The SE program at the College of Wooster began 2010 in a growth mode. The SE program is an experiential learning seminar that trains students to work as consultants for social enterprises and NGOs. This year there are two parts to the program, a local seminar/internship and a global experience.
The local seminar is 12 students and a small group of teaching faculty. The are working for a variety of Northeast Ohio non-profits. The four projects this semester are:
- The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. Deliverable: Create a marketing plan.
- Wayne County Board of Education. Deliverable: Develop, scope and sequence a technology-focused (in service) Waiver Day for 2010.
- Every Woman’s House. Deliverable: A process analysis for an intervention program, and
- Goodwill of Wayne and Holmes County. Deliverable: Write a business plan for a new venture.
These projects are advised by Dr. Lisa Verdon (Economics), Dr. Matthew Broda (Education) and Ms. Theresa Ford (Director of Assessment), Dr Jen Roche (Mathematics) and finally Dr. Russ Ormiston (Economics).
Global SE is an inter-cultural, inter-generational, experiential-learning, problem-based experience with two components – an on-campus seminar and an international experiential-learning consultancy. This experience was designed and developed by Wooster students last year. Facilitated by Moledina, a group of eight students, selected from a group of 25 of the best applicants to the program, are preparing to consult with social enterprises in Bangalore. They will work with Dream-a Dream and Enable India beginning in May 2010 and be supported by a local capacity building enterprise called the Center for Social Initiatives and Management.
- Dream a Dream seeks to empower children from vulnerable backgrounds by developing life skills and at the same time sensitizing the community through active volunteering leading to a non-discriminatory society where unique differences are appreciated.
- Enable India seeks to empower people with disabilities by offering training and job placement services.
To prepare themselves students partake in inter-cultural training, designing their own curriculum within the parameters of the project and are attending a heady number of seminars and on campus events. Part of the class is a series of guest lectures. For example, Noreena Hertz a Professor from the Judge School of Business in Cambridge, England will speak on Co-op capitalism. In 2000, The Observer described Hertz as ‘one of the world’s leading young thinkers’; in 2001 Management Today named her amongst the top 35 women under 35, and Vogue magazine named her ‘one of the world’s most inspiring women’. Students will also meet Matthew Bishop, American Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief for The Economist. Philanthrocapitalism, his 2008 book (with Michael Green) on the business of philanthropy was described as “terrific” by the New York Times, and called “the definitive guide to a new generation of philanthropists who understand innovation and risk-taking and who will play a crucial part in solving the biggest problems facing the world,”
The SE program also designed a Social Venture Capital Clinic for students and clients. We welcomed Nell Edgington of Social Velocity, Jennifer Thomas of the Civic Innovation Lab and other notable speakers on January 30th in historic Kauke Hall in Wooster. The Clinic gave SE students and clients the opportunity to learn about HOW social enterprises fund their mission. Through interactive workshops led by practitioners, participants understood and gained practical tools to access the variety of financing options that exist for social ventures including non-profits. Some tips from the Clinic have already convinced some students to access funding from Sparkseed.
Finally, the SE program will jointly fund summer fellowships in innovative urban gardening projects in Northeast Ohio. Stay tuned for announcements.
