthetwenty-firstcentury.
Itsboardregularlysolicitsadvicefromsocialinnovationexpertsin health,environmentalscience,digitaltransformation,andinclusive economics.Ileapedatthechancetobepartofthisadvisoryteam becausebringingbusinessintotheworkofsocialchangeisessential.Andbecausehelpingacorporationthinkthroughhowtodivest fromtobaccoorcoal,investindiseaseprevention,andsupportgenderinclusionactuallyhelpstheirbottomline,ultimatelybenefiting employees,thecommunitiestheyserve,andtheglobeoverall.
Beyondcorporatetitansandtheyoungpeoplewhoaspiretojoin them,thereareothertypesofreadersIamspeakingtoverydirectly: policymakersanddonorswhoinfluencetrendsinglobaldevelopment;peoplewhohavelittlemoneyorinfluencebutwanttolearn howtobecomemoreengaged;andcitizenslikemyfriendHeather,a formerteacherturnedstay-at-homemom,whofollowspoliticswith greatoutrage,worriesaboutherchildren’sfuture,andwantstofind awaytostaypositive.
Myaimistohelpturnthefrustrationofthesereadersintooptimismand,ideally,activism.ButIamnoPollyanna.Thereisreal causeforoutrage.Andtheobstaclesweface—whetherconfronting growingrace-baseddisparities,economicinequality,politicalcorruption,orclimatechange—areenormous.Icouldwriteawhole otherbookonwhatIconsidertobefundamentalflawsinthefield ofglobalhealthanddevelopment,whichwerethrownintoeven starkerreliefbytheCOVID-19pandemic.Itisthisveryoutrage thatofferstheopportunitiestosparkactivismandinspirehope.And therearealsosignsofimportantchangeonthehorizon.Forthefirst timeinhistory,two-thirdsofallpeopleonthisplanethaveaccessto infectiousdiseasepreventionandnewborncare.Morepeoplethan everbeforehavereachedthemiddleclass,andalmost90percentof adultscanread.Thoseareincredibleshifts,andtheyportendrapid progresstocome.
In Undercurrents,I’llzeroinonstoriesfrommyownlifeto illustrateimportantprinciplesfordrivingchange,momentsthat couldbethoseofanydeterminedglobalcitizen.Myjourneyhas
