Coming soon: Innovating Social Change

10/23/2012 - Nearly 17 million U.S. children don’t always have access to enough food for active, healthy living, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kori Reed, a panelist at Kellogg’s upcoming Innovating Social Change Conference, is working hard to reduce that number. Reed is the vice president of cause and foundation at ConAgra Foods.

Kori Reed Vice president of cause and foundation at ConAgra Foods

Kellogg’s Innovating Social Change Conference focuses on the intersection of management and social responsibility. Set for Nov. 3, this year’s conference examines technology’s role in spurring social change and fighting hunger through collaboration. Other speakers will include:

• Michael Dupee, vice president for corporate social responsibility at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
• Morgan Binswanger, executive vice president of government relations and external affairs at Livestrong
• Leslie Flagg ’91, a private sector officer for USAID

Everyone plays a different part
Reed, who will speak on a panel exploring a collaborative approach to fighting hunger, said hunger is a colossal issue that can’t be solved by a single entity. The government, nonprofit groups and for-profit organizations all play distinct parts, she explained. Government provides funding and programs, nonprofits have direct contact with people in need, and for-profits can offer food assets and human resources such as marketing experts.

“[C]onsumers expect companies to do the right thing,” Reed said. “It’s our commitment to make sure that our neighbors in communities where we live and work are thriving. So we play a role in that through volunteerism, philanthropic giving, lending our expertise on social change — social and health issues, education, hunger.”

Young people interested in making a social impact through their business careers “can be part of a corporation and give back,” added Reed. “People don’t need to be head of a foundation to make a difference. You can arrange a golf tournament to raise funds for an issue, (or) do food-stamp outreach. Continue to pursue your passion and then bring that passion to the workplace. And you can find others who want to stand with you to make a difference.”

Further reading

• 2011 Innovating Social Change Conference
  
• Scaling what works
  
• ‘A transformational approach’