Social Entrepreneurship, An Old Concept for a New Economy
Topics: youth, entreprenuership, social change, Junior Black Chamber of Commerce
Anonymous user Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:53:05 PDT
Viewed 273 times
0 responses 0 comments Location: 1731 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
What do you get when you combine entrepreneurial principles with innovative ideas for social change? You get the basis for economic progress, social entrepreneurship.
According to the Institute for Social Entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurship is the art of "simultaneously pursuing both a financial and a social return on investment (the double bottom line).” With current economic conditions, organizations must find innovative ways to create jobs and maintain their bottom line. In alignment with these needs, the Junior Black Chamber of Commerce of Kern County is inspiring young people ages 16-25 to become advocates of change as social entrepreneurs.
The Junior Black Chamber has created two programs locally; Young Entrepreneur and Real Talk: The Urban Life. Young Entrepreneur is a 16 week course that teaches youth the basic principles of starting their own business. Students are expected to leave the course with a completed business plan for their innovative idea. Real Talk: The Urban Life is a bi-monthly forum that encourages young people to stand up, speak out, and be heard on the social issues that concern them the most.
On April 18th, these students will speak out on Race Relations. During President Obama’s campaign, he gave a speech entitled, “A More Perfect Union.” In this speech, he discusses race relations stating, “This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.”
Young people, our future leaders, continue to answer the call for change throughout the world. Now, even closer to home, through the Young Entrepreneur program and the Real Talk youth forums, Kern County is breeding a new group of social entrepreneurs.
Here’s to a new era of social change in Kern County. Social entrepreneurship at work in our world.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |