ANSWERS ↘
ANSWER #1
The Commiissary Franchise Network
We started Radiical Systems to provide real answers to the complex problems facing society that are proving difficult to solve. We developed a case study model to guide us, and adopted our slogan “the answer before the answer” to solidify that we will hold the space and stand our ground until we uncover and deliver these answers. We publish all of our work transparently, from the initial investigation, to an investment thesis, and eventually their development into a self-sustaining venture. We are here to hold our systems and each other accountable to delivering on the visions that humanity desires and desperately needs in this moment.
The first question we asked came from Ari Stern of Dinnerfix, who just wants to get local food into schools, and why is that so hard? Our case study has resulted in the first answer - The Commiissary - articulated in our investment thesis. The Commiissary is a national and eventually global network of collaborative community hubs that provide the healthy goods and services humans need to thrive: local food, meals, mental and physical wellness services, childcare, skills training and education, and a safe space to be seen and invested in. These spaces operate using proven cooperative models that can both reduce the costs of these services and revitalize communities by building connections and strengthening local economies. This approach directly addresses the growing strains on social services and grant-funded initiatives by redirecting those funds to invest in an impactful economic development model.
Radiical Systems is launching its first venture, Good Standing, that is laying groundwork for this Commiiisary network. We are forming partnerships with an existing network of community spaces, and eventually looking to open Good Standing hubs across the US and the globe. We are also building the Good Standing app supported by the Stable Credit protocol to connect people to opportunities to contribute in their communities and enter into Good Standing. These tools connect people to opportunities to volunteer, build credit and skills, and contribute back to the Good Standing network and its surrounding initiatives. The protocol transparently records contributions, keeps prices affordable, and provides goods or services on credit that can be paid back later by contributing to the Good Standing network. We can extend people a line of credit and provide them the resources to enter into Good Standing by going through education programs and providing a place where they feel welcomed to contribute and self-actualize.
The quagmire of issues facing our society requires more effective means of cooperating to solve them, and we believe Good Standing directly addresses the root of the issues preventing us from doing so, namely loneliness and lack of meaning, declining investment and effectiveness in social services and institutions, and siloed industries that don’t know how to cross-pollinate to find solutions. We envision a future where organizations in the Good Standing network can scale sustainably and globally, giving humanity tools to solve our most pressing issues, and engage in meaningful, fulfilling contributions to their communities.
We are looking for support of all types to help activate this network. Contributors will be joining the overarching Radiical Systems cooperative, which will support the development of these Good Standing spaces, the technology platforms that support them, and eventually other answers incubated through the Radiical Systems case study model.
To help activate this network, you can help us bring these spaces to life. We have two active case studies - Dinnerfix and AllInOne - who need support in activating their visions in Baltimore and Brooklyn - and more in the pipeline.
Ways to ContributeIndividual Skills contributions (let us know your skill set and we’ll pair you with a project)PartnersFinancial institutions who want to help Good Standing members build and repair creditEntrepreneurial and incubator partnersWorkforce, community, and economic development programsLocal businesses who want to support and benefit from the Good Standing hubs
Real estate developersOpening Good Standing hubs
GrantsImpact investmentWhat else? Get in touch: ventures@radiical.systems
ANSWER #2
Good Standing
Good Standing is a new social media platform that helps human beings collaborate to make positive impacts in communities around the world.
During our research and development process, documented, we focused on people and organizations that were taking direct action to solve systemic problems. We designed Good Standing to empower this network of community leaders and their existing supporters to help them and their initiatives grow. We believe that a technological infrastructure that further connects and incentivizes their work can lead to the political, social, and economic change we need, and thus become a valuable, scalable global platform.
In our research, we learned that there are organizations in every neighborhood who are collectively fostering a positive path forward for those that they help, serve, and support. We also learned that these orgs are usually led by almost super-human individuals who are often overworked, and that fundraising for their efforts is strenuous, which takes away from their time to do the actual work. Good Standing helps drive resources and participation to the efforts championed by these local leaders, strengthening communities by uniting them to take action on their shared challenges. It also brings a new sense of purpose to digital technology itself.
Organizations who are attempting to solve big problems need more support than they are able to obtain. The issues that our local leaders are working to address are worsening everyday, exponentially increasing the demand for civil society to collaborate to solve them. This was already the case before the ongoing major changes regarding federal funding in the United States and abroad. The prevailing socioeconomic conditions generate many gaps that citizens must work together urgently to fill.
In response to the complex of crises facing humanity today, the average person is becoming more sick, depressed, anxious, and lonely, even if they have the income to meet their needs. An increasing number of human beings in America and abroad are not able to support themselves in the current economic climate. When people feel powerless to solve these systemic problems, they start to isolate and feel unwell. Many lash out into the digital ether, using social media platforms that want to exacerbate their feelings of isolation and discontent. Discourse around the parties running these platforms, as well as the nature of their intentions, is now coming to a head. Good Standing provides a cultural framework that fosters positive, social behavior, while advocating for and organizing legitimate and impactful real world engagement. Helping others and solving problems places people in a constructive, future-oriented mindset, that gets to the root of collective depression by helping people move beyond our generally unwell state.
Our Values
We acknowledge that we have major challenges facing us. We do not believe that top down governmental or corporate mandates are the best way to solve our problems (nor has it been working). We actively reject the rise of authoritarian governance and growing social division that seems to be the de facto response to our shared issues.
Instead, we believe in the freedom to entrepreneurially associate to solve the collective issues of our time. We believe it is not only our duty, but our right to practice civic engagement and to become more self-reliant. We believe in the power of business, but we believe in the use of it in a way that is not greedy, extractive, or harmful. We believe in the ability to generate wealth responsibility without needlessly extracting from others and from the planet. We believe in the power of voluntary generosity. We believe that by practicing and celebrating impact that we can inspire systemic, global action.
Therefore, we are building a community of engaged citizens who are solving our root-level problems collectively. We believe those who have their needs met are willing to volunteer their time to help address problems and establish the conditions for others to meet their own basic needs. We believe that brands and donors will provide incentives to sponsor these campaigns and provide even more resources to drive more impact. We have not seen brand loyalty or opposition as fervently expressed in the public and digital sphere, as we have of late. Good Standing allows members to express and share their brand loyalties in a healthy, creative, highly personal, proactive and productive manner.
How Does it Work?
Our platform provides tools to take action and publicize those actions. There are various ways for sponsors, like brands or foundations, to provide rewards for these actions. Community-based organizations and social causes can create accounts and publicize the tasks that they need help with to accomplish goals. Rewards are provided through badges, which respect a specific accomplishment, and coupons, which are redeemable for goods and services provided by brands. Coupons are also digital art collectibles that are created in collaboration with artists. They are viewable on members’ Good Standing profiles in perpetuity. We help brands create coupon campaigns to drive traffic to their offerings and also align with local, impact initiatives. Coupons can be purchased, earned, gifted, or donated in an unprecedented, reparative fashion.
Examples of Campaigns -
Here are some ideas of how we can see citizens using Good Standing to tackle local issues. We hope it sparks some ideas of your own.
Improvement of Literacy Rates and Encouragement of Reading: Major book retailers and local libraries can provide rewards, such as tickets to author talks or gift cards to buy books, for completing tasks, such as attending weekly workshops on reading, finishing books, or receiving passing scores on exams. Citizens can volunteer to host book clubs or mentor those working on their literacy. Authors with a new book can create coupons to pre-sell their work and donate a certain number of coupons to an aligned impact initiative they want to support.
Neighborhood Improvement and Safety Campaigns: Organizations can collaborate to measurably improve their neighborhoods through beautification and safety campaigns. Citizens can attend workshops on reduction of gun violence and participate in gun drives. They can create a local neighborhood safety monitoring and reporting system. Community members who complete training, designated by badges, can help field and triage reports. They can create mentoring and watch groups for mental unwellness that could lead to violent activities by both children and adults. Third parties like sports teams can provide tickets to sponsor these initiatives.
Public park volunteer efforts: Outdoor supplies and activewear brands can sponsor volunteers to help clean and maintain public parks. Volunteers can also provide educational or recreational programming opportunities that partner with schools and afterschool organizations. Local public parks can participate collectively with other parks across the nation for yearly spring planting initiatives.