The World We Want: An Interview with Peter Karoff

Ellen: Why did you write this book?  What motivated you?  Was there something missing that you were trying to address?

Peter: To some degree the book wrote itself – part of the flow of meeting and listening to so many amazing people who were just doing it – it being working with creativity and intentionality to make the world better. The stories were so contradictory to the malaise and cynicism that runs rampant in our society.  These stories had to be told. What is missing is the belief that all of us – everyone – can make a difference. I wanted to see if there was a critical mass out there of what came to be called ‘practical visionaries’ – and of course there were.

E: What were some of the surprises you encountered in writing this book?

P: The range of ideas and scope of individual initiative takes your breath away. Even though I have been involved in community for years and the two-decade TPI experience has involved partnerships with social activists on many levels, I was surprised by the scale and ambition of very serious people and the level of self-awareness so many bring to their work. The diversity was also fascinating; while some of the book’s heroes have a ton of money and power, most do not. What they do have is the heart and will to make things happen.

E: What are the major themes of the book?

P: Probably the biggest theme is connectivity.  Whatever happens here to you, to me, to those we love, happens everywhere. We are all in this boat called Planet Earth together and no one is immune from that realization. Ideological polarization is simply not acceptable. The silos between communities of interest, between the sectors – government, civil society and the market economy – are artificial. The book makes the argument we need all of these resources if we are to resolve major social dilemmas. It is part of what is called the Open Source phenomenon.    

E: How does this book relate to the mission and practice of TPI?

P: TPI’s mission is to promote philanthropy and to help donors become more strategic and have greater impact. The book builds on those goals, but puts philanthropy at the center of a complex vortex of other players and argues that the practice needs to change. It needs to become far more collaborative, far more of a risk-taker to become the connective, collaborative tissue that stimulates innovation and new ideas. And the book suggests that in order to do so, we need to become much better at listening to the voices of the community. 

E: Now that you are out there talking about the book, getting reactions, have your goals changed?  In your dream of dreams, what impact do you hope to have through the writing, presenting and discussion of The World We Want?

P: The dream of dreams was that the book would be used to stimulate citizen action on the part of those who are not involved - to expand the number and the ambition of actors on the social stage. What has been remarkable is how that is actually happening. Even at this early point, the theme has been adapted to ‘The Community We Want” and the book used as a platform for community dialogue and visioning in Minnesota (Minnesota Council on Foundations), and in St Louis (Gateway Center for Giving). Others are watching this roll-out, and that is very exciting. It is a perfect fit for TPI’s mission of increasing the impact of philanthropy.