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The Center for Transformative Action is thrilled to announce the first annual "Finger Lakes Social Entrepreneurship Institute" to be held at Cornell University from Thursday, September 13 to Saturday, September 15, 2012.
Social entrepreneurs are creating thriving social ventures by redefining what for-profit and nonprofit means. They bridge social and ideological differences because they know that listening for shared values, common objectives, and opportunities for mutual benefit help to create local economies that are just, sustainable, and work for everyone.
The Institute will bring together new and experienced social entrepreneurs to share best practices and co-create new possibilities. Using the book "The Business Model Generation" as a guide, participants will come together from all over the region to learn how to reinvent their mission-driven enterprises to have greater social impact while meeting the financial, environmental and social challenges of today.
The Institute will offer dozens of workshops and panels, including: how to blend for-profit and nonprofit purposes; developing networks for local investing; taking a holistic approach to grant writing; identifying mentors and key partners; evaluating and communicating impact; and co-creating inclusive community leadership, all while learning how to use equity as the driver for growth.
Our goals are:
- To provide practical skills to new and experienced social entrepreneurs to create thriving nonprofit and for-profit social ventures.
- To develop a cadre of regional social entrepreneurs with the tools to create diverse, financially sound, and ecologically sustainable ventures that prioritize equity.
- To empower people of color, low-income individuals, and young people to become successful social entrepreneurs.
- To create a robust, supportive regional network of nonprofit and for-profit social entrepreneurs who are contributing to local, sustainable, and just economies that have equity as the driver for growth.
The fee for the entire three-day Institute is $275, and includes access to all workshops and panels, a local foods breakfast and lunch on Friday and Saturday, plus snacks and drinks throughout the weekend. All participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the Institute.
Online registration for the institute is now open with Early Bird tickets. Register by July 15 to receive 10% off the conference price for a total price of $247.50. From July 16-August 24, registrations will cost $275. After August 24, online registrations will be closed.
Register here: http://flseinstitute.eventbrite.com/
The Institute opens Thursday September 13 at 3:00 pm, with registration and hors d'oeuvres. The opening plenary starts at 7:00 pm, and is free and open to the public: "The Promise of Social Entrepreneurship: Creating a Local Economy that Works for Everyone." The conference runs until Saturday at 7:00 pm. A schedule of events (subject to change) can be found here.
More details on the Institute will be updated regularly at the following link: http://centerfortransformativeaction.org/SE-Institute.html.
Follow us on twitter for updates on the Institute as well as special announcements: @TransformAction.
Some scholarships are available. For more information or to request a scholarship, please contact CTA Executive Director Anke Wessels, 607-255-5027, or email her.
Confirmed co-sponsors include: the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research, Entrepreneurship@Cornell, the Iscol Family Program for Leadership Development in Public Service, Singlebrook Technology, the Society for Social Entrepreneurship and Collaborative Action, Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming, the Cayuga LION, the Cornell PopShop, Buffalo Street Books, TFC Associates, New Roots Charter School, and Local First Ithaca.
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The Center for Transformative Action (CTA) helps to create communities that work for everyone. We do this by providing fiscal sponsorship to innovative social change agents in New York State, as well as financial, human resources, and grants management services. CTA is an educational non-profit organization affiliated with Cornell University.
