Mark your calendars! We’re excited to announce the 2011 Social Enterprise Boot Camp–a unique, hands-on event facilitated by leading practitioners and faculty from Columbia SIPA, NYU Wagner and SVA Design for Social Innovation–will be held November 19 & 20. The Boot Camp is a series of participatory, practical workshops where current and aspiring social entrepreneurs will learn how to sharpen the tools and build the relationships they need to get social ventures off the ground.

Registration opens Monday, October 17 here. Spread the word and look for regular updates via Twitter and Facebook!

The Design for Social Innovation at the School of Visual Arts is looking to hire a full-time Director of Operations. It is looking for someone with:

·      A passion for social innovation and immersion in its world

·      Expert social networking skills, communication skills, tech mastery, personal skills, organization, flawless attention to details

·      An entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and a good sense of humor.

·      Experience successfully managing projects, programs and people.

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to: Operations and management of outreach to applicants and media through social networks and events; working with architects on build-out of space on 21st Street, Email lists and all communications; coordination of relationships with faculty and guest lecturers; interface with SVA admin and other departments; paperwork for application process; creation of events and speaker series; co-creation and management of executive education program

For the full job description, please go here.

Bridge, along with SCJR, presents, “Innovating in Public Service, Criminal Justice, and Law:  A Conversation With Richard Askin, JD, Confidential Investigator, City of New York Correction Department.”

Mr. Askin is a Confidential Investigator with the New York Department of Corrections.  In this capacity, he investigates malfeasance amongst both guards and inmates at Riker’s Island Jail complex.  Mr. Askin holds a BA from Tulane and a JD from New York Law School, where he was awarded a public service fellowship.  He has previously worked at the Public Defender’s Office of New York City, at the Innocence Project of New Orleans, and for New York County Supreme Court Judge Rena Uviller.

This is an opportunity for students with an interest in law, prison systems, or large bureaucracies to gain a deeper understanding of Mr. Askin’s worklife, background, and professional challenges.  The format will be conversational.  Please bring your own lunches and arrive promptly.

DATE: April 28
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Aquino at the Puck Building
RSVP: email mbyruck@nyu.edu

BSA presents

To commemorate International Women’s Day, we invite you to join us in making a humble contribution to women’s enpowerment and poverty alleviation. Two NYU students who are representatives of BRAC, the largest non-profit of the developing world, will show us the documentaries they have made on this issue and talk about their experience in Bangladesh. This is a great opportunity to enlighten ourselves of the present condition of women.

Date: Thursday, March 24

Time: 5 – 7 pm

Location: Kimmel 908

Bridge is currently accepting applications to join its 2011-2012 Board!

To apply, please send us your resumé and a statement on up to two positions you are interested in applying for.  The statement should include a description of your participation in Bridge activities so far this year, what experiences and skills make you a qualified candidate, what you would like to accomplish during your time in this position, and the number of hours per week you would be willing to spend on Bridge-related activities.  Please keep responses to 500 words and submit applications to bridge.wagner@gmail.com by March 20.

Please go to this link for a list of the positions, a description of the main responsibilities and activities associated with each, as well as a timeline of the transition process. Please find below a description of Bridge and what we have accomplished in this past year.

A surge of entrepreneurial energy has recently invigorated the social sector as it reacts to the impact of social media, major innovations in international development modalities, and a hybridization with the business world. Riding this wave of energy, 2010 – 2011 has seen Bridge: Students for Social Innovation become one of the most prominent student groups at Wagner.  Our major accomplishments this year include:

• A joint 2-day professional-skill building Social Enterprise Bootcamp, co-hosted with Columbia University’s School of International and Public affairs, which included speakers from Seedco, Changing Our World, StartingBloc, and B-Lab,and which sold out 100 seats at $50 – $75 each.
• The 2nd annual Stern/Wagner Social Enterprise Consulting Spring Break trip to New Orleans
• The Third Annual Social Innovation Symposium, co-sponsored with SEA at Stern and LSEA at NYU Law, and featuring guest speakers from Ashoka, Jumo, Facebook, BRAC USA, Liquidnet, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Blue Ridge Foundation, and the Wall Street Journal.  The Symposium sold out 200 seats at $20 – $40 each.
• The launch of Wagner’s Social Venture Consulting Initiative
• A brand new website filled with useful resources, as well as a new committee structure, event planning guide, a google calendar, an RSS feed, a blog, and an online document management platform.

