I am a
Green Social entrepreneur and the CEO of Phoenix Green Energy & Phoenix
Business Academy, As an award winning Social entrepreneur I apply an entrepreneurial approach
to addressing social issues and creating positive community change. In its most
narrow definition, it means non-profits acting entrepreneurially and earning
some of their revenues through selling goods and services instead of relying
solely on grant writing and donations. In its broader sense – the definition
that I embrace – As a Green Social entrepreneur and Green social
enterprise we involves the business sector in mentoring or investing in
social enterprise, or moving beyond corporate social responsibility to start
its own social enterprises.
Who is SE
for?
Successful
social enterprise is an effective way
for community-based organizations to become more self-sustaining by
generating income through the sale of services and/or products in the
marketplace, particularly as increasing numbers of organizations compete for
shrinking (£) Pounds in the form of donations and grants. Finally,
self-reliance through social enterprise presents these organizations with
freedom and control to fulfil their mission and mandates, and reduces time
spent fundraising and reporting to funders.
There is a need for organizations
/ businesses to assist those who are typically excluded from economic and civic
participation to acquire necessary skills and job experience to become
contributing and included members of the community. Examples of marginalized /
excluded individuals include youth-at-risk, new immigrants, those with
disabilities, and transitioning inmates. Social enterprise is an effective way
to provide an opportunity to overcome
the obstacles of the marginalized in becoming meaningfully employed.
Social Aims
Social Enterprises have
explicit social and/or environmental aims such as job creation, training or the
provision of local services. Their ethical values may include a commitment to
building skills in local communities. Their profits are principally reinvested
to achieve their social objectives.
Many social enterprises are
also characterised by their social ownership. They are autonomous organisations
whose governance and ownership structures are normally based on participation
by stakeholder groups (eg employees, users, clients, local community groups and
social investors) or by trustees or directors who control the enterprise on
behalf of a wider group of stakeholders. They are accountable to their
stakeholders and the wider community for their social, environmental and
economic impact. Profits can be distributed as profit sharing to stakeholders
or used for the benefit of the community