Social Enterprise

Social Enterprises are organizations that are "for profit", but not entirely for profit, because they are responsible to the community, and perhaps even focused on the community. Some believe that the focus on profit and the reward to "owners" should be limited.

Here is information from one group: https://www.se-alliance.org/what-is-social-enterprise

This working group is focused on discussing what we believe is an appropriate Social Enterprise. This will include discussing what we, as a group, think are good "guiding principles" for Social Enterprises.

There are and will probably be more Social Enterprises that start up operations in and around OB. For a list of these, please go here Social Enterprise List

MEETING: Wednesday 2/22, location/time TBD. Write to Terra @ volunteer@occupyboston.org. Probably at E5, but no confirmation on space availability yet. Scroll down for meeting detail.

NOTE

So far, there appear to be three groups emerging with different focuses and working gruops. Here's our best guess at how this is evolving:

1. [Sustainable Economy] Policy Working Group - What the business world should look like and what public and private policies can be implemented to realize that vision.

2. [Social Enterprise Working Group] - What the standards are that make an individual business "sustainable"

3. [Social Enterprises] (S.Ent) - The actual operations of Occupy Boston affiliated Social Enterprises

4. Consumer Action - How we can coordinate consumer spending to influence individual firms or industries to improve their social and environmental impact. (list of direct action ideas is coming...if you're from Direct Action, tell us where to put these, please)

Contact: elise.moussa @ gmail.com

FEB 2/22, meeting one

WHAT: People interested in talking about: - Social Enterprise business development - what it takes to get started - what resources are available.

WHERE: Tbd...hopefully E5

WHO: You?

On Wednesday, I'll be meeting with a couple people from the Sustainable Economy Working Group, and Terry Mollner, see bio below. Other professionals that are offering their time pro bono may be there too. I'm also hunting down a couple more responsible investment groups, in the hopes that they can send people too. The goal is to get people thinking. And plan for a larger event that could draw lots of Social Enterprises, people starting them, and folks that bring money, services, etc.

Please let me know if you're coming, so I can make sure that the room is big enough. Also, if you know people that are interested in helping people start Social Enterprises, please let me know, so they can get on the agenda. There will be time set for people to introduce themselves. But if there are specific topics that they bring to the table, like legal experience, business planning, access to capital or other resources, that would be helpful to know.

Here's Terry Mollner's bio: Founder of the Calvert Socially Responsible Investment Fund & Foundation Founder & Executive Director of Trusteeship Institute (Promotes Mahatma Gandhi’s Economic Ideas), Member of the Board of Ben & Jerry’s. Chair of StakeHolders Capital, Inc. in Amherst, MA, a socially responsible asset management firm, a founder in 1982 and member of the board of the Calvert Social Investment Funds, Inc. ($6 billion under management), a founder of the Calvert Foundation that raises low interest capital from the public and invests it in low income housing and microloan programs around the world ($550 million under management) and a member of the Board of Directors of Ben & Jerry's. He was part of a team that secured a contract with Unilever when they bought it that allowed the board of directors to maintain ownership of the social mission and brand integrity, the only socially responsible company bought by a multinational to secure such a contract. Since 1973 he has been the Executive Director of Trusteeship Institute, Inc. that promotes Mahatma Gandhi’s economic ideas. He is also one of the founders of two intentional communities of friends. He has just finished a book, The Love Skill: We Are Mastering the 7 Layers of Human Maturity.

http://stakeholderscapital.com/

I'm hunting down a couple more investment groups and lawyers. So if you know of any that should be invited, please let me know.