Incompass Michigan, in partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) is excited to announce a webinar series focused on Social Enterprise.

This series will include training and roundtable components, designed to inspire and educate small business owners on the many facets of social enterprise, with an emphasis on Employment-Related Social Enterprises.

What is a social enterprise?

Social enter­pris­es are rev­enue-gen­er­at­ing busi­ness­es with a mis­sion. Whether it’s pro­vid­ing access to healthy food, expand­ing health care ser­vices, or help­ing indi­vid­u­als enter­ing or return­ing to the work­force, social enter­pris­es use their prof­its and busi­ness prac­tices to address a soci­etal need. Though these enter­pris­es can take many forms across many indus­tries, they ulti­mate­ly exist to serve the com­mon good.

Why the partnership?

In Michigan, the landscape of workforce integration presents a formidable challenge, particularly for marginalized populations such as individuals with disabilities and returning citizens. Creating pathways for employment through social enterprise will uplift and empower these underserved communities and also foster a more equitable and resilient economic landscape for all Michiganders.

Session 1: April 12

10:00 TRAINING: Social Enterprise: To be for-profit, or not for-profit; why is that the question?

Social enterprises come in many forms, but always merge money and mission for the benefit of people and the planet. We’ll examine successful organizations of all shapes and sizes that lead with a social mission and drive positive change. Whether you’re a for-profit company that wants to pursue a social purpose, a non-profit organization that wants to generate revenue for your mission, or an aspiring social entrepreneur looking for the best startup structure, we’ll consider the pros and cons of various approaches – including creative hybrid structures. Ultimately, the best model is the one that maximizes your mission impact. This workshop will help you identify what works best for you.

Presenter: Jeremy Gudauskas, Director of Philanthropy at ROW Global Health

Jeremy Gudauskas is the founder of Mission Impact LLC, a consultancy serving large corporations and growing social enterprises – including ROW Global Health, where he serves as director of philanthropy. He is co-author of the recent book Powering Social Enterprise with Profit and Purpose:  The Tandem Hybrid (Routledge Publishing). Prior to consulting, Gudauskas spent 17 years in higher education advancing the field of social entrepreneurship - launching a Center for Social Impact and teaching courses in social innovation, design thinking, and impact measurement. He’s active in the community, serving as a startup mentor for University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and as the chair of the Corporate Social Responsibility committee for the Naperville (IL) Area Chamber of Commerce.

11:00 ROUNDTABLE: Join us as we highlight successful social enterprises from across the state of Michigan, including Anastasia and Katie’s Coffee Shop & Cafe, Dutton Farm and Lakestate Industries. You'll learn about their journeys and be able to join the discussion to ask questions or share your own experiences.

Click here to register.

Cost: $25 for Incompass Michigan and SBAM members; $35 non-members

Session 2: April 19

10:00 TRAINING: Building a Brand in a Consumer Conscious World: How to Grow Your Social Enterprise’s Value Proposition

Presenter: Kim Bode, owner of 8ThirtyFour Integrated Communications

Bode loves small businesses almost as much as she does dogs, so she spends her time happy houring, advocating, and writing about them. She shares her thoughts on leadership, culture, and communications on her blog, Small Biz Musings, Entrepreneur Magazine, 8THIRTYFOUR podcast, Happy Hour Hustle, and more. Notable Accomplishments: Being a business owner for 16+ years, a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, being on the Forbes Top 200 PR Firms of 2021 (only one in Michigan), and being recognized by Crain’s Communication as a top leader in DEI.

11:00 ROUNDTABLE: Join us for a discussion on Community Partners and Collaboration for Sustainable Social Impact. You'll hear examples of innovative partnerships and collaborations from existing social enterprises like Arnold Farms and Pingree, and be able to join the discussion to ask questions or share your own experiences.

Click here to register.

Cost: $25 for Incompass Michigan and SBAM members; $35 non-members

Session 3: April 26

10:00 TRAINING: The Business Case for DEI and How it Relates to Social Enterprises

Presenter: Darlene King, Executive Director of the Michigan Diversity Council

Darlene King began her career with the Michigan Diversity Council-MIDC, a division of the National Diversity Council, in 2015. As the executive director, she works with corporations and organizations to develop diversity and inclusion initiatives, programs, processes, and procedures. She also oversees the council's growth in business development throughout the entire state of Michigan. Prior to her tenure with the MIDC, she was the director of events, consultant services, training, and development for all 34 school districts under the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency for over 10 years. Her territory covered the implementation and execution of all workshops and conferences as well as maintaining CEU’s for teachers and administrators within Wayne County MI. She managed more than 60 consultants as well as county-wide signature events such as the Teacher Job Fair, County K-12 Art Fair, and the Cultural Collaborative for Learning. Darlene was also an inaugural Diversity Strategic Planning Committee member, which rolled out a county-wide diversity plan for all districts.

11:00 ROUNDTABLE: Join us for a discussion on the potential for workforce collaborations for those interested in operating an employment related social enterprise. We'll share how Incompass Michigan members, including Grand Traverse Industries, can help with finding and supporting employees to work at social enterprises.

Click here to register.

Cost: $25 for Incompass Michigan and SBAM members; $35 non-members

If you’d like to register for the three-part series and receive a discount, click here.

Reminder - Incompass Michigan members are now SBAM members and can register at member rates for this series. Contact sarah.miller@sbam.org if you need assistance logging in to register.