We look forward to your applications!
-The Bridge Board

Timeline of Board Selection Process

• March 20th, Sunday, Midnight: Candidates’ short email applications submitted.
• March 23rd: applications reviewed, finalists chosen
• Thursday, March 24 – Tuesday, March 29: candidate interviews with board members
• Wednesday, March 30 -Candidates chosen

2011-2012 Board Position Descriptions
President
The President is responsible for planning and leading all strategic initiatives for the academic year, including laying out the vision and goals for the coming year and ensuring that the these goals are met.  The President’s responsibilities include:

• Submitting all reports to and serving as liaison between Bridge, WSA, administration, and other student groups
• Structuring and coordinating activities and responsibilities among board members
• Promote the mission of Bridge and actively engage the administration on expanding the role of Social Enterprise at NYU
• Assist the Chief Financial Officer in developing the annual budget and fund raising opportunities
• Help write and revise bylaws and maintain current charter and mission of Bridge
• Work closely with the Curriculum chair in pushing for curriculum changes for Social Enterprise at NYU
• Work closely with the the NYUMI chair in promoting microfinance at NYU
• Ensure a successful transition to the next board

Treasurer

• Develop and manage Bridge operational budget for the academic year
• Manage all financial logistics of Bridge’s programs and events including invoicing, payments and transaction records.
• Serve as liaison between Bridge and WSA treasurer and facilitate requests for contingency funds and process reimbursements
• Provide spending capacity information, quotes, and budget proposals for all Bridge events and programs
• Advocate with Wagner for larger and more flexible budgets

Director of Operations
The Director of Operations serves as the behind-the-scenes backbone of Bridge, bottom-lining logistical support for all Bridge activities and ensuring that all events, systems and processes occur smoothly.  Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for managing all Bridge processes and systems including all files, guides, how-to’s, templates, contact databases, multimedia, and forms through online google doc system
• Responsible for managing and updating the Bridge website
• Responsible for all marketing and communications (within Wagner) via website, listserve, facebook, flickr, blog,  and weekly digest
• Responsible for handling all membership related processes, including recruitment and member outreach, committee head orientation, and email inquiries from prospective members
• Oversee Marketing and Operations Committees

Director of Events
The Director of Events oversees event organization and the committee work of the Social Innovation Symposium, Boot Camp, and Event Committee.

• Responsible for coordinating and hosting all Bridge related events (food, marketing, fundraising, panelist outreach etc.)
• Organize at least 3 Up Close events per semester
• Organize joint happy hours with other student groups (SIPA, SEA, LSEA, or Wagner groups)
• Be the point person on the board for the Social Innovation Symposium conference
• Assist treasurer in managing budget for all Bridge events, ensuring event expenditure stays within budget
• Collect event summaries and work with Director of Operations on marketing events.
• Responsible for reserving Wagner conference rooms for Bridge events

Director of External Affairs

• Identify and promote strategic partnerships with other student groups at NYU, such as IPSA, NYUMI, SEA, and LSEA
• Coordinate activities involving Net Impact
• Develop and build relationships with alumni and the large social entrepreneurship community
• Seek out opportunities for career development and mentorship
• Assist in planning career panels and outside speakers
• Facilitate connections between current students and alumni.

2011 – 2012  Committee Head Position Descriptions
Curriculum Chair
The Curriculum Chair is responsible for engaging the NYU administration in promoting a stronger curriculum for Social Entrepreneurship at NYU.
The Curriculum Chair’s responsibilities include:

• Pursuing an active dialog with the administration on expanding the academic opportunities for students interested in Social Entrepreneurship
• Holding office hours at the start of every semester to advise students on available social entrepreneurship classes

Social Innovation Symposium Chair
The Social Innovation Symposium Chair is responsible for creating the SIS committee and for heading Wagner’s representation in the organization of the event (sometime next February). Please note that this position is highly rewarding because of the experience and networking opportunities. This is also Bridge’s biggest event of the year (and one of Wagner’s largest events).
The SIS Chair’s responsibilities include:

• Recruiting other members of the committee. This will probably be 2-3 other students.
• Meeting with the SEA, LSEA and Wagner committee members from this year (we’ll do this all at one time later this semester, not individually)
• Seeking support from key administrators, professors and outside professionals to be a part of the advisory committee
• Working closely with the SEA and LSEA committee members
• Preparing the “asks” this spring and summer to go out right at the beginning of the fall semester

Social Enterprise Bootcamp Chair
The Bridge Bootcamp Chair is responsible for heading Wagner’s participation in the 2nd Annual NYU/Columbia Social Enterprise Bootcamp (sometime next November).
The Chair’s responsibilities include:

• Recruiting  members for the committee.  The goal should be for at least 2-3 other students to help with marketing, fundraising, and reaching out to Wagner officials
• Seeking support from key administrators to discuss Wagner sponsorship
• Reach out to potential cooperate sponsors for food, etc
• Working closely with the SIPA committee members
• Preparing the “asks” this spring and summer to go out right at the beginning of the fall semester (speaker recruitment and contact with Wagner administrators)
• Preparing materials for the conference such as speaker biographies (you will get them from the speaker), schedules, food delivery, and ensuring everything is running smoothly and on time
• Recruiting and managing volunteers for the bootcamp
• Maintaining the social enterprise bootcamp website
• Keeping track of bootcamp  finances

Do you have a winning idea?  Prove it at the New York Business Plan Competition! Over $100,000 in prize monies available!

