From mowing lawns to meeting needs of the marginalized, young Vincentian and Catholic social entrepreneurs grow up. Read more about de Paul University students and the prominent place of Catholic univiersities in the movement to serve the world and make a profit.
Kris Berggren covers an emerging story “Social Entrepreneurs: Compassionate Capitalists” in the
May 30, 2008 issues of the National Catholic Reporter
She writes
There is a fast-growing culture of “social entrepreneurs,†people who apply technological and business skills to humanitarian projects. Social entrepreneurs bring creative management and marketing into the do-gooder territory long inhabited by social workers, activists and others trying to bring about change.
Although Americans have always admired entrepreneurs, those tenacious go-getters with a sixth sense for the next big thing, today’s 18- to 24-year-old “millennials†are more likely to admire — or become — social entrepreneurs like Hanna, who find their rewards in the intersection between doing well and doing good. You might call them compassionate capitalists.
What follows highlights especially some Vincentian aspects of the story.
In a project dear to the hearts of the more than 200 members of the Vincentian Family who gathered in New Orleans last April she describes the work of Lucas Weingarten, 31, a DePaul University MBA student who has volunteered as a consultant to New Orleans nonprofits
She quote him “People wonder, ‘How can you say you are serving society and you are getting rich off of it?’ That might be a little myopic. Not that I want to get rich off it, but you absolutely have to be profitable.”
Other Vincentian related passages…
Campbell, a marketing and public relations major at DePaul University, just launched a business, GreenWerks, Inc., providing ecofriendly contractor and remodeling services in the Chicago area. “I really think going green is going to be the next industrial revolution for the U.S. economy, as it’s begun to be in the [United Kingdom],†he said.
“Ever since a young age, I have always been the one mowing the neighbor’s lawn or having the lemonade stand,†he said. He credits his studies, including ethics and a class in sustainable lifestyles, with helping to sharpen his focus to a business aimed at creating solutions “that are cost-effective and for the greater good.â€
The article provides rich illustrations on the prominent role of Catholic universities and colleges and the role that faith plays in these compassionate capitalists.
There is much more in this NCR story so please visit the Source http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1075
Th original story has links to other sources.
Tags: Anti-poverty strategies, social entrepreneurship, Youth
