Changing the world is hard. How can someone like me make a difference? Focus on issues in my local community, or around the globe? Which group should I give money to? How will I find time to volunteer? Will anything I do actually accomplish anything?
We struggle with these kinds of questions all the time, and through the ambiguity, do the best we can. We post important things online, we volunteer from time to time, we make donations when we're able, and try to be the best we can be.
The irony is that we make important choices with serious consequences for the issues we care about every day, but rarely give those choices the same thoughtful consideration we give our volunteer or charitable activities. What should I eat for lunch today? How should I get to work? What clothes will I wear?
Those choices have an impact on the world too, whether we're aware as we're making them or not. Some meals are better for the environment, or animal rights, or climate change, than others. Some modes of transportation cause more pollution than others. Different fashion companies treat their workers very differently. If we care about these things, our daily patterns can matter just as much, if not more, than our annual giving or occasional volunteering.
Luckily for all of us, more and more socially minded companies are working to bridge that gap, between the actions we take every day, and the change we wish to see in the world over time. Whether it's big companies making goods responsibly, like REI and Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's, or companies giving back with every sale, like Warby Parker and TOMS, it's getting easier and easier to change the world, at least a little bit, every day.
We built Creative Action Network in that spirit - a marketplace for great artwork and apparel, that supports independent artists and important causes. We believe independent artists deserve more opportunities to make money - that's why 40% from every sales goes directly back to our artists. And we believe non-profit organizations like National Parks Conservation Association, Earthjustice, Courage Campaign, or Boys & Girls Clubs, need more help communicating their stories and missions in compelling ways.
This holiday season, we hope you'll consider doing your shopping at Creative Action Network. We're even giving away five, $25 gift cards so that you can pick out creative gift for someone on your list. Support independent artists, worthy causes, and get your holiday shopping done, all at the same time, by signing up for a chance to win a CAN giftcard here by 11/20 at midnight:
