Our very first week, Rishi, our work supervisor, asked Daniel and I what we thought social entrepreneurship meant. My mind went blank. The phrase “social entrepreneurship” had been something I was used to just dropping into conversation without ever stopping to think about what it actually meant. As I racked my brain for any thoughts I could voice, I threw out some words like “creativity” and “innovation” and eventually landed on the conclusion that social entrepreneurship was when people developed unique solutions to social problems or issues. But what constitutes an innovative solution? And how big does the social problem have to be? Rishi made Daniel and I realize that being a social entrepreneur and having a social impact is much more than simply “doing good.” It means that your idea solves an issue in society that has become so large that it is currently burdening people in their everyday lives and is in need of immediate attention. I think that is the important distinction between volunteer work or starting a business or something along those lines versus acting as a social entrepreneur—a social entrepreneur is developing a solution for a problem people are facing and in need of help with as soon as possible. That is why social entrepreneurship is so important to the world we live in. While we obviously need those people who are trying to do as much good as possible or start a business that helps a small sector of the population, we also have a crucial niche—of helping to solve an unrelenting issue—that must be filled as well. This niche is what social entrepreneurs fill. They are the ones that come into a problem area that so many have tried to put at ease, and create an idea that no one else has yet thought of. Upon arriving in Detroit, I have been surrounded by so much social entrepreneurship that it almost seems commonplace. Last Sunday, we went to the East Jefferson SOUP competition. It is run by a community of people interested in empowering locals, who are doing really cool things and coming up with really innovative solutions for a ton of significant issues the east side of Detroit is facing, by giving them money to support their ideas and a space to share their ideas and gain support. It was incredible to walk into this arena where it could be so easy to become bogged down by all the problems, like lack of access to good foods or a solid arts program, and see residents propose such unique ideas. We heard three pitches: one focused on building a community garden space, another on creating a community café and meeting area, and a final on holding dance classes for children. All three ideas had very clearly taken some ingenuity to develop, but it was also clear that each person wanted to help solve a dire issue in their community above anything else, be that making profits or gaining name recognition. It was evident in the way they put themselves out there in this environment to voice their ideas and it was evident in their willingness to take suggestions and listen to the audience’s questions. Watching the competition all in all was a great way to see social entrepreneurship in action—people filling the much needed niche in our society.
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My first exposure to social entrepreneurship came at the hands of my grandfather, early in high-school. He had recently retired and migrated into the world of microfinance. As I researched the topic, I stumbled upon the work of Muhammad Yunus, the father of microlending and the founder of the Grameen bank. That was my first experience pondering the notion of innovation and profit-generation for social good, and now, five years later, I am immersed within a culture of social entrepreneurship in Detroit. My fundamental ideas about the definition of social entrepreneurship haven’t changed too much; I still see the term describing the desire so many of today’s young minds to use their creativity, resilience and innovation to tackle society’s most pressing issues. My experiences in Detroit have taught me that social entrepreneurship fills in gaps left by more traditional business models. My conversations with Detroit Food Academy staff and other social entrepreneurs in the area have shown me that traditional businesses need to cater to state and federal government concerns and have almost no incentive to drive change on the community level. When I reflect on social entrepreneurship in Detroit, I find myself thinking back to concepts I learned in my second-level economics class. I learned that there was a difference between typical demand curves and those that factored in “societal benefit”, and that the government attempts to utilize subsidies and taxes to bridge this gap. At the time, I simply memorized the information and formulas because I was afraid of failing my final, but my time working in Detroit has brought this information to life. Social entrepreneurships factor societal benefit into their business models. The idea that their innovation changes lives and makes the world a better place is the motivation that pushes social entrepreneurs to continue innovating and thinking outside of the box. In other words, government intervention is unnecessary because the incentive to do good in the world is one based in morality and not in financial gain. My colleagues at Small Batch Detroit attempt to sell their three products (Mitten Bites, Slow Jams and popsicles) and profit maximize by reducing costs and increasing revenue like any other business. The difference is that they do this to fund Detroit Food Academy, a non-profit that seeks to uplift high-schoolers through food-based entrepreneurial experiences. Small Batch and DFA have created an innovative solution and business model to address a problem in Detroit; joblessness and the various obstacles the youth of the city face. In an environment where the current system requires government intervention to galvanize actions toward social change, there is no doubt in my mind that social entrepreneurship has changed Detroit and the world for better.
