The Collage Foundation: Taking it Local



Entrepreneur Rafael Goldberg Shows how its Done
By Kelly Cox A year ago, when I was only volunteering for Collage in my spare time, a mutual friend encouraged me to meet this "young hardworking entrepreneur," named Rafael Goldberg. He had recently started Social Enterprise, a company that helps socially responsible businesses in Argentina gain access to the U.S. market. Sounds like something Collage would be into. So, I jumped on the L and headed out to Brooklyn. I found Rafi in a cluttered studio engulfed by overflowing shelves of fragrant candles, golden olive-oils, and homemade jars of jam. Pillars of Social Enterprise brochures were stacked around the room. Leading with the proverbial New York question, I asked, "So, what do you do?" "I work in sustainable community development," he replied. In Brooklyn!?! He seemed so young! I thought to myself, "Yeah OK. And, I'll be the director of Collage someday." Rafi's company, Social Enterprise, helps existing Latin American companies implement socially responsible business practices in their operational, commercial, or financial sectors. It was originally based in Argentina as part of a movement called interrupcion. That is - until my wild-haired friend came along and grasped its potential. He thought in order to truly take their socially responsible practices to the next level, these companies needed a larger market of people who cared about that kind of thing. So, he opened up Social Enterprise's affiliate office in the U.S. He's been working since, trying to get socially responsible products, like Trianna Olive Oils, and Patagonia jams, onto the shelves of neighborhood Fairways, organic supermarket guru, Whole Foods, and Amish markets, throughout New York, Massachusetts and California. I don't know about you, but when I buy something I like knowing where it came from. Knowing that the money I spend goes to support positive, community-supportive business practices, truly brightens my day. Making such a purchase is more difficult than you'd think, you would be surprised to learn of the exploitation and negative impact fueled by many consumer goods purchases As if my friend wasn't busy enough, Rafi and his Argentine pals have also created Enparalelo* a hip mini magazine that urges re-evolution in the 21st Century. The language and layout are eloquent, yet honest and accessible. With its compelling graphics and sleek look, at first glance you could mistake it for hipster art rag. But one look inside Enparalelo* andthe difference becomes immediately apparent. The mini mag's first issue shows off an interview with liberal author Eric Alterman, compares loaded CEO's to pimps and drug-traffikers, and features advertisements from only socially responsible businesses. Why produce a magazine on top of everything else? "Enparalelo* is meant to create a space for important discussion, innovative thinking, and new ideas that we don't feel is provided enough by mainstream media," explains Rafi. "We decided to build our own place for ideas that we think are interesting and important and invite everyone to participate in building with us." When I ask Rafi about the theme of the new issue, he simply replies, "it's all about the isms: capitalism, socialism, environmentalism..." He goes on to explain that, "isms are just ideas" and the focus that one applies to them as they cultivate determine their success or failure. The theme of re-evolution is becoming more prevalent as more and more activists become interested in building upon rather than tearing down old ideas. To celebrate the evolution of our thoughts and pursuits is a rare, but welcome occasion. From the emergence and growth of their products presence in the mainstream markets to the development of their own media outlet, Rafi and his crew have been able to translate an international idea for the U.S. -- all out of a loft in Brooklyn. We can't wait to see what they come up with next! *Check out www.interrupcion.net and log on to being a Better Buyer or a Responsible Consumer.

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