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"What do we want … to change the world! When do we want it … now!" This chant, led by Seth Green, founder of Americans for Informed Democracy (AID), captivated the immense passion and energy at the "Social Entrepreneurship and Global Change" summit held Saturday at Boston College.
Prominent speakers from a variety of fields attended the conference, which focused on leaders who want to take a business approach to social change.
"I wanted to bring together people from across the region to share a common progress and positive attitude. Hopefully, people left with a better idea of where their entrepreneurial inclinations could lead them, and aware that there are hundreds of others just like them, willing to do the work it takes to make positive and systemic change in the world," said Katie Sellers, BC '08, who organized the event in conjunction with the AID branch at BC.
More than 180 students and alumni from colleges spanning the Northeast sacrificed an entire Saturday to learn more about the newly coined "social entrepreneurship."
Regardless of their diverse majors, the students' the excitement for the cause filled Fulton Hall in support of AID, an organization that aims to empower young leaders in taking up global initiatives, such as AIDS awareness, poverty, and the environment.
"Give yourself permission to do great things," said Fernande Raine, "changeleader" and managing director of Talent at Ashoka, in her empowering keynote address.
Raine noted several trends that have had a substantial impact on the implementation of social change: the rise in connectivity, the boom in citizen-driven (nonprofit) organizations, and the increasing success of the social sector.
Insisting that "social entrepreneurship is not just a fad," she encouraged students to keep their vision and continue to organize others even if they are hindered by skeptics. She stressed the importance of viewing those in need as a future middle class and eliminating a solely charitable notion.
Addressing the role of social entrepreneurship in ending poverty, Sandra Waddock, a CSOM professor and Senior Research Fellow at BC Center for Corporate Community Relations, characterized these social entrepreneurs as "difference makers."
They aim to eliminate the gap between the present condition of the world and their idea of what it should be, exhibiting a willingness to take risks regardless of previous financial impediments.
Erika Eurkus, New England Lending director at ACCION USA, stressed the importance of giving people the tools they need to work their way out of poverty, adding that microentrepreneurs in Latin America and Africa have had an astounding repayment rate of 97 percent. Her hand-up, not hand-out strategy really resonated with students.
In addition, José Luis Rojas Villarreal, director of Lending, EcoLogic Finance, works to provide financing to reliable groups that already have good buyer relationships but may be unable to receive a loan from a bank.
He also noted that the time is right for affecting social change with the rise of the conscious consumer, a new breed of importers, and the use of small-scale producers.
Chris Jochnick, director of Private Sector Engagement at Oxfam America, added that the trade and private sector are absolutely critical in helping people come out of poverty.
After the first panel, participants were broken down into smaller groups. Several of the small group leaders had experience in the field, participating in the CSOM-sponsored microfinance trip to Bolivia.
Small group leaders led intense discussions, raising important logistical and ethical questions. Hannah Armstrong, CSOM '08, who has always been dedicated to service, was interested in "being able to take part in these business situations that are for the greater good, creating a win-win situation for everyone."
Jerome Dwight Maryon, president of the Committee on Contemporary Spiritual & Public Concerns, and Mark Orlowski, founder and executive director of Sustainable Endowment Institute, spoke about the necessary role of social entrepreneurship in preserving climate.
"They [corporations] are there to do good for everyone or they shouldn't be there at all," said Maryon, a lawyer by profession. Referencing Descartes, he eloquently encouraged students to apply their minds not only knowingly but lovingly.
"It was really refreshing to hear deeper philosophical questions about what drives us to make social change," said Stephen Lehtonen, an alumnus of the University of California at San Diego and founder of ActionArena.org.
Orlowski spoke about his firm's "College Sustainability Report Card," which annually rates the combined $258 billion endowment of the 100 schools with the largest endowments on their ability to "Go Green." He felt that this was a great way for students to get involved on their campuses, as many schools have already established a shareholder responsibility committee comprised of students.
Students were encouraged to create town hall events, host video conferences, and organize documentary screenings to spread awareness about issues that plague the United States in their eyes. Although AID encourages students to think of new, creative ways to generate awareness and action, the organization also promotes replicating former successful models.
Thus, they will happily provide interested students with a tool kit containing everything to effectively host an event, such as a DVD, posters, and various templates. In addition, AID provides mini-grants and is presently challenging students to create a video to help prevent the spread of malaria.
AID helps to simplify the process for college students who are already pressed for time. Lianne Jacobsen, an undergraduate at Northeastern, felt that it was "that much easier for you to teach people about something you're interested in." She was eager to start an AID chapter at her own university.
"If your life expectancy was 35, would you fight back?" asked Zachary Kaufman, an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, and Nick Collachio of KickAIDS. KickAIDS is an organization that uses soccer players as role models to raise awareness and help prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa. Collachio felt that there was no greater success than to "replace fear and death with hope and life."
The KickAIDS model is easily translatable in other parts of the world, as long as there are successful role models willing to help make a difference in the area.
"The energy was palpable - from complete silence and attentiveness during presentations to the lively, open-minded discussions that ensued," said Emily Krol, A&S '08.
"It is my personal belief that much dialogue, mass education, empathy, and connecting with today's 'change makers' are the vital ingredients to making the visions of a better world a reality." n
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