Intelligence & Compassion in Action

Intelligence & Compassion in Action is a tool to empower the aspiring social entrepreneur, with real guidance as to how, and why, social entrepreneurship works. It expounds a new Seven Pillar methodology, inspired by the wisdom of former President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter. Written by the founder of The Elfenworks Foundation, Dr. Lauren Speeth, who lives the lessons she teaches in this book daily, the insights within these pages have come from Speeth's years of experience in technology, management, and the nonprofit world, as well as from insights gained in interviews with extraordinary social entrepreneurs.

Intelligence & Compassion in Action is a tool to empower the aspiring social entrepreneur, with real guidance as to how, and why, social entrepreneurship works. It expounds a new Seven Pillar methodology, inspired by the wisdom of former President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter. Written by the founder of The Elfenworks Foundation, Dr. Lauren Speeth, who lives the lessons she teaches in this book daily, the insights within these pages have come from Speeth's years of experience in technology, management, and the nonprofit world, as well as from insights gained in interviews with extraordinary social entrepreneurs.

Lauren Speeth, PhD is the visionary force behind Elfenworks Productions, LLC, a producer of internationally acclaimed and Grammy®-nominated media content, and the founder of NHM Ministrants. As founding CEO of The Elfenworks Foundation, "In Harmony with Hope®," she has assembled a team of social entrepreneurs of the highest caliber, with deep and far-ranging expertise in multimedia storytelling, educational technology, music, film, management, law, finance, the environment, and social justice. Dr. Speeth earned her PhD (Honors) in Innovative Urban Leadership and a DMin (Raymond J. Bakke Scholar) from Bakke Graduate University and completed a rigorous interfaith chaplaincy training at Stanford Hospital, one of the nation's top ten hospitals. She also completed an executive program in philanthropy at Sanford, and earned an Advanced Computer Security Credential there. She is the recipient of two honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of her work. Using bridge-building skills, she and her team forge alliances with other groups, such as Campus MovieFest, encouraging students to create climate and social justice themed content; Golden Gate University, in poverty law; Saint Mary's College of California, for Socially Responsible Business; and Northeastern University, for Environmental Education. Speeth is a Regent Emeritus of Saint Mary's College of California, a Life Member of the Board of Councilors of The Carter Center, and an External Advisor to The Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, where she was an architect/programmer of its first website, co-orchestrating the Center's launch with a Concert for Hope, which she also filmed. Speeth, whose documentaries have spanned from Celtic-green to eco-green, is deeply concerned regarding the intersection of climate change and poverty. She is called upon regularly to evaluate web and film content, and has dedicated her educational media & storytelling efforts to fostering hope. She and her team have developed a considerable library of online resources, including a multilingual stress reduction visualization app and teacher tools, awards programs, awareness-raising efforts, and aids to help you make a difference. Born in New York, Speeth spent her childhood on the East Coast, the Midwest and also India, where her parents founded an experimental school for untouchables (Dalits) outside New Delhi. A self-professed "tech geek" whose extensive travels have made her a citizen of the world, Speeth has spent her life utilizing her experiences and skills to help create positive change, both locally and globally. With Northern California as her home base, as well as the base of operations for The Elfenworks Foundation, Speeth continues to work with a team of partners on environmental and social issues, and on fostering hope.