Overview The College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering (CNSE) at the University at Albany, UAlbany’s School of Business, the Lally School of Management and Technology at Rensselaer, and Union Graduate College School of Management will host a state-wide business plan competition focusing on renewable energy and sustainable innovations.  Supporting organizations include  Stony Brook University, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, University of Buffalo, Syracuse University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and the University of Rochester.

The event will be held April 28, 2011, at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering’s facilities in Albany, NY.  For the first time, the competition is open to colleges across New York State.  For a printable overview of the competition, please click on the “competition flyer” link directly below.

Download the competition flyer (PDF 633 KB)

The New York Business Plan Competition is proud to announce that the State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU) is the Title Sponsor of the 2011 competition.  We would like to thank SEFCU for their support of this very important event!

Details of the Competition Current students from accredited colleges may submit business plans around a student-born innovation that is designed for a currently unmet need.  The top applications will be selected by a panel of outside judges to present in the final round.

Teams must have at least two members, with a maximum of six members (excluding the advisor).  Students from different academic areas are encouraged to work together to create the strongest team possible.  One faculty member is required to be listed as an advisor for the team; offering guidance, support, and technical expertise.

The competition encourages students to fully engage in their research and allows them to gain valuable experience through presenting their business plan to industry executives and investors.  

This year, the competition is pleased to announce their expansion from a single topical area to multiple tracks in which students can compete.  The topical areas of submission include:

Healthcare

Information Technology

Nanotechnology

Renewable Energy/Sustainability

Services

Social/Non-Profit

Other

Prizes The newly expanded New York Business Plan Competition is bigger than ever!  With cash prizes of over $100,000, and in-kind services from organizations around the state, this year’s top winners will receive more than enough assistance to turn their ideas into full-fledged businesses.  Application information is below; best of luck to all the participants!  

How to Apply To apply, complete the preliminary application form below.  

  Download the application form (PDF 155 KB)

If you are selected to continue on to finals, you will need to create a powerpoint using the template below.  Please note that the powerpoint is limited to 10 slides and presentations featuring more than 10 slides will not be considered.  

  Download the presentation template (PDF 44.6 KB)

Applications are due March 25, 2011 by 5pm.  All completed applications can be sent to Ms. Michele Kilburn at mkilburn@uamail.albany.edu.

Past Winners

- First place – UAlbany CNSE’s BESS Technologies

- Second place – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) Sustain-a-PET

- Third place – Clarkson University Engineering and Management’s Controlled Environment High Rise Farm

To see coverage from the 2010 event, please click here.  Congratulations to our past winners and best of luck to those applying for the 2011 challenge!

Sponsorships

Sponsorships are available in limited quantities to maximize the impact of the sponsors’ message.  Please click the link below to learn about the sponsorship opportunities available.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Terri Scalise Roller at tscalise@uamail.albany.edu for more information.

Download the 2011 sponsorship information flyer and form (PDF 871.3 KB)

1.  PODER- 2011 Summer Legal Internship- NEW

The only organization of its kind, Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research (PODER) is an award-winning NGO whose mission is to improve corporate accountability in Latin America by strengthening civil society stakeholders of corporations as long-term accountability guarantors. PODER was the recipient of the prestigious Stewart Satter Family Grand Prize in the NYU Stern Business School Social Venture Competition in 2009 and in 2010 PODER was awarded Ashoka and Echoing Green fellowships.

This year PODER will host its second annual Summer Internship Program in Mexico. We are seeking qualified candidates for 3-5 strategic research internships in our Mexico City office beginning May 30, 2011. Selected candidates will receive training in strategic corporate research and organizing, learn new skills, and build upon their existing knowledge and experiences to work on active corporate accountability projects. This internship is particularly geared towards individuals interested in one or more of the following fields: human rights, worker rights, environmental justice, anti-corruption, governance, and corporate accountability and transparency.

Please submit all applications and any questions to the PODER Programs Consultant at programsconsultant@gmail.com by March 18, 2011.

* Go to www.poder.keepandshare.com to download the application.

2.  Asian Development Bank, Summer Internships

February 28th Deadline- NEW

Asian Development Bank Internships:  ADB has posted the second batch of internship opportunities for 2011 at www.adb.org/internship. As the application process is now online, they will accept candidate applications directly through the ADB Recruitment Center (ARC).  The deadline to apply for many of these roles is February 21st.  Applicants must be citizens of member countries.

