Before class, we had an assigned reading on market/government’s movement to sustainability. In this reading I learned about different approaches that they have taken toward sustainability and how effective they have been. I read about a market-based approach and how it has been used in the past. Something interesting that I found about the greenhouse legislation was the approach that all public construction projects have to meet a certification by LEED.  I feel like if we were to do this then the majority of our buildings would be more effective, sustainable, and long lasting. 

    In one of activities in class, we observed a website about wicked problems worth solving. The certain wicked problem we focused on was the spread of AIDS in a south african province. I was surprised at the number of people who are diagnosed with HIV and how quickly the spread of AIDS is. I was also surprised that the problem with this wasn’t the medical attention or the lack of supplies, it was the embarrassment and shame of the people who needed help. This website was helpful because it showed me another type of wicked problem beyond the boundaries of fashion or design. 

    As we continue learning about sustainability and the wicked problems of the world, we are pressed with how we are going to make this change in the future. Certain approaches such as the future scenario analysis were discussed in our lecture. I believe that this is an efficient way to dilute these wicked problems. By using this method, we are planning a solution to every possibility and potentially causing a slow down with the wicked problems.

    A company that greatly expresses social entrepreneurship is Blanket America. The problem they have pinpointed on is domestic poverty. Obviously, they sell blankets, but what is done after that is amazing! They donate another blanket to a person in need. This not only raises awareness to the people buying the product, but also the people who may receive this product as a gift. An example of this that relates to me is when my grandma gives me a card with a donation on it every Christmas. This donation is unique because it gives an animal that produces food for poor families, such as a chicken or a goat. On the card, it explains how the animal will help the family it is given to, they are usually for poorer countries around the world. 

Doing all these activities and readings, I have been inspired to think about the other wicked problems of the world. One that immediately came to my mind was the lack of education in poorer/ gang related cities. Most of these children grow up going to school, but then start to conform to the environment around them and end up either in juvenile detention or  on the streets. Their role models may be present, but even if they have a dedicated care taker, they are most of the time not in the best financial situation. I believe that offering a better and healthier community to families may help alleviate this problem. A big step that could be taken would be to really zone in on the type of educators hired in those cities; also, by offering ways for these children who are not properly taken care of to get a good education.