Yes, this is a proposal – but let me explain. As a social entrepreneur who guides like-minded problem solvers, I have a different kind of partnership in mind.
Over the years, I have identified three characteristics that distinguish social entrepreneurs from others: the mind of an entrepreneur, the soul of a change-maker, and the heart of a community builder. As we wrap up our summer milestones and prepare to embark on the fresh start of fall, I would like to focus on this third piece: leveraging the power of partnership to pursue social impact that sticks.
Clients often turn to my team with a problem that spills beyond the needs of a single individual or organization, impacting a much larger community: inadequate infrastructure, unemployment or underemployment, inequities in access to health or education, lack of neighborhood cohesion, or disaster recovery. This need becomes our point of departure for a thorough inquiry into its root causes and related dynamics. We then engage community partners to co-design operational activities.
Guidance for Community Social Entrepreneurship
Our holistic model of Community Entrepreneurship Development (CED) represents the highest level of Social Entrepreneurship – the culmination of a process that begins with forging cause alliances, launching social ventures, and pursuing entrepreneurship at an individual level. Community entrepreneurship development taps into the power of organizations to launch equity-driven initiatives that:
- Build the skills of individuals, organizations, and communities
- Promote community buy-in and process ownership
- Foster cooperative work among individuals and groups
- Develop motivated and impactful community leaders
- Broaden access to health and economic resources
- Cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and community orientation
Across America, including New Jersey and New York, socioeconomic needs have never been more pressing or acute. Currently, 48 million Americans reside in economically distressed communities, and 60 million Americans reside in at-risk communities. The community distress landscape includes both urban and rural areas. Our approach tackles design, economic, infrastructure and service-related aspects, while also attending to neglected or distressed characteristics.
Measures of Success for Community Entrepreneurship
Embarking on social change with community partners amplifies exponentially the impact of social entrepreneurship. At ISE, we measure positive community outcomes through new business development, investment and jobs; increased viability and aesthetic appeal of neighborhood commercial areas; citizen empowerment through local ownership and control; new neighborhood attractions and destinations; and significantly reduced crime and poverty. Like the best social entrepreneurship, Community Entrepreneurship Development is self-sustaining, generating profits and returns that are reinvested into the neighborhood, schools and services.
Specifically, our CED model for thriving communities focuses on four key areas:
- Community Development
- Social Ventures
- Schools and Capacity Building
- Innovative and Special Projects
That’s an ambitious undertaking, and it can’t be done in silos, or even piecemeal. It requires strategy, coordination and expertise to steer these social ventures toward success.
For 15 years, ISE has extended its consulting services, capacity building and networked connections to empower social impact organizations – building profitable ventures for the sustained impact that fuels community transformation. Will you follow your heart and engage with us?
Contact us to explore case studies, meet our team, and begin to leverage our CED model.