“It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other” - Tupac Shakur

Designing a Better Lifestyle for an Underserved Community

Tupac’s “Changes” came out in 1998…that’s 25 years ago. If you have not heard this track by now, I don’t even know what to say…go listen, no seriously go now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Wj6-gPY0g

“We gotta make a change

It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes

Let's change the way we eat

Let's change the way we live

And let's change the way we treat each other

You see, the old way wasn't workin'

So it's on us to do what we gotta do to survive”

But I still see no changes…ah the sad irony of things. In today's society, there are many communities that are left underserved and without access to the resources and opportunities that they need to live fulfilling and healthy lives. Whether it be due to lack of access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare, or because they are being ignored by the government and other organizations, these communities are in dire need of help. Musicians couldn’t change things, politicians did not either, maybe they did not want to? So who then? Maybe it’s up to us to do what we gotta do, with a little bit of help from design-thinking processes?

The good news is that there are ways that we can design a better lifestyle for these underserved communities and help them to improve their lives in meaningful and lasting ways.

We under, I wonder what it takes to make this

one better place…

The first step in designing a better lifestyle for underserved communities is to understand the issues that they are facing. Some of the most common challenges that these communities face include lack of access to food and water, inadequate healthcare, and limited educational opportunities. They may also face issues related to poverty, unemployment, and crime.

My stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch…

Improving access to basic necessities such as food, water, and healthcare is one of the most crucial ways we can support underserved communities. This can be achieved by offering food banks and other resources to ensure families have access to the essential items they need to survive, as well as providing affordable healthcare services. Having regular monthly design sprint sessions, involving representatives from the community and the mayor, could be beneficial. Additionally, including both the poorest and wealthiest members of the community in these discussions would create a diverse and well-rounded conversation. If we spend a week together to brainstorm ideas, we could have a more productive outcome.

Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers…

Creating a safe and inclusive environment where individuals with polar opposite perspectives can come together and discuss challenges is crucial. The more participation we have, the wider the perspective will be, leading to a greater number of solutions we can facilitate. This can be achieved by collaborating with local organizations and businesses to offer job training and employment opportunities, as well as encouraging community members to participate in initiatives and events.

Providing access to educational opportunities is another effective way to support underserved communities. This includes establishing schools and educational institutions within the community and offering after-school programs and other resources to enhance students' academic performance.

It is important to encourage community involvement in the efforts to enhance the quality of life for underserved communities.

It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes…

I recently saw a Tweet from David C. Baker that challenged the notion of true world life impacts of design thinking:

Follow David on Twitter

https://twitter.com/davidcbaker

It is a harsh reality that despite having exciting meetings and innovative ideas, implementation is often the most difficult aspect. Transforming the lives of underserved communities requires more than just a collective effort; it takes discipline, commitment, and substantial financial support to make a lasting impact.

Designing a better lifestyle for these communities necessitates a multi-faceted approach that addresses the many challenges they face. But just because it's difficult, should we not even attempt to make a difference?

We are willing to take on the hard work. If you know of any administration, organization, or agency that is open to facilitating workshops, we are ready to put our best team forward and initiate change. Please reach out to us.

Let's prioritize progress over perfection.