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Society is composed of the Civic, Business & Government sectors. Although social entrepreneurship is not restricted to any of these, it primarily exists in the civic sector. Some examples that blur the lines are the for-profit footwear company Tom’s Shoes® that matches all shoe purchases with a donation to a child in need and the nonprofit Brewery Finnegan's which donates all profits to local charities. A Major in Social Entrepreneurship Education & Creation [with a Purpose] Tom Weinandy, Class of 2011 “A major in Social Entrepreneurship teaches students to think critically and creatively, identifying innovative opportunities that solve social problems. It utilizes entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage purpose- driven ventures that create a posit ive change f or societ y . Social Entrepreneurs are self-motivated individuals that strive toward the risky pursuit of an articulated m is s io n .” Taken from “A Proposed Major in Social Entrepreneurship” (Weinandy 2011) Key Goals of the Major Ethics and Values – to understand basic ethical principles for business and for working in the community, demonstrate the ability to integrate values into all processes and be responsibly engaged with communities. The Social Entrepreneurial Skill Set—using sophisticated written and oral communication skills and critical thinking skills developed in general education and able to demonstrate competence in each of the following skills essential to entrepreneurship: Cultural, Political, and Social Understanding— to acquire an understanding of social, political, and cultural frameworks, demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to the assessment of issues and problems and use this knowledge in making responsible judgments about issues and problems. Project Planning—expectations to develop a full understanding of how to create and utilize a project plan that includes sustainability. Managing and Sustaining an Entrepreneurial Initiative—to learn the unique set of skills necessary to guide a project through periods of both growth and decline. (Adopted from the Key Goals of the major in Social Entrepreneurship at Belmont University, http://www.belmont.edu/se/keygoals.html , accessed 11/15/10) Problem = Opportunity “What business entrepreneurs are to the economy, social entrepreneurs are to social change. They are, writes David Bornstein, the driven, creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities, refuse to give up—and remake the world for the better.” -Bornstein 2004 Scholarship Scholarship in the field of social entrepreneurship is in its early stages of development but is showing signs of growth. Likewise, university programs on the topic have grown in recent years years and now exist at Duke University, New York University, University of Texas and Belmont University (shown below). Website: http://www.belmont.edu/se/index.html accessed 3/18/11 The self- designed major was modeled after these programs and was supported the newly created Entrepreneur- ship Minor at John Carroll University. Society’s Three Sectors Image (left): http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens8478011module74681201photo_1261069891toms-shoes- sale-2.jpg accessed 3/18/11 Image (right): http://www.periscope.com/img/work/Finnegans_Bladders.jpg accessed 3/18/11 The social entrepreneurial mindset identifies a problem and views it as an opportunity for positive social change. Image: http://images.betterworldbooks.com/019/How-to-Change-the-World-9780195334760.jpg accessed 3/18/11 1. Opportunity assessment 2. Team building, leadership 3. Negotiation skills 4. Use of basic business skills to further social goals: organization, resource development, planning, growth, management & economic Projects Students Today Leaders Forever The two key aspects of a social venture are its mission and action. The mission defines the social benefits and stated goals of a service, product or organization. Action is equally important because as the French root of “entrepreneur” is “to undertake”, the venture needs become alive. For this reason it is important to highlight some of the projects that complimented the academic aspect of the major. Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF) is a nonprofit based out of Minneapolis that wants to energize generations of servant leaders. It fulfills its mission, “To reveal leadership through service, relationships and action” (stlf.net 2011) by sponsoring community service road trips over spring break called Pay It Forward Tours. The organization has grown significantly since it began in 2003 (see chart), and I became involved in 2007 as one of the founding leaders that began the John Carroll chapter. The increasing level of student-lead programs has required an evaluation of training effectiveness, and in 2010 I began working with the organization to survey approximately 250 student leaders across the nation which will then be analyzed for correlation to provide recommendations for future training. Image: http://issuu.com/petetey/docs/stlf_str ategic_expansion_plan_v1.2 Accessed 2/13/11 AmeriCorps In August of 2010 I enrolled as an AmeriCorps Community Resource Coordinator with the Garfield Heights based nonprofit Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeastern Ohio. The mission of the organization is to “help academically capable and motivated children-in-need to meet their full potential and become men and women for others” (boyshopegirlshope.org 2011). My role has been to be on a team that expands educational programming for these children. Since I began we have been able to provide programs at their school throughout the year that have previously did not exist. Gehring 2009 Image: http://bit.ly/fWR8t1 Accessed 3/18/11 Image: http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/programs/imag es/aclogo.jpg Accessed 3/18/11 Special thanks to Dr. Duane Dukes, Dr. Robert Kolesar and Dr. Elizabeth Stiles who helped advise me through this major process.
