What Is Social Entrepreneurship?

Learn more about social entrepreneurship at the Midwest Symposium

Social entrepreneurs work to generate “social value” in lieu of, ahead of, or in addition to financial profits. If you think you have an interest in social entrepreneurship, you now have another opportunity to explore it.

The 2014 Midwest Symposium on Social Entrepreneurship, now in its second year, was designed to address this growing area of interest. It is co-hosted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City (through the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management and the Law and Entrepreneurship Program at the UMKC School of Law) and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in collaboration with United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE).

The two-day Symposium will take place on May 19-20 at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center and the Henry W. Bloch Executive Hall for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. It will include workshops developed – and delivered – by leading faculty in the field of social entrepreneurship. Participants will have an opportunity to tap into the experiences and expertise of these individuals.

The workshop sessions include, among several other relevant subjects, Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship, Identifying and Assessing Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities, Funder’s Perspectives on Social Entrepreneurship and Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship. For details on all of the workshops, visit the Midwest Symposium site.

In addition to thought-provoking workshops, many influential and expert leaders in the field of social entrepreneurship are participating in the Symposium.

Breakfast, lunch and reception speakers include:

  • Tom McDonnell, president and CEO, Kauffman Foundation
  • Leo Morton, chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Jeff Hornsby, interim director, Bloch School Regnier Institute
  • Honorable Sly James, mayor of Kansas City
  • Peter deSilva, on behalf of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
  • Janice Kreamer, chairman of the board, Kauffman Foundation.

Several of the Symposium workshops coincide with modules in the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Program offered and administered by USASBE. The Certificate Program is designed to be of value to educators interested in teaching courses and participating in other programs on social entrepreneurship, as well as to principals and consultants interested in the planning and implementation of social ventures. Details and registration information are available at USASBE Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship.

The Symposium also includes the Aaron L. Levitt Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, showcasing socially-entrepreneurial initiatives developed by students working in collaboration with community initiatives. This is the second year of the challenge, a program designed to stimulate social entrepreneurship and innovative civic leadership. It will take place on Tuesday afternoon at the Bloch Executive Hall.

The six teams will present their ventures to judges, who will rate the initiatives on feasibility and potential for long-term community benefit and impact.

To register for the Symposium, visit Midwest Symposium.

 


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