Social Enterprise Development Program

2007 Social Enterprise Development Program: From Ideas to Action

Social Entrepreneurs often have more ideas than they can realistically implement. How do you know which idea is the most likely to succeed? How do you go from a hundred ideas to the implementation of that one key idea? Are you even ready for social enterprise and the changes it will inspire?

The Centre for Social Innovation is partnering with Aperio to offer a nine-session course that will help you transform your social enterprise idea into a grounded and achievable action plan. Using best practices, case studies and practical examples from the group, this course will provide a framework to help you develop earned income strategies that balance financial and social goals. The Program begins in January and participants will meet once or twice a month until May. All sessions will be held at the Centre for Social Innovation, Toronto.

To apply or to learn more about the program, please send an email to maria@socialinnovation.ca. Please note that space is limited to 20 participants.

Business as unusual: Last call for proposals for the Seed Award 2007!

The Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development Environment (Seed) Initiative calls for proposals from locally driven, partnerships that promote economic growth, social development, and environmental stewardship for the second round of its biennial award. Applications for the award are due to the Seed Secretariat no later than October 15, 2006.

The Seed Initiative, established at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, promotes the important contributions local entrepreneurial partnerships are making towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The finalists will be announced in the late fall of 2006 with the winners announced at a ceremony during the 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York, May 2007.

The Seed Award is a global competition designed to publicly recognize and support “business as unusual” - innovative, entrepreneurial partnerships that promote economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship. Through the provision of targeted services, support, training and exposure to additional networks, the Seed Initiative helps winners bring their initiatives to fruition.

Application forms can be filled in online or downloaded from the Seed Initiative website at http://www.seedinit.org/. If you are unable to submit your application electronically, please call the Seed Awards Hotline at +49 30 – 89 000 68 99.

Further details are available online at http://www.seedinit.org/mainpages/awards/intro.
Seed Awards Channel Support
c/o Adelphi Consult
Caspar-Theyss-Str. 14a
D-14193 Berlin
Fon: +49 30 - 89 000 68 99
Fax: +49 30 - 89 000 68 15
Web: http://www.seedinit.org/
Mail: seed2007@adelphi-consult.com

Understanding the Social Economy

The Canadian Social Economy Hub recently compiled a collection of case studies to illustrate the Social Economy in Canada. Download the PDF (1Mb) booklet at:

http://www.socialeconomynetwork.ca/hub/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/understandingthese_csehub_sept06.pdf

Laurie Mook
Director, Social Economy Centre
SSHRC Social Economy Suite, Southern Ontario Regional Node
OISE/University of Toronto
http://socialeconomy.utoronto.ca