An update for 2010
The SSE report is in its second draft and under review. More news will be announced in the coming weeks, including recommendations and next steps.
Stay posted!
About
Does Ontario need a School for Social Entrepreneurs? We're going to find out. And we need you to help!Find
 |
 |
 |
 |
The SSE report is in its second draft and under review. More news will be announced in the coming weeks, including recommendations and next steps.
Stay posted!
We spoke to 72 people to get their thoughts on social entrepreneurship education, the SSE model, the demand in Ontario for SEE, and some big, creative ideas on their vision for the future of social entrepreneurship. Here is the list of organizations and individuals that participated.
Interviews with Opinion Leaders
We conducted interviews with 32 opinion leaders in the fields of academics, education, social innovation and community development.
MaRS Discovery District
Rotman School of Managment, Social Enterprise Initiative
Toronto Enterprise Fund
Volans (UK)
Social Innovation Generation, Waterloo
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
Canadian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, University of Alberta
Social Enterprise Program, Columbia Business School
INSEAD - Social Entrepreneurship Program
Social Enterprise at Kellogg (SEEK), Kellogg School of Management
Program in Social Entrepreneurship – NYU Reynolds
CASE Managing Director, Duke University: The Fuqua School of Business
Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation, University of Toronto
Sprott Centre on Social Enterprises (SCSE) – Carleton University
George Brown College
Toronto Family Service Association
EYE (Eric Young Enterprises)
Centre for Social Innovation
Alan Webber, Founder, Fast Company magazine (US)
Uffe Elbaek, Founder, KaosPilot (DK)
Dave Meslin, Founder, Toronto Public Space Committee
UK
Demos
thinkpublic
The Young Foundation
NESTA
Social Innovation Exchange, Cabinet Office UK
Fair Trade England
Community Consultations
We traveled across the province to run five community consultations in Toronto (x2), Thunder Bay, Ottawa, and Waterloo. 40 individuals participated representing more than 30 organizations.
Toronto
Tiffinday Inc.
Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation
PointerWare
Turnaround Couriers
Web Networks
Zatoun Fair Trade
Ashoka Canada
Manifest Communications
Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada
St. Stephen’s Community House
Canadian Youth Business Fund
Toronto Community Housing
Social Enterprise Centre of Excellence (SECE) / Youth Challenge Fund
Ottawa
Rideau Street Youth Enterprises
Ottawa Community Loan Fun
Causeway Work Centre
Sprott School of Business
3Ci – Carleton, LEAP
3Ci – Carleton, Creativision
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)
Waterloo
City of Waterloo, Social Planning, Policy and Program Administration Division
Centre for Entrepreneurship, Wilfrid Laurier
SiG@Waterloo
Social entrepreneur (Nick Petten)
Social entrepreneur (Chelsea Prescod)
Social Purchasing Portal
Kitchener Small Business Centre
Waterloo Small Business Centre
Opportunities Waterloo
Thunder Bay
Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University
Lakehead Social Planning Council
Paro Centre for Women’s Enterprise
Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC)
Volunteer Thunder Bay
Habitat for Humanity – Thunder Bay
Each community consultation begins with coffee (always important) and introductions - the panelists say a bit about who they are and what they are currently working on or in. Once the group has met they are given a presentation of the SSE UK. This provides the panelists with context and a framework for the conversations that follow. After the presentation, the floor is opened for questions and feedback.
The feedback is based on initial thoughts on the SSE model: what the panelists feel the demand might be in Ontario for social entrepreneurship education, and where SE’s might currently turn to for resources. In an open discussion, they discuss what parts of the SSE are most attractive as well as any red flags that they feel might arise, specifically if there are challenges the SSE might face in Ontario. Most of all, they are asked to think about the value a school might bring and what impact it might have.
Following a short break which allows the panelists time to connect and exchange contact information or business cards, they begin to draft their vision of a school for social entrepreneurs. For this exercise, they are asked to think about who the students might be, how the program could be delivered, what the curriculum might contain, and who might be teaching it? They are also asked to think about how the school could operate, its location, and what the measurements of its success might be. If your school was around for ten years, what kind of impact would you want it to have? What might the school’s mission or vision statement be?
We’re taping parts of these conversations and hope to have some video posted as the study unfolds. View the presentation on the SSE UK.
Another key point of discussion was the aim or the wider goal of an Ontario-made SSE. Are we trying to change things in a big way and reinvent the way we function as a society? If so, what are the mechanisms to do so?
If what we need is a solid, accessible infrastructure, then we already have a number of groups that are doing that separately at the moment. Is launching a new organization the answer? Or, should there be some high level infrastructure to bring existing groups together? To clarify: if we need a central place for people to go, then lets start coming together more often to talk about how to provide it.
