Webinar: Social Enterprises in Workforce Development: Outcomes and Experiences from the Field
Join the Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative for the second webinar in its four-part series on social enterprise. Social enterprises in workforce development are businesses that sells goods or services in the marketplace while also helping disadvantaged workers gain meaningful employment and work experience. Today, landscaping businesses, restaurants, retail establishments and temporary staffing firms are just a few of the types of businesses workforce development organizations have started as social enterprises. While many social enterprises have created positive outcomes for workers, there are many challenges to starting, financing, managing, and sustaining a social enterprise.
In this webinar, social enterprise experts and workforce development leaders will discuss the latest research into social enterprise, as well as their own experience in supporting, starting and growing their businesses. They will also discuss what knowledge and expertise is involved in creating a successful business, what revenues and costs to realistically expect, and how these businesses fit within the activities, strategies, and mission of their workforce organizations.
Moderator:
- Matt Helmer, senior research associate, Aspen Workforce Strategies Initiative
Speakers:
- Brenda Palms-Barber, CEO, Sweet Beginnings, LLC
- Christina Garcia, managing director, REDF
- Elena Fairley, field building and communications manager, Women’s Action for Economic Security (WAGES)