WHO ARE WE?
IWRI was created by Marissa Shrum and Michael Romanowicz on the 6 train. Partners in crime at the office and on the scene, MR. and MS. have scoped the layout and know the score. Experiencing first-hand the delicate balance of ideas, mishaps and variables that dictate the gray area between the achievable and the impossible, they’re trying to find out what it takes to start a different kind of company.
It’s evident that the Echo-boomer, Millenial, Gen-Y age group has become a strong force in business and society. Our approach to work, technology, politics, climate, family and friends are a topic for pundits, researchers, trends analysts, HR specialists, advertisers and politicians. IWRI wants to give you information straight from the horses mouth.
If We Ran It was created to:
1. Highlight and celebrate young people, their ideas and actions
2. Host an interactive hub that connects people and shares resources
3. Empower young changemakers to be more effective in the presentation and execution of their ideas
4. Collaborate with emerging leaders on “the money” and “the movement”: projects and initiatives that put money in the bank and gas in the tank
WHAT DO WE WANT?
Besides chocolate, world peace, invitations to Seder and front-row seats…?
Access: Young people’s full participation in the marketplace of ideas
Influence: Young people’s power to impact systems, organizations and people
Wisdom: Young people’s education on breakthroughs and people that shape our world
Credibility: Young people’s ideas, opinions and insights to become valued and trusted
Resources: To provide information and tools for young people who want to make change
Fame: To put young, smart, innovative thinkers and doers in the spotlight
What do we want? We want a hot new sculpture series in Central Park curated by a group of efficacious teenage artists. We want recent college grads funding their own campaigns for local office. We want groups of college students all over the country gathering together to brainstorm on promoting a multi-party political process. We want an eighteen-year-old kid from New Mexico presenting his ideas on protracted living conditions for humans in outer space to NASA.
We want change. We want youthful zeal and ambition to shine like Dick Clark’s skin. And we want to inspire others to help along the way.
WHAT ARE OUR VALUES?
1. A good idea can come from anywhere (That’s true)
2. Ideas are nothing without action (Yup)
3. We’re all better together (Aww)
4. Know your stuff (Seriously, study up)
5. Openness (Speak freely)
WHAT DO WE DO?
Publishing: As you can see we’ve started an online publication about people, ideas and actions that are inspiring change. We also highlight events, tools, gatherings, institutes and books we recommend our readers check out to be inspired, gain credible information or get practice running it.
Roster: We have a team of under-thirty folks who are all on their way to seriously running it. Our group is comprised of young stunners from all backgrounds and disciplines. We lead organizations, publish books, design magazine covers, sell ads and more. At IWRI, we come together (Voltron-style) to collaborate for change, and provide this venture with a drip-dripping rich source of content and ideas.
Projects: Each of our special projects will focus on helping under-thirty leaders be more effective and influential in their respective industries/organizations. Our first initiative launches in September of 2008 and our first product is set to drop in early 2009. We are putting systems in place to consult, give advice and generate ideas on a consistent basis, but we know that we can only RUN IT one step at a time, so keep checking back for company information and reach out if you want to be our best-good buds and help make this rock.