This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

• Don’t miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Indira Ranamagar, Ashoka Fellow, human rights activist, and founder of Prisoners Assistance Nepal. Indira will be speaking at multiple venues in Toronto on September 13th -15th about human rights and, more specifically, the mission of Prisoners Assistance Nepal, a social good initiative striving to help released prisoners integrate into society and helping the children of prisoners find secure environments while their parents are imprisoned.
• How can a social enterprise be for profit? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Guess again! The Centre for Responsible Leadership Discovery Learning Workshop is determined to teach current and aspiring social entrepreneurs, business owners, and other curious civilians about the modern landscape, opportunities, and challenges of social enterprises. Queens School of Business is holding this session on September 21st, in Toronto—stay tuned for more info!
• “How can we design our world to create more opportunity and more equality?” If you’re passionate about this topic or interested in learning about the today’s leaders goals and ideas for impact, you should check out this year’s Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York that will be held September 23rd-25th. If you can’t attend in person, you’re in luck—check out the live webcast.
•  Ice cream makes everything a little sweeter. Thanks to Ben and Jerry’s, one of Ashoka’s tastiest partners, September 18^th will bring us scoops of free ice cream as well as the chance to talk with representatives from the Conflict Stabilization Operations and the US Institute of Peace and Complex Crisis Fund in effort to urge Congress to support movements that reduce violence. How can Congress prevent violence and war? Get the scoop here and if you’re an ice cream lover and want to get involved in peace-building don’t forget to stop by! 
• How can your cell phone expedite social development all around the world? The increasing ability to communicate across borders and oceans has been aiding governments, NGOs, and companies to address daunting social challenges. Participate in this 4 week professional development course sponsored by TechChange to learn how you can use your mobile phone to change the world. Read a recap of last term’s course, check out the syllabus, and apply!
• The NYU Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship is pleased to present the first installment of the 2012-13 Social Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century Speaker Series. Join them on September 27^th from 7:00 – 8:30 for an evening with Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Faire, MAKE Magazine, and O’Reilly Media, in a conversation with Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Wired, as they discuss what they are doing now to help America transform into a culture of DIYers—and how you can be part of it. The event, brought to you by the NYU Innovation Venture Fund, will feature free giveaways, including copies of MAKE magazine and day and weekend tickets to Maker Faire New York. The Reynolds speaking event is free and open to the public but space is limited, so RSVP today!

Rachael Casagrande

I am currently working towards a BS in Information Design and Corporate Communication at Bentley University. Before college, I hadn’t any idea where I wanted life to take me so I decided to just let the wind blow me around a bit. The following summer, I shipped myself off to Romania through Learning Enterprises where I volunteered running English camps. The children I met there made me realize how much just one hello, one meal, or one hug can really grow change in someone’s life. After coming back to the US I’ve been keeping myself busy working odd jobs, studying and taking every opportunity I can to mesh my business degree with my love for positive change.