Niagara Social Enterprise Forum 2016

On Saturday, January 30, social entrepreneurs* across the region will gather to co-create what Social Entrepreneurship/Enterprise will look like in Niagara in 2016. *A social entrepreneur is someone who finds creative and sustainable solutions to the world's problems.

The Niagara Social Enterprise Forum will bring together current and aspiring social entrepreneurs, and the organizations who support them, to build a social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Niagara that will stimulate economic development and positive social/environmental impact.

The forum will provide context for social entrepreneurship and engage participants in the co-creation of learning – What do we know about social enterprise?; What do we need to learn more about (knowledge gaps in Niagara)?; How can social entrepreneurs access resources?; How will we cultivate a social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Niagara?

9:00 – 9:30 Registration & coffee station

9:30 – 10:30 Welcome & keynote speaker

10:30 – 12:00 Networking & small group discussions

12:00 – 12:30 Lunch buffet

12:30 – 2:00 Co-creation session

2:00 – 2:30 Co-creation calendar of events

2:30 – 3:00 Next steps & adjournment

Keynote Speaker

Sean Campbell, Director of Scaled Purpose, an agency driven to scale the social and environmental impact of social purpose organizations. Sean has worked as a social entrepreneurship mentor and program leader at the University of Waterloo’s GreenHouse incubator, a program development consultant for the David Suzuki Foundation, and policy research lead at Sustainable Waterloo Region

Co-creation Facilitator

The forum will be facilitated by Angela Carter, Angela Carter Enterprises. Angela is a certified facilitator, instructor and business coach/consultant. Angela has spent the past 15 years mobilizing businesses, organizations and individuals to achieve outstanding results in areas that are critical to their success.

Register today! Tickets are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

If the ticket price and/or transportation is a barrier please contact Jennifer.sinclair@niagaracommunityfoundation.org

We would like to acknowledge our sponsors and community partners who have come together to support this initiative. These partners include:

• RBC Foundation / Futurpreneur
• Niagara College Canada
• Enactus Niagara College
• Ontario Centres of Excellence
• Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs
• Brock University BioLinc
• Niagara Youth Entrepreneurship Network
• Niagara Region
• Niagara Prosperity Initiative
• Niagara Community Foundation
• Cowork Niagara
• St Catharines Enterprise Centre
• Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre
• Leadership Niagara
• United Way of St. Catharines & District
• Business Education Council of Niagara
• Niagara Workforce Planning Board
• Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
• Chimpanzee

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Do you want to build a business that earns you an income and makes a lasting social impact?

A growing number of entrepreneurs are learning how to change the world and build their business at the same time. Nonprofits are learning how to incorporate lines of business that not only improve their sustainability, but also directly relate to their mission. Co-operative businesses, where the members are also the owners, are thriving as they offer services in markets where profitability isn’t the only measure of success. For-Profit businesses are finding new markets where improving the social need is the business plan.

These are all social enterprises, and you too can learn how to build one.

We’re looking for Niagara’s leaders in this space. Organizations who provide services to business. Organizations who work with nonprofits. Groups who work with co-operative businesses. People looking to build businesses, and those who support people who do.

Students and young people are especially open to developing these types of business. Instead of choosing between doing good and doing well, these new Niagara social entrepreneurs understand that they can build something that accomplishes both.

On Saturday, January 30, social entrepreneurs* across the region will gather to co-create what Social Entrepreneurship/Enterprise will look like in Niagara in 2016. Register today!