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Speaker encourages activism

Human Ecology director asks business students to partake in ‘social entrepreneurship’

Jeanan Yasiri, director for the Center for Non-Profits at the School of Human Ecology, told University of Wisconsin students Tuesday social entrepreneurship is an exciting endeavor to perform on campus.

“Social entrepreneurship is defined as an entrepreneur who engages business seeking in both financial and social return,” Yasiri said. “The term actually emerged in the 1970s and became more heavily used then after.”

According to Yasiri, significant differences exist between entrepreneurial ventures and a small business venture.

Entrepreneurialism can be distinguished in four ways: amount of wealth created, speed of wealth creation, risk and innovation.

“Those that have innovative ideas and the desire to advance them to produce social change are characteristics of social entrepreneurs,” Yasiri said. “One of the best known social entrepreneurs is Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh. Yunus distributed loans called microcredits to needy individuals in his country and then went on to establish the Grameen Bank.”

Yasiri identified other well-known social entrepreneurs including Oprah Winfrey, Paul Newman and Robert Redford. These three celebrities have made social impacts through their entrepreneurial skills.

Ann Whisner, coordinator for the Morgridge Center for Public Service’s civic engagement, said she is sponsoring a public service fair today in collaboration with College of Letters and Science.

“The public service fair has over 80 nonprofit and governmental organizations promoting their volunteer internships and career opportunities,” Whisner said. “This is actually our first year hosting the social entrepreneurship workshop.”

According to Whisner, the Morgridge Center helps students find opportunities to broadly define service and engage in the community.

“I hope students have a better understanding of social entrepreneurship and how to move to public service action in their own life,” she said. “I hope students are inspired by the speakers tonight.”

Brandon Gador, a recent UW graduate who majored in business, and UW senior Ted Durkee, a mechanical engineering major, spoke on behalf Powered Green, their environmentally conscious social entrepreneurial project.

Gador said he and his partner wanted to create an easy way for students on campus to get involved with environmentalism.

“By purchasing a Powered Green sticker to put on their laptops, students can show their commitment to get involved with renewable energy and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” Gador said.

According to Durkee, Powered Green has made noteworthy accomplishments since its launch.

“When you add it all up, we have prevented half a million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions,” he said. “Also, when people see that you are not just in it for the dollar bills, people are more willing to help.”

Both Gador and Durkee agree attaining success with Powered Green was a result of overcoming obstacles through their interest in producing social change.