Social Innovation and UNH: A Can't-Miss Talk with Yusi Turell

Last Updated on Tuesday, September 27 2011 09:32

We here at Idea Greenhouse love all entrepreneurs with all kinds of goals, profitmaking among them. But the businesses and startups that get us most excited are those that are "socially innovative" as a fundamental pillar of their thinking and doing.

So what is "social innovation?" Ask Founding Life Member Yusi Turell, and you'll get a concise, powerful explanation:

"Social innovation combines the passion and purpose of a social or environmental mission with the rigor and accountability of a market-based approach to enterprise design, financing, and operations."

Yusi is an enthusiastic champion for "social entrepreneurism" in the Seacoast and everywhere else. She's recently joined the University of New Hampshire to help create a new Center for Social Innovation and Community Finance, jointly housed in UNH's Whittemore School of Business and the Carsey Institute.

Yusi and the Center's founder, Professor Michael Swack, will be speaking next Tuesday 4/26 in Portsmouth. If you're interested in the emerging field of social entrepreneurialism, innovation, and "doing well by doing good," then get there next Tuesday.

Details from the UNH Alumni Assocation:

Please join the UNH Seacoast Alumni Chapter for our next Executive Forum Breakfast on Tuesday, April 26, at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel. Come network with fellow alumni, meet new business leaders and enjoy hearing from our university speakers.

Social Enterprise Models that Promote Change—with speakers Michael Swack and Yusi Turell. Social enterprises are enterprises that both set and measure financial and social goals. One of the problems that social enterprises face is in trying to solve large problems with small-scale solutions; these innovations can only make a difference for a few of the people who could use their solution. Professor Michael Swack of WSBE and the Carsey Institute and Yusi Turell of the Carsey Institute will explore some examples of social enterprises and what they can learn from traditional enterprise about growing to scale. They will also present information on a new UNH Center for Social Innovation and Community Finance and facilitate a conversation on the Center's relevance to UNH alumni.

Excited to learn more? Have a socially-innovative business (or business-like nonprofit) and want to connect? Then connect with the Center and Yusi, and let your great idea grow!