Social enterprise education: prototyping a business concept that address a social problem

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A few weeks back Kaliya & Nicole attended Neighborhood Leadership Institute’s True2U summer camp for high school freshmen. We brought the upcycled goods to lead one of our favorite workshops ‘‘social enterprise education’ –a program that encourages future leadership by engaging students in our business model and then challenging them to design business for a social problem they care about. With upcycled materials and tools. Right then and right there. After some time to work in groups and rapid-prototype, they share their new business design. It blows us away, every single time. 

Image of 3 high school students upcycle with secondhand materials in front of them to design a prototype for their new social enterprise business idea

We recently received a Community Impact Award from Dominion Community Foundation for this program!  Along with 10 other organizations doing excellent work in Northern Ohio, we were honored to be recognized for reaching students with innovative & creative entrepreneurship education.  

Marissa Siebert on the far left was Upcycle’s Program Director that came up with our social enterprise education program! Nicole McGee in the middle, our co-Founder & executive Director holds the award (made from recycled glass, from a local company called Streets of Manhattan) Kaliya smith, second from right, is Upcycle’s current program director and on the far right is jaclyn Balliet, program manager of the Veale Foundation, the social enterprise education program’s longest philanthropic supporter.

This award came with a $10,000 check, a gorgeous award (locally made recycled glass –come see it behind our donations counter!), and the pleasure of a beautiful luncheon at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. It was just lovely and we’re smiling. 

The best part of this hands-on workshop are the ideas that students come up with. Young people are so, so smart and so naturally good at innovation. Here were some of the social enterprise business prototypes we were introduced to at the True2U recent workshop: 

Basketball nets from recycled materials that are cheaper than what’s on the market for kids whose playgrounds don’t have nets

A vehicle that picks up animals along the side of the road and helps them however they need it, including giving them a proper burial in the case of roadkill (!)

A company that sends a gift of support to young people that come out as gay to their families to help them feel support (see image below!)

A company that makes wigs and hair decor for people struggling with cancer. 

And more. In just 1 hour.  It’s a remarkable experience each time, and each time, we learn and grow right along with the students. 

Do you know an educator who might be interested in this kind of programming? Great! There’s funding support to offer these programs at no cost to them, thanks for funding support from the Veale Foundation and the Reinberger Foundation. High School educators throughout Northeast Ohio, learn more here and book a field trip to come see us! And all educators can check out the incredible resource  of the YIPPEE Marketplace through Youth Entrepreneur Institute (YEI) and look for Upcycle Parts Shop’s offerings (including kits, hands-on programming, STEM curriculum and a complimentary bag to fill in our shop).