3.  Aspen Institute- Summer Associate- NEW

The Aspen Institute Business & Society Program seeks a graduate student with interest in business and social/environmental sustainability for a summer internship (20-40 hours per week for up to 10 weeks). For more details please click here.

4.  Open Capital Advisors- 2011 Summer Fellowship

Open Capital Advisors is a social enterprise based in Nairobi. Our mission is to support innovative, high-potential SMEs which lack the strategic guidance and capital required to achieve growth and impact. By merging the roles of a management consultancy and investment bank, we are able to develop growth strategy for SMEs and structure investments, working with our network of impact investors in Africa and the US. We are also able to engage with investors, NGOs, and MNCs to improve access and develop creative structures for impact investments in Africa.

We are an early stage, entrepreneurial company that has leveraged experience and a broad network to grow rapidly. Having closed our first several deals, we are focused on growing our team and opening new offices to expand our presence in Africa. We are working with several global partners to tackle larger challenges, including reducing inefficiencies in investor due diligence and financial structuring, opening legal channels to improve foreign capital access for African SMEs, and developing local mechanisms to encourage entrepreneurship.

To continue our growth and impact, we have launched a Fellows Program to bring bright, creative professionals to Nairobi to work directly with our clients. Our first three Fellows have taken responsibility for designing growth strategy, assessing impact, and structuring and negotiating deals through leadership roles in our project teams.

Please see attached overview additional information.

Organization Description:

The Global Impact Investing Network is a not-for-profit organization (The GIIN is currently operating under the fiscal sponsorship of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, RPA) dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing. Impact investing is the use of for-profit investment to help solve social and environmental problems. The GIIN addresses systemic barriers to effective impact investing by building critical infrastructure and developing activities, education, and research that attract more investment capital to poverty alleviation and environmental solutions.

The GIIN has four program areas that are designed to address the critical needs of the emerging impact investing industry.

1. The Investors’ Council is a collaboration platform for the world’s leading impact investors to provide thought leadership for the industry, share lessons learned and best practices, and identify and jointly address challenges to effective impact investing.
2. The Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) is a standard framework for reporting the social and environmental performance of impact investments.
3. ImpactBase is a global database of impact investment funds that reduces search costs for investors and fund managers.
4. The Outreach Initiative elevates the profile of impact investing by highlighting exemplary impact investments, industry progress, and best practices. The GIIN also supports and disseminates research, informs conference and event programming, and promotes mainstream media coverage of impact investments.

Job Description:

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is looking to hire a Communications Associate to support the communications and outreach efforts across all programs of this fast paced, growing start-up organization. The ideal candidate for the role must have strong writing skills, an interest in media, and a deep conviction that communications are instrumental in the success of new ideas. The Communications Associate will report to the Associate Director of Communications.
Responsibilities:
• Write communications and marketing materials, including newsletter items, website copy, case studies, guest columns, and progress reports, for both select stakeholder and broad public audiences to increase the visibility of impact investing and the GIIN’s role in the industry’s growth
• Develop content and manage logistics for events and working group sessions, both those organized by the GIIN and those at which GIIN team members are featured speakers
• Advise and contribute to impact investing research and other industry content, with a particular focus on audience accessibility
• Maintain and help to grow the GIIN’s stakeholder database, including contacts from different professional segments, each instrumental in the growth of impact investing
• Support the upkeep of four websites overseen by the GIIN, working with project managers to maximize opportunities across all properties
• Support the evolution of the GIIN’s public relations strategy, including contribution of ideas about general approach, content, communications channels, and design.

Desired Qualifications:

The Associate must have strong writing skills, and be organized, collaborative, professional, resourceful, flexible, and highly responsible. The ideal candidate has communications or marketing experience, and is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Experience in startups would be advantageous, but is not required for the role.

Other requirements:

• Conviction that for-profit investment capital can effectively address social and environmental challenges
• Strong interest for social and environmental issues
• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3+ years work experience showing strategic thinking and ability to write clearly and succinctly about nuanced and complex topics
• Expertise in web and online communications tools advantageous
• Comprehensive knowledge of mainstream media outlets
• Some media relations or event planning experience
• Team-orientation, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Outstanding verbal communication skills
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, and juggle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with Salesforce advantageous
• Detail-oriented, with high standards of performance
• Personable, engaging presence, with diplomacy, tact and good humor
• Proactive approach to solving problems

Full-time role in a flexible, entrepreneurial culture. This position will be based in New York, NY.

Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience.

How to Apply:

Email resume and cover letter to Laurie Rud at lrