Resources and ideas for the future

Please use the comments section here to preserve resources and ideas for the future development of the center, based in part on your research of the three pillars.



7 Responses to Resources and ideas for the future

  1. Bianca Dragone says:
    February 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    Sam posted the work that we did on the symposium and lecture series. I was thinking about the readings and the course. I think its important for people to have been acquainted with the two book we read besides the blue sweater. I think that the real work we did in the class, however, did not revolve around discussions like in the first week. What are peoples thoughts on having those who take the class next jterm read the books (not novogratz’s but the other two) prior to the class starting so real work/training can begin? Then again I did find the discussions useful and engaging, but our class only really bonded and we accomplished the most work when we strayed from the traditional discussion format.

  2. Lauren Kelly says:
    February 4, 2012 at 10:37 pm

    I decided to flip through my notes from this j-term and select a few of the highlights/things I most want to remember:

    - Impact measurement and time period/goals are important in determining the success of a SE organization
    - Best way to create positive ecosystem: link personal passions, specific areas/issues in the world, and a community of people involved in the movement
    - “How can we help?” and “Hit the ground listening” – Professor Isham

    From David Hopkins’ workshop:
    - SE = a tool kit to get us a new consciousness worldwide – “The Great Consciousness Shift”
    - What am I passionate about? What is the need I want to address? What skills do I have or can develop? <– answer these three questions and then put them together to create a personal vision statement
    - If you know the why, the how will figure itself out
    - Positive change/impact first starts with the individual – should prioritize individual wellness/happiness/balance etc. (fits with how self-reflection can be empowering)
    - The difference between social entrepreneurship and social innovation = social entrepreneurship is self-sustaining and able to fund work like a business, social innovation does not necessarily make money

    From Charlie MacCormack:
    - Find solutions and scale them up
    - "Do what you love with the people you love to be doing it with"
    - Develop your elevator speech – boil it down – story of self and the power of narrative – simplicity, persuasion and effectiveness

    From Dr. Mike Kiernen:
    - Five secrets to a good persuasive speech:
    1. structure/format
    2. silence and stillness
    3. speech happening inside the listener, if it's happening at all
    4. less is more (i.e. visuals – is something more effective than nothing? let that be a guideline)
    5. surprise the listener
    - Eliminate subtractors
    - Usually there is something inside of you that is better than on a piece of paper – be passionate, genuine and say the thing everyone is thinking

  3. Sophie Gardiner says:
    February 2, 2012 at 10:56 am

    I talked more with Jonathan Miller-Lane the other day and these are some things that came up:
    -we need to come up with a very clear definition. Are we supporting “charity” work (like building a school)? If so, what is the difference between charity and social entrepreneurship?
    -We need to figure out who we will say “no” to.
    -who are we going to reach out to, how do we make sure everyone on campus feels welcome
    -constantly ask ourselves “who is not at the table?”
    -possibly connect with Andi Lloyd who is doing a faculty led initiative on creativity in the curriculum
    -present in front of all the faculty when we have a clear idea of exactly what we are going to be doing

    other things
    -the high school has a poor community service program. while things are slow at first with submissions we could make a great program happen by guiding those great students we met the other week. if we can get them involved in social enterprise work in town, our center builds a foundational connection w the town and the young people living here
    -we need to make a student organization! (asap because we want to be at the activities/in action fair)

  5. Samantha Simas says:
    February 2, 2012 at 8:55 am

    Symposium Focus: ENGAGEMENT
    • Get people engaged in the symposium and excited about it
    • How do we do this?
    1. Interactive activities
     Keep World Café Idea
     Volunteer work through symposium
     Speed-Dating Workshop to get to know entrepreneurs
    • With workshop organizers
    • Or people can talk to each other
     Group challenge throughout course of symposium (business plan, etc)
     Make keynote speakers accessible to the attendees
    • Signups to have private meetings with keynote speakers?
     One or two film screenings about social entrepreneurship projects (possible discussion afterwards)
     Have a nice dinner at 51 Main that has a fee ($10), raffle off tickets to 5-10 students to go for free; generates allure, interest
    • Have faculty, speakers attend
    • ONLY THING WITH A FEE ASSOCIATED
    o $ going to MCSE or a particular social entrepreneurship group (Acumen Fund, etc)
     Get student groups: A Capella, etc, involved
     Lunch Activity
    • Have people sit at tables based on interests such at education, sustainability, energy, human health, etc
     Blank sheets on walls for feedback
    • With guide questions
    o Whom should we invite to the next symposium?
    o What sectors would you like to see represented at symposium?
    o Which activity was the most valuable?
    2. Talks – Hands-on workshops, although this is up to the speakers themselves
     Have two separate blocks so that people could go to two workshops instead of one
     Have a prof talk about liberal arts
     Isham/Liebowitz/someone who represents Middlebury talk about the center, etc
    Lecture Series
    • Partner with departments at Midd to give senior majors the opportunity to present/lecture at Midd or other partner institutions
    • Grant winners have opportunity to talk
    • Maybe one per month at different institutions
    • Free for students, small fee for public/others?
    • Record talks and post to blog (TED talk-ish)
    • Midd alumni/alumni from other involved institutions involved in social entrepreneurship
    • One or two social entrepreneurs in residence at Midd

    General Wishlist of Speakers:
    1. Richard Barth – KIPP Foundation (education)
    2. Daniel Epstein – Unreasonable Institute (training)
    3. William Foote – Root Capital (Financing)
    4. Sam Goldman – d.light design (solar lights)
    5. Terri Ludwig – Enterprise Community Partners/Accion USA (affordable housing/microfinance)
    6. Linda Rottenberg – Endeavor (international entrepreneurship)
    7. John Wood – Room to Read (education)
    8. Martin Fisher and Nick Moon – Kickstart (low-cost/high-impact products)
    9. Jane Chen – Embrace
    10. Majora Carter – Majora Carter Group

  6. Isabel Tyler says:
    February 1, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    Fellowships

    -present their ideas in a blog, in a video, or at the symposium
    → use videos as promo/marketing tool to show what we’ve already done and how much further we can go with the Center – also to inspire others

    -start with just Middlebury students this summer, then move on to just Ashoka U schools (we’re already part of this community), then possibly just NESCAC **start small

    -we should not limit a certain amount of projects to just Middlebury students, but there may be alumns who donate who specifically want the money to go Middlebury students or some type of project – honor that

    -should we have some award for the most inspirational/successful projects? If so, how do we measure this? Could provide incentive to stay strong throughout the project

    -have other schools who are doing similar granting refer their clients to us if they don’t fit and we refer to them if they don’t fit with us → some sort of system/partnership

    -should we give only to individuals who have done the Davis Peace Projects for this first year? Could be a way for them to follow through with their project and scale it up & we know they’re legit and invested in the idea

    -do we have any sort of consulting / research partner fee for the clients – money could go into the center/grants

    -do we actually invest in their projects expecting some percentage of return that goes back into the center? Could be viable for the more advanced, older fellowship projects that will be making money out of their business/venture

    -identify someone in their community with who they will work – we should contact that person directly (except for extenuating circumstances)

    *in the beginning, we want high quality and low quantity of applications *

    -would Delta / other airline provide these applicants/clients money to send them to us before giving the grant and after? Maybe we do some sort of exchange/promotion for them?

    -Middlebury students could invest in these projects to put their various interests (econ/sustainable investing/math) to work – helps recruit more Middlebury interest and helps the clients with money for their projects

    -as the oldest grantees, should they start some sort of forum where younger/other aspiring social entrepreneurs can contact them about their own projects once they have completed their project?

  7. Ian Cameron says:
    February 1, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    Youth Grants – Ian and Yen

    -Criteria List
    -Estimated expenses
    -Business plan
    -Adult supervision / cooperation
    -Application
    – Question and Answer Section
    – Matching / Other Fundraising
    – Grading Metric
    – Coordinate with training team

    Requirements for funding:

    - Youth led and organized
    – Strong leadership skills
    - Consistent with mission statement
    - Make a difference in the community / Have a measurable impact
    – Clearly stated and attainable goals
    – Timeline of how/when these goals will be achieved
    - Designed to either have a long term problem solving focus or a specific short term event goal
    – (Or short term event goal that will have long lasting impact- raises issues)
    - Creativity
    – Different & original ideas
    - Diversity
    - Show strong team effort with adult partnership
    - Logistics/Transportation/Feasibility
    - Matching funds/Ally (Building space, ect.)

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