Continuity is currently a problem. Perhaps the reason that no big ideas “live” in a big way is that we don’t connect enough. We should not try to launch a one-off. We should generate continuity and promote it to a diversity of people who might be involved in SE.
The idea of involving high school students resurfaced; some panelists felt that high school students have the energy and passion needed to become entrepreneurs. One panelist stated that projects started by youth will often receive seed funding but then don’t know how to make themselves sustainable. Others wondered if accepting only those with a project was too narrow? Perhaps the school should also consider those who have the drive and a vision, but don’t know where to start.
At the end of the session, the panelists split into 2 groups to create their own version of an SSE. It was a brainstorming session, where anything might be possible. One group focused on a blended, accessible, collaborative model with a focus on promoting the “3rd sector” and new business models. The school would incorporate both a theoretical and hands-on approach, and would advocate for SEs to support them beyond the “classroom”. The school would not be an ivory tower - it would be more like a trade school than an academic institution.
The second group focused on how they might be able to introduce a complimentary curriculum or lesson plans to high schools. Ideas included field trips, classroom speakers and awareness building. They also identified and discussed some challenges the school would face: where to locate it? if it’s called a school, will it create certain expectations?
Overall, the group identified that there are plenty of excellent resources - courses, associations, incubators, mentors - in Toronto. The issue is, perhaps, that there are SO many it can be overwhelming and individuals have a harder time knowing who to turn to. If organizations involved in SE/SI or NFP start sharing who does what and does it well, then we could more easily point people in the right direction.
With thanks to: Ashoka Canada, Manifest Communications, Toronto Community Housing, St. Stephen’s Community House, Youth Challenge Fund and Social Enterprise Centre for Excellence (SECE), Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada (YSEC), and Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CBYF).
We ended the community consultations with a bang on Friday. With the long weekend tantalizingly close and another grey fall day outside, the energy could have been low or sleepy. But it wasn’t. Our ten panelists were lively and creative and were happy to be together in the same room talking about social entrepreneurship.
After the presentation, people leapt in immediately with their comments and ideas. An SSE Ontario shouldn’t try to simply meld or bridge the gap between NFP and the private sector, but should really try to pave the way for the ‘third path.’ The value of the school, as well as helping emerging SEs, might also be to promote and foster this new way of thinking about new models of doing business. Someone mentioned running a public education campaign to help people ‘get’ social entrepreneurship.
There was lots more where this came from. Another post will follow with more highlights!
Happy Thanksgiving~
I must confess that it was my first trip to Thunder Bay, but it certainly won’t be my last. The landscape was stunning, the fall colours were in full force, AND we had smaller but talkative group who provided clear insights about the ways an SSE might work or the challenges it might face in the northern part of the province.
To begin, there is an added challenge in Thunder Bay in terms of awareness about SE. Although there are social needs in the region that would benefit from and might spearhead a new group of SEs, the group said that initial demand would most likely low due to a dispersed population and a general lack of awareness/self-identification. If the school or a program were to launch, awareness building would be vital in order to sustain intake.
Specific groups that might tap into SSE resources might be the region’s growing newcomer/immigrant and Aboriginal populations. In this case, the school MUST factor in accessibility / language / location / cost - time & financial. Someone suggested including a free daycare program.
The curriculum could include online components or resources (webinars, videos etc.) to reach remote & rural populations. Online resources could be made available to the wider community, anyone working as an entrepreneur for example, to again build awareness. The panelists had all used video conferencing and webinars in the past - it’s more commonly used than, say, in Toronto, as distances are much greater. It’s a viable way to bring people ‘together’. Panelists also said that face-to-face opportunities would be a value-add as would traveling to a major centre to meet with others, access resources and gain different perspectives. Mentorship and networking were also discussed.
It might be equally interesting for the students in urban centres to visit Thunder Bay. In fact, one suggestion was for Thunder Bay to host the SSE and become THE place in Ontario to go for social entrepreneurship education. For those who might not have a project on the go or in mind, a service learning component could provide the hands-on experience and provide some much needed help. Thunder Bay has seen some significant economic upheavals and is undergoing a bit of a renaissance these days. Although they might not see themselves as social entrepreneurs, it seems as if a number of people are carving out non-traditional or self-made niches.
The location of an SSE should be carefully considered as it would impact initial perception or notion of the school. It should definitely involve existing groups in Thunder Bay to give it credibility from the start and to minimize start-up costs. One suggestion was to start small with a seminar series hosted by different groups/orgs/institutions. The series could ‘travel’ through the city, tapping into different networks, leveraging existing areas of expertise and creating an open venue for idea-sharing.
With thanks to our panelists from:
Volunteer Thunder Bay, PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise, Lakehead University, Lakehead Social Planning Council, Regional Multicultural Youth Council, and Habitat for Humanity (Thunder Bay).
