Photo courtesy of Eva the Weaver
Kate Newman is a rising senior at Georgetown University and a Research Assistant for Social Citizens, an initiative of the Case Foundation.
Investing in this generation to invest in all generations
I’ve learned a great deal working as an intern at the Case Foundation and, most recently, as a Research Assistant for Social Citizens. But if I had to choose one lesson to share, it’s this: anyone anywhere can make a difference any day. If you have passion and you seek out the resources to transform this passion into action, you can change a part of this world.
The growing presence of social media coupled with the increased support of social enterprise have created an environment basically begging for changemakers--begging for “social citizens”--to define a brighter future.
As a student at Georgetown University, I see society’s call for changemakers answered every day by my fellow Hoyas. I work for a small coffee cart on campus, More Uncommon Grounds, that is part of a unique organization known as the Corp (officially, Students of Georgetown, Inc.). The Corp is the world’s largest entirely student-owned and operated corporation, running a grocery store, three coffee shops, a snack shop, a catering service, a storage service, and internal departments (accounting, IT, and marketing). Employing over 200 undergraduate students--from the cashiers to the CEO--the Corp amasses yearly revenues in excess of $4 million. But the best part of this unique company is the motto: “Students serving students.”
As a non-profit, the Corp serves students in more ways than providing much-needed coffee and ever-affordable ramen noodles. Beginning in 1971, the Corp was founded to protect student rights when protestors against the Vietnam War took shelter on Georgetown’s campus, leading to a stand-off between students, protestors, University administrators, and the federal and local government. The student body President and Vice President included all students of Georgetown University as shareholders of a non-profit student corporation with the intent “to assert and protect the inherent rights of its members and the community.” The Corp was and remains completely independent of Georgetown University. Today, through several annual scholarships, the Corp Service and Outreach Committee, and the Corp Philanthropy Committee, the company continues to serve the students by giving back tens of thousands of dollars to the Georgetown community every year.
The Corp is just one example of the incredible organizations that college students are capable of creating. In recent years, social entrepreneurship and innovation for social good has surged on American campuses. Young Millennials are aware of the lack of employment opportunities for them, so they are setting out to create their own. Creative minds and familiarity with the technological tools of today are their tools for success. Universities are beginning to respond to this rise of student innovation: the percentage of higher-education institutions requiring students to take a course dedicated to business and social issues increased from 34% in 2001 to 69% in 2009. The Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization currently operates at more than 400 colleges and universities and MSNBC reports that more and more business students are basing their courses on eventual careers in the non-profit or social enterprise sectors.
The enthusiasm and creativity of people my age around the US could lead to a future of which we can be proud. Organizations that provide resources and mentorship to student social entrepreneurs, such as AshokaU, Compass Partners, and SIFE give me faith that this future will be a reality. By working together with higher-education institutions and their students, such organizations are not only investing in the Millennial generation, but in generations to come. Yes, the future is uncertain, but it is crucial to make sure the availability of resources for student social entrepreneurs is not.
When I began my first semester as an intern at the Case Foundation in June 2011, I had never heard the terms “Millennial,” or “triple bottom line,” or “social citizen.” I knew that I wanted a career path focused on changing the world for the better, but I didn’t know how incredibly influential my time at the Case Foundation would be in helping me begin to forge this path. Now, nine months later, I’ve learned that the ways in which one can work for social good are not only numerous, but constantly developing. As a rising college senior with a liberal arts degree, the uncertainty of my professional future looms ahead. But I’m not scared--rather, thanks to my experience here, I view this uncertainty as opportunity.