Social entrepreneurship is where the roads of creativity and selflessness find their point of intersection. The mind of an entrepreneur is untamable and about as lofty as found in any other profession. They focus on the limitless potential of their ideas without being overwhelmed by the various blockades in which they must face and conquer. There is a clear distinction between an entrepreneur focused on their individual wealth and an entrepreneur focused on social wealth. The dreams of endless cash, fast cars, and monstrous mansions do not tease the appetite of a social entrepreneur. They are contrastingly driven by the images of communities rising up from their disrepair and strife as a result of their tireless efforts to further their entrepreneurial visions. That is what defines a social entrepreneur. They do not desire climbing out of their situation in a singular manner but rather with the accompaniment of their neighbors. I have never seen an area where social entrepreneurship can be identified in example after example like I have seen in the city of Detroit. People that remained in this great city even after all the economic misfortunes of the recession did so for a reason. They wanted to see their community transform back into what made so great to begin with. They knew this road would not be an easy one, but they would not accept the alternative. That is why so many entrepreneurs that I have seen in my first two weeks alone at ProsperUS have been geared toward helping their neighborhood and beyond. An example of this, Klassic Mobile Gardens, is a garden aid program that makes a conscious effort to foster produce in the home or with local vendors as opposed to surrounding areas with. When it comes to businesses like these, money is of little concern beyond being able to sustain the business. Even people that work for the non-profits that we are partnered with act as a stepping stone for these social entrepreneurs. They sacrifice so much in wages in an effort to play a role in bettering their community. Social entrepreneurship is by no means a one man or one woman show. It takes the efforts of many people to maximize the social benefit that becomes a catalyst for future social change. I do not think I had a true grasp on what social entrepreneurship was before coming to Detroit. I am grateful that this opportunity shed light on that reality for me.
During my time in Detroit, I have had the opportunity of examining what social entrepreneurship is and how it can be misconstrued. In my opinion, social entrepreneurship is the process of creating and innovating a sustainable solution to a neglected or diminished social issue or inequity. Oftentimes, social enterprises will sell a good, product, or service. Then, it will reinvest profits gained back into the organization. With this model, the enterprise is sustainable and espouses a robust course of action as a for-profit organization or business would do. Social entrepreneurship is very important in the world that we live in due to the inability or capacity of for-profit organizations or government institutions to adequately address or double down on social issues. So far, I have observed an expansive social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Detroit. I think so many individuals have entered this space due to Detroit’s recent economic troubles where numerous firms who had a niche in Detroit exited the Detroit business space. Personally, I think that social entrepreneurship is an attempt to reinvigorate the landscape with social consciousness. In my internship experience at GreenLight Fund, I have actively developed a visual and organized overview of the social entrepreneurship landscape in Detroit and its main players, sectors, models, etc. One of the most interesting organizations I have found is Rebel Nell, a Detroit based social enterprise that empowers women, creating Graffiti Jewelry from chipped paint and offering classes in financial success. Earlier in the summer, we as a group got the opportunity see the organization in action in Ponyride, a 30,000 square foot building in Detroit, committed to facilitating the growth of social missions within artists, entrepreneurs, makers, and nonprofits. By hiring previously homeless women or women in shelters for jobs, Rebel Nell addresses the social problem of the lack of workforce development in the population of homeless women in Detroit. Through this immersive work experience, the women gain skills and increase their human capital and are more able to independently sustain themselves and transition out of homelessness and/or financial insecurity. Rebel Nell’s sustainable solution of workforce development in a neglected potential workforce population engages with numerous social issues like homelessness, human capital development, income, and female empowerment. Rebel Nell’s success in Detroit attests to its innovative and creative approach to the social issues listed above. I am excited to explore more of the booming social entrepreneurship scene in Detroit!
Although I was intrigued with the social entrepreneurship aspect of the DukeEngage Detroit Program, there was one thing that didn’t sit well with me. Detroit. And the Internet certainly did not help either. Did you know that there are 20.43 violent crime rates per 1000 residents in Detroit? Or did you know that 16,040 people were homeless in Detroit in 2015? A simple Google Search will find you this statistic and entirely morph your perception.
Previous participants of the DukeEngage Detroit program assured me that I would be safe and that I would even grow a love for the city. Yet, the apprehension and prejudice I had towards an environment I had never known persisted once I arrived. I even brought a second fake wallet to hand over in the case that I get mugged (which in hindsight, is a bit over the top). But in the first week, I experienced quite the contrary. After viewing the vibrant Downtown and beautiful artificial beach in Campus Martius next to my office building, picking the freshest of fruits from the Eastern Market, admiring the works of the Detroit Institute of Arts on a free weekend, and munching on a Greek Combo Platter bigger than my head in GreekTown, I experienced a side of Detroit I never expected. It was the side of Detroit that previous participants of the program raved about, the side of Detroit that has come to represent an entrepreneurial hub. But merely knowing this glamored side did not provide me the whole story. My newfound understanding of Detroit emerged from an early morning bike ride. After parking my MoGo bike after a recreational ride around the neighborhood, I heard from behind me a distant “Hey, you kid!”. I turned to see who the command was directed from and saw a man pointing directly at me as he walked my way. With torn black shoes, ragged jeans, baggy coat, he was clearly homeless. But one piece of attire caught my eye: a black hat adorning a calligraphy “D”, a design I saw quite frequently amongst Detroit natives walking around DownTown. Was this encounter going to be the side of Detroit that I had stereotyped yet never experienced? Would it be best if I just ignored this homeless man? “Can you buy me some food?”he asked as he grew closer. Too late to back out of the situation, I agreed to his request and took him to the Tim Horton’s across the street. He ordered his food and we stood there in silence for a brief moment simply waiting. But as we eventually engaged in conversation, I began to hear his story and how he came to be homeless. He told me that he had lived in Detroit his entire life and that he had succumbed to the use of drugs and alcohol, a familiar story for many impoverished and homeless. He portrayed his humility by describing the embarrassment of having to constantly beg for food, the shame of being judged and ignored because of people’s initial perception. But rather than idly accepting his fate, he told me he had quit his substance abuse. From dusk til dawn, he looks for odd jobs to complete just to get by, and he described his recent efforts to make himself look more presentable by finding a place to shower, wash his feet, find new clothes, all to ultimately find a job and make a living. Homeless and dirty, his physical appearance embodied people’s initial perception of Detroit as a ruined city. Yet, it was not until I interacted with him where I realized his true Detroit spirit, a tenacity to get back on his feet and reach his potential despite how far he has fallen. Like this man, Detroit has experienced years of hardship and neglect from those who perceived it in such a manner. But through its determination, it is striving to morph its image and actively address its issues. And for that, I am grateful to have met such a man, and to begin experiencing the revitalization of a marvelous city. Growing up near Chicago has significantly lowered my expectations for any city that I visit because few cities match the scale of my hometown. Before arriving in Detroit, I had done plenty of research on the disinvestment, abandonment, and flight out of the city. It seems that the media focuses primarily on the 24 vacant square miles of the city, and as a result, I was expecting a small city of boarded-up houses and empty property lots with overgrown grass. What my research neglected to demonstrate was the incredible spirit of innovation and pride within downtown Detroit. When I saw Campus Martius Park for the first time, I was astounded by the sheer number of people outside hanging around by the small beach, eating lunch, and mingling with coworkers and friends. There were basketball courts, food trucks, and restaurants with outdoor patios. It filled me with joy to see a city so vibrant and cheerful at 12 pm on a weekday.
Despite this initial reaction to the city, I began to see a different Detroit as we headed toward the eastern neighborhoods on our bus tour of the city. Dilapidated houses and vacant properties replaced the renovated art deco towers and aesthetic public parks in downtown. Though this was the Detroit I read about online and saw in documentaries, it was surprising to see such a stark contrast between the prospering downtown and an overlooked urban neighborhood. One notable experience of going to this area of Detroit was viewing the Heidelberg project. At first glance, the “art” appeared to be piles of assorted belongings in a vacant lot. Yet a common theme of clocks and time became visible, suggesting that the time to make a change in the city is now. The Heidelberg Project has significantly changed the surrounding neighborhood by attracting large crowds of visitors like myself, but as I was viewing the art, I wondered what the residents living nearby thought of strangers coming into their neighborhood to observe piles of used shoes, toys, and other miscellaneous items. Is this really the change they want to see in their neighborhood? Are the residents of this eastern neighborhood of Detroit really benefiting from the art project? It is questions like these that I strive to answer as I help the city “rise from the ashes.” Something that certainly did not surprise me was the conflicting attitudes of MoGo’s presence in the city. This past week, I had the opportunity to speak to members of a company in downtown Detroit about their experience with MoGo. Some employees expressed extreme satisfaction with the bikeshare—They said they used it multiple times a week. Others were not pleased with it in the city, perhaps because its presence indicates the rise of gentrification. As an outsider to Detroit, I cannot give much because I do not know the city well enough to help it recover from years of blight and abandonment; I cannot learn about a city in eight weeks when others have lived here for decades of their lives. But I can share my enthusiasm for dense, walkable cities and desire to critically consider the ways in which social innovations—like shared bikes, urban gardens, or strange public art projects—affect the local community. Up until the point I started looking into this program nearly everything I heard about Detroit was negative. Detroit is bankrupt. Detroit is crime ridden. Detroit is going downhill fast. However, once I began researching the social entrepreneurship scene my perspective began to shift.
Now that I am here my perspective has shifted even further. Although Detroit fell on tough times, what the media has failed to accurately depict is how the community has banded together to rebuild. Detroit natives truly love their city and are doing everything in their power to preserve its rich history and promote development. This became abundantly clear to be on the DXF bus tour we took of the city. As we rode around Detroit, the tour guide showered us with information about the city. Did you know that Detroit has the second largest theater district in America only behind New York? Or that some of these historic theaters are being restored? Or that Wayne state students passionately lobbied to save a historical building on campus? Or that Detroit native and founder of Quicken Loans Dan Gilbert returned to invest over 5 billion in downtown Detroit? Because I certainly didn’t. The more I learned, the more impressed I became. Towards the end of our tour we visited the Heidelberg project, which was the physical embodiment of the Detroit spirit we had learned about all day. Everything the art was composed of was old, thrown away, and forgotten. However, the pieces themselves contained powerful messages. A recurring theme in the Heidelberg project were clocks. You could not go more than a couple feet without spotting one. Once through the exhibit, we asked our tour guide what they meant. He told us clocks referred to a Detroit slogan “the time is now”-meaning the time to act, the time to change, the time to improve is right now. I saw this slogan in action last week at TechTown, the non-profit Chris and I are working with. On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to attend Retail Boot Camp’s showcase. Retail Boot Camp is an eight-week week program that helps prepares entrepreneurs to open brick- and- mortar businesses in the city. The program culminates in the showcase were all the graduates of the boot camp present a pitch to compete for one of the five $5,000 dollar prize packages. It was incredible to see the program graduates’ drive, hear about the hours upon hours of hard work they devoted to their businesses, and learn about the unique ways in which the businesses were contributing to their communities. It was even more exciting to sit in on a meeting the next day where TechTown’s SWOT City team discussed the next steps in helping the graduates accomplish their goals. Although Chris and I are only contributing in a small way this summer, it is exciting to think the economic impact report we put together could help procure funding that would enable them continue their incredible work. “A bulletproof vest is only thirty bucks on Amazon.” As my friend heard about my summer plan in Detroit, she jokingly suggested me to bring a protective vest with me to the city. Dangerous, bankrupt, stagnant… These are some of the characteristics many people think of immediately when they speak of Detroit, and such conceptions and portrayals of Detroit had been shaping my impression of it until I landed here.
Growing up in Shenzhen, China, I fully enjoyed the convenience and vibrancy that a young metropolis could offer. At the time, I did not have a rich understanding of the different regions in the United States. Even though I was able to gain insights into traits of various cities in the U.S. after I attended a boarding school here for four years, a significant amount of my knowledge was built upon others’ comments as well as the media’s portrayals. Before experiencing Detroit in person, I could not imagine how and why one would ever decide to settle down in this seemingly dreadful city. However, as soon as I set foot on Detroit, I was amazed. My morning trip to Tim Hortons with Matt and Tonya on the first day was a perfect occasion to get a first taste of midtown Detroit. As I strolled down the street, the beautiful and uniquely designed architectures on both sides of the road quickly caught my attention. A sense of history and artistic value permeated through the buildings. Later in the day, the bus tour of the city and scavenger hunt in the downtown area gave me constant surprises. The tour guide’s enthusiastic description of restaurants, museums, public events, and many more aspects of the city showed his love for Detroit and vibrancy throughout the city. As we took on our adventure in downtown through the scavenger hunt, we mingled with the city dwellers and felt a strong sense of community, as well as their contagious passion for living here. We stopped by The Heidelberg Project and were impressed by the artist’s creativity and effort to inspire the community to strive for changes and improve the lives of people and neighborhoods through art. As we visited the Henry Ford Museum and the Rouge Factory, I felt astonished by the historical and industrial complexity and advancement of the city. Although it has only been a little more than a week in Detroit, this place already feels homey to me. Through interning at ProsperUS, I have been learning about the strong entrepreneurial drive in the city and the powerful impact social enterprises have been making in this community. I have never seen a place with so many dreamers and entrepreneurial ideas that aim to benefit the people around in all kinds of ways: creating jobs, assisting with business planning, providing lower-cost food, increasing accessibility to child care, etc. I would love to work with ProsperUS to promote entrepreneurial approach and spirit to the community by conducting a series of interviews in a form similar to that of “Humans of New York”. I also plan to develop a business plan template for future entrepreneurs’ business implementation and growth. I believe that what we do every day is helping social entrepreneurs start and successfully manage their business, achieve their goals, and eventually make the city “rise from the ashes”. Blake and I will be visiting the Freedom House tomorrow to directly interact with our clients and/or potential clients, from whom I wish to learn about their personal story and their business mission and projection, and to help bring as many social entrepreneurial ideas to life as I could. Growing up, I was told to “see the glass half full” rather than half empty. However, I have always had a problem with this cliché response to my pre-adolescent complaining. My witty response would always be “I can clearly see the ratio; I cannot change what I see based on how I’m feeling.” Interestingly enough, this is one of my few pre-teen, snarky responses that I stubbornly stand by to this day.
When I approach a situation or a place, I see it for what it is, and Detroit has been no exception. Of course, I received the expected “Be careful out there!” when I mentioned my summer destination, but I did not let this, nor the themes of hopelessness broadcasted in the media discourage me from giving Detroit the benefit of the doubt. As I landed in Detroit, I became instantly surprised at the lavish airport I hustled through. My phone storage slowly dwindled as I constantly snapped photos of Detroit’s unique architecture, murals, and historical sites. My eyes widened as I took sight of the grand General Motors complex. I evened envisioned my future self-working in Detroit’s financial district. While I was stunned by the beauty and history seeping through the Detroit concrete, what I loved the most was the pride Detroit natives carried just for being from Detroit. I have never seen so many locals rep their city on their clothing as often as Detroiters. From the Uber driver to the cashier at Whole Foods, individuals’ faces would light up when given the chance to talk about the Motor City. As someone who has never had one city to refer to exclusively as “home,” it is refreshing to witness so much love inhabitants have for their city, no matter what they have been through. It was not until I began working and forming deeper relationships with individuals that I began to notice another side of Detroit. Working at Detroit Food Academy, I have the opportunity to meet individuals who have gone through the nonprofit’s programs and travel to places beyond the Midtown office. After one week of “9 to 5s” and conversations with my coworkers, I became aware of Detroit’s lack of efficient public transportation, astronomically-high auto-insurance prices, police-officer shortage, and continuous gentrification. Detroit possesses extensive history and art, yet transportation is lacking and inefficient. Detroit may have revitalized parts of its Downtown area, but many other neighborhoods are still rampant with crime and poor education. Describing the city in such a manner is not meant to be blunt; rather it is quite hopeful. If you want the glass to be full, take it for what it is, and add more water. The same goes for Detroit. My time here may be limited, but I hope to continue to understand the issues identified through my own experience and that of others. One of my favorite interactions thus far has been with a former DFA fellow, Desmond, who explained to Ajay and me that it wasn’t school that he hated; it was people telling him what to do. While he proceeded to drop out, he spent every subsequent day at a library, until he enrolled in a Detroit Food Academy program. This summer, I will step outside my comfort zone and allow my creativity, in coordination with my people skills and business-related knowledge to further develop the programs of Detroit Food Academy to enrich the lives of the Desmonds of Detroit and even devise my own. By no means do I think solving these issues will be easy, but a hopeful outlook to the future fueled by creativity and action is a great way to start. What I plan to do here is simple: I will add more water. I got off the plane expecting to see run-down buildings and only shards of what was once glorious and magnificent. I anticipated neglected pavements and abandoned streets, and those dark alleys no one dares to venture into during day or night. I was wrong, of course, like most others who have never seen this vibrant city first-hand.
Detroit struck me as a city of culture and taste. Strolling through Midtown, I was surprised to find such variety of architecture on one single street. There were Gothic chapels, residential houses that reminded me of the Renaissance, and so much more that gave me déja vu’s. Having visited the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, I was further convinced that Detroit is gravely underrated. Self-portrait of Van Gogh, pop art of Andy Warhol, even Greek vases and Egyptian mummies filled the eyes of visitors with wonder. The collection that the DIA boosts reminded me of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Now that I remembered New York, it appeared to me that Detroit used to be a city like New York. The skyscrapers in downtown testify to its past glories. They are time stamps reminding us of how great Detroit once was and also what it could again become. The spirit of love Detroiters have for their city is unparalleled. In the short few days here, I have met so many entrepreneurs aiming to help their community, whose energy and tireless minds fuel the rebirth of Detroit. I have walked on multiple streets and seen people wearing apparels featuring the Detroit “D,” showcasing their pride for their city. At the same time, though, I noticed that every so often, there would be an awkward gap between buildings whose sides were curiously smooth. It turned out that the gaps were once filled by buildings much like those that were still standing. These demolitions are common in Detroit, as space is needed for redevelopment and old buildings fall beyond repair after decades of neglect. The empty space simultaneously signifies the deathbed of the old and birthplace of the new. People, of course, are needed to facilitate both processes of destruction and creation. I am here to create. During my brief stay in Detroit, I hope to best utilize my time at Build Institute to ease the process for local entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams. I want to help create a bridge for the aspiring people of Detroit to their desired destination. I hope that by the end of the summer, I would have helped alleviate the challenges entrepreneurs still face in starting and maintaining their business and constructed a framework for a powerful Build Institute alumni network that will benefit the experienced and the new alike. I sincerely want to make a positive change in this community that I am quickly getting attached to. |
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