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.
Image courtesy of https://www.klassicmobilegardens.com/
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