Activating America’s Quiet Middle into local action
A civic on‑ramp that turns interest into measurable community impact.
The Opportunity (Why Now)
TL;DR: Most people want to help locally but lack a simple, trusted pathway. The Change Lab makes “showing up” easy—and turns that participation into visible outcomes partners value.
- Closes the gap between interest and action with practical, local steps.
- Inclusive by design: plain language, language access, mobile‑first journeys.
- Proves impact with lightweight data and partner feedback loops.
At‑a‑glance
Initial market: Greater Houston; repeatable model for metros of 1–10M residents.
Primary customers: civic orgs, school districts, anchor nonprofits, public agencies, local media.
Primary users: residents seeking meaningful, low‑friction ways to contribute.
Product in 60 seconds
1) Discover
Local pathways curated by issue (housing, health, education), engagement level (Get Started → Activated), and time available this week.
2) Practice
Short, guided actions that build confidence—circles, meetups, storytelling, and volunteer shifts that fit real life.
3) Show Impact
Personal progress + neighborhood impact snapshots partners can use to coordinate and fund what works.
Example: Housing (4‑step path)
- Help: Quick primer on renter rights + local help lines.
- Learn: 10‑minute explainer on zoning + who decides.
- Show Up: RSVP to a local meeting or team night.
- Track: Two‑question outcome check and shareable badge.
Market
40%
Completion target for guided pathways (12‑month MVP).
10
Anchor partners to reach city‑level coverage.
Traction & Validation
190
Community Conversations participants to date (pilot series).
45
Dining with Purpose alumni forming the seed cohort for scale.
6
Partner pilots queued (education, arts, faith, neighborhood).
2nd
Global recognition during UN Week of Harmony.
Who’s behind us
- Othering & Belonging Institute (UC Berkeley) — Catalyst Fellowship.
- Houston Food Bank — prior track record in connection + impact.
- More in Common — research alignment on Americans seeking connection.
Model & Go‑to‑Market
Revenue
- Institutional subscriptions (districts, agencies, coalitions).
- Sponsorships and underwriting for city issue pathways.
- Philanthropic support for pilot + R&D.
Distribution
- Partner referral loops (schools, libraries, food access sites).
- Local media + events (earned placements + call‑to‑action inserts).
- Community teams (zip‑code ambassadors and hub nights).
Team
David A. Brown — Founder
Builder of civic infrastructure in Houston (Spacetaker → Fresh Arts, Arts District Houston, Houston Food Bank). Catalyst Fellow with OBI / UC Berkeley.
Advisors
Cross‑partisan dialogue, public systems, community health, and data trust leaders (listing available on request).
Pilot Partners
Education, arts/culture, faith, and neighborhood networks committed to test engagement pathways.
Investment
Raising $250K — 12‑month MVP (Houston)
- Product: MVP + pathway builder + analytics v1.
- Partnerships: 10 anchors + 40 community orgs.
- Outcomes: 2,500 signups • 750 MAU • 40% pathway completion.
Sources
- More in Common — US connection research.
- Othering & Belonging Institute (UC Berkeley) — Catalyst Fellowship reference.
- Houston Food Bank program results and internal reporting — pilot learnings.
List full URLs below for transparency; replace as you finalize citations.
https://www.moreincommon.org/
https://belonging.berkeley.edu/
https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/
https://www.thechangelab.net/
https://thechangelab.substack.com/