The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) 2013 was an inspiring three-day conference held in Calgary that gathered the best and brightest in this space from
Now I may be a bit biased given that it was hosted in Canada, but I honestly believe this was the best Social Enterprise World
We are trying something a little different this Spring and we can’t wait for you to join us!
Enp-AB is pleased to partner with enp-Canada and Innoweave to offer three exciting events to assist you on your social enterprise journey. We hope that these three opportunities will offer organizations at different stages in the social enterprise development path an opportunity to learn more and provide them with the resources they need to continue on the social enterprise path.
At its core, social enterprise embodies two elements: the passion for addressing social challenges and the generation of market-based revenues in support of that social purpose. Regardless of whether the social enterprise is an individual or an organization, regardless of their choice of incorporation – non-profit or for-profit, these two elements are the driving force.
Those two elements aren’t just identifiers. It is the conjunction of those two elements, bringing together the power markets and social purpose, which is at the heart of the incredible promise of social enterprise. While it has always been assumed that business activity produces an indirect benefit to its community (e.g. through employment and tax revenue), social enterprise brings the power of ‘social’ more deeply into the business world, daring to ask what profits could be made and advances could be achieved if businesses embedded in their value propositions a commitment to directly solve the world’s biggest and most perplexing social challenges. For social organizations, social enterprise brings the power of markets to make them more financially sustainable and take their social impact to the next level.
The Social EnterPrize awards were created to recognize and celebrate leadership and excellence in social entrepreneurship across Canada. This year these awards were presented to four organizations at the 2013 Social Enterprise World Forum.
Calgary Counselling Centre provides compassionate, professional and affordable counselling services for Calgarians. As a leader in research and counsellor training in Canada since 1962, the Centre is committed to supporting a multiplicity of needs by offering a “barrier free” sliding scale pay system for their counselling services to individuals and families in Calgary and nearby communities.
cSPACE Projects is a non-profit real estate enterprise and urban development organization that is re-imagining a network of affordable, sustainable and collaborative work spaces across Calgary. Their mission is to foster creativity, fuel innovative thinking and ignite change by connecting and supporting individual artists and small non-profit organizations within the Calgary community.
Vecova is a disability services and research organization connecting disabled individuals with employment opportunity and community involvement. Their multiple social enterprises, including an onsite Recreation Facility and Bottle Recycling Depot, operate as distinct businesses that reflect their social purpose of creating jobs and demonstrating inclusiveness as a successful business practice.
Fireworks Cooperative deals in the business of hospitality by providing women and girls who have left or who are at risk of sexual exploitation with life enriching programs and job training opportunities through their non-profit agency Servants Anonymous Society and event space Venu1008.
The Cerebral Palsy Collection Crew, by the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta (CPAA), turns donated used clothing, small household items and recycled bottles into revenue that supports the many programs and services they provide for Albertans affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities.