Community - Social Entrepreneurship in Urban America

Robert L. Caldwell Director-Institute for Urban Public Policy The National Center for Urban Solutions

www.ncusoultions.org

Social Entrepreneurship in Urban America

Institute for Urban Public Policy To connect

Research, Policy and Practice in ways that work to empower people mired in the cycle of generational poverty to transform their lives and their communities

Research

Change Practice

Policy

Institute for Urban Public Policy 

The Problem

The “Charity” Assumption

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For decades well intended programs of public and private social service institutions have had a mixed impact on the poor living in urban communities While some have had a positive impact, most (programs) have had a devastating negative impact, often consigning families to remain mired in the cycle of poverty for generations

Institute for Urban Public Policy 

The Problem

The “Charity” Assumption



Programs with positive impacts operate with an “asset” assumption that people can do for themselves, and offer support/resources while requiring personal investment and personal responsibility Programs with negative impacts operate from a “charity” (or deficit) assumption that people cannot do for themselves, and offer support without requiring personal investment and personal responsibility

Institute for Urban Public Policy 

The Problem

The “Charity” Assumption 

While there is a place for charity, (particularly when people truly cannot do for themselves), the “charity” assumption does not empower. It strips people of dignity and negatively impacts selfefficacy Additionally its effect demands that an unsustainable amount of resources continue to be invested in programs/services that do not empower people to liberate themselves from the cycle of poverty

Institute for Urban Public Policy 

The Problem

The “Charity” Assumption



Work to alleviate poverty in urban communities must transition from the social services and the “charity” assumption To economic development, and the assumption that people can liberate themselves from the cycle of poverty when empowered to do so

Institute for Urban Public Policy Policy Agenda To move the work to alleviate poverty in urban communities from social services to economic development

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Poverty is not a social problem…

Poverty is an economic problem… with social consequences

Institute for Urban Public Policy Policy Agenda To move the work to alleviate poverty in urban communities from social services to economic development

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Through economic development we can provide low/no income families real opportunities for economic self-sufficiency This is not charity, this is a strategic investment in people that is both the solution to the problem of poverty in urban America, and a way to grow a productive local (and national) economy.

Social Entrepreneurship in Urban America

My Story…

Apollo 13 The Movie…

Social Entrepreneurship in Urban America

Understanding the Poverty Problem in Urban America

The Dominant Culture effect‌

Community Engagement & Service Delivery People mired in generational poverty …

Program & Service Staffing Program & Service Development

What people see & react to…

What people do not see or understand…

Corporate/Government/Institutional

Values, Polices, & Procedures

Socio-Economic System

Dominant Culture Values

Social Entrepreneurship in Urban America

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Dominant Culture Privilege

Exercise # 1: Understanding Dominant Culture effect‌

Community Engagement & Service Delivery People mired in generational poverty…

Program & Service Staffing Program & Service Development

What people see & react to…

What people do not see or understand…

Corporate/Government/Institutional

Values, Polices, & Procedures

Socio-Economic System

Dominant Culture Values

Problem Community Impacts Society at large…

Individual & Family Reaction

What people see & react to…

Public/Private Behavior No Living Wage Employment Opportunities / Sub Standard Housing

Low/No Academic or Vocational Training Low /No Economic Literacy

Low sense of Personal/Spiritual Value

What people do not see or understand…

Alleviating Poverty through “Social-Entrepreneurship”

Social Work is • about capacity building in people Entrepreneurship is • about applying business acumen to achieve targeted outcomes

Alleviating Poverty through “Social-Entrepreneurship�

To alleviate poverty in urban communities Social Entrepreneurship must combine these two focuses to build capacity in people towards the targeted outcome of Economic Self-Sufficiency

Alleviating Poverty through “Social-Entrepreneurship”

There is a formula that must be embedded in any poverty alleviating enterprise to assure the greatest opportunity for people to achieve Economic Self Sufficiency…

What is it?

PD + PI +TCS = PT Robert L. Caldwell Director – Institute for Urban Public Policy VP, Professional Training & Development The National Center for Urban Solutions (614) 857-1811 RCaldwell@NCUSolutions.org www.NCUSolutions.org