Our half-day workshop in Waterloo took place on a blustery fall day at Social Innovation Generation (SiG@Waterloo), in a lovely old bank building in the heart of the city. Representatives from a range of different sectors — the business development community, academia, social entrepreneurs and planners — gathered to discuss the merits or potential improvements for a school of social entrepreneurship (SSE) in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
After a short presentation on the SSE UK model, we opened the floor for general feedback. Throughout the discussion, several major themes arose which included the cost of admission as a potential barrier, the method of selecting teaching staff and ways to establish the credibility of the school in Ontario. The panelists represented their community’s interests and took part in analyzing the current model and making recommendations specific to their region.
Overall, the opinions we gathered throughout this process were interesting as they were varied. Some members also expressed that Waterloo, being an engaged community, might not necessarily benefit from a school of social entrepreneurship. Perhaps allowing something similar to arise organically might be preferable?
Moreover, participants identified that there are organizations already in place with the spirit of SSEs driving their development. Ideally, an SSE based in Waterloo should bring together existing resources and talent from organizations such as the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wilfrid Laurier, Capacity Waterloo, SiG@Waterloo, Leadership Waterloo, Small Business Centres or Waterloo Region Social Planning, to name a few.
The group also talked a lot about the importance of curriculum and measuring impact, how high school students might be involved (ie. harnessing the 40 hours of community service), should the hands-on learning component be delivered via service learning? One of the most optimistic visions for the future of SE was voiced by a young social entrepreneur and DiverseCity Fellow who said, “In ten years, ALL entrepreneurs should be social entrepreneurs.” Now that would be something.
With thanks to the individuals at the organizations mentioned above, particularly SiG@Waterloo for letting us use their space.
It may have been a cold, grey fall day outside but the atmosphere in the conference room at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University was anything but. Sitting around the table were folks who had been deeply involved in community building, social enterprise research, funding, and business.
The group provided some excellent insights on the SSE model and how we might be able to adapt it to a Canadian context. They thought that entrepreneurship should be encouraged at an earlier age - in high school or even in elementary school. They suggested that the school could encourage intergenerational exchanges and bring younger people into the network. A hands-on component was important as was involving other sectors: private, not-for-profit, government.
At least 20% of students applying to the school should have access to full (or close to full) funding to avoid elitism. A membership program with benefits might reinforce networking opportunities [a “Friends of Social Entrepreneurship” perhaps?]. An exchange component to the other SSEs in the UK or even Australia would allow us to see how SEs in other countries are operating.
In summary, the school should:
- guarantee that SEs are part of a strong network
- work both inside or outside of existing institutions or organizations
- produce successful, sustainable graduates
- integrate visionary companies or organizations
-have a project-based core curriculum that provides a fertile ground for creativity and practical skills
- professionalize / formalize social entrepreneurship and build positive awareness about success stories
-create a vibrant network of partners, students, graduates and institutions
- include FUN & BEER!
Fun and beer, you might ask? Yep. It’s hard to be a social entrepreneur unless you’re having fun. It’s an important part of maintaining your passion. Beer? People should get together more often over beer (or coffee) to talk and share ideas.
With thanks to our panelists from:
Causeway Work Centre, the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3Ci), Creativision, the Local Employability Access Program (LEAP), Ottawa Community Loan Foundation, Rideau Street Youth Enterprises, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO), the Coalition of New Canadians for Arts & Culture (CNCAC).
Also to Professor Francois Brouard at the Sprott Centre for Social Enterprises for hosting.
A quick note: we have changed the date of the second Toronto community consultation from October 8th to Friday, October 9th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
It’s still taking place at the MaRS Discovery District. If you are interested in taking part in this discussion, just email morwenna@masslbp.com
The second part of my day on September 23, involved going to a panel discussion organized by an emerging and highly motivated new group - Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada.
This group is a ‘for youth by youth’ non-profit organization dedicated to helping extraordinary young people change the world with bold, systemic ideas. One of the ways they are helping to support and encourage young Canadian social entrepreneurs is by holding a series of Meet Ups, panel discussions and workshops. Not only do these events provide useful advice and inspiration, but they are also hotbeds of networking and idea-sharing.
The Meet Up on Sept. 23rd, featured a panel discussion with Cheryl May from SiG@MaRS, Daniel Moneta, Co-Founder of MMB Research, and David Berkal, Co-Founder of Canadian Roots and Operation Groundswell. The panelists told their stories of how they got started, some challenges they faced (traveling through Africa with a backpack full of cash) and the importance of metrics and tracking your success.
Best of all, a speed-dating style “meet-and-greet” maximized the opportunity for the attendees to meet and talk about the hurdles they were facing. It was a fantastic turnout - the room was full and the atmosphere was electric!
Next steps - talking to YSEC about their thoughts on an SSE Ontario. As leaders of the next generation of social entrepreneurs, they are clearly a group to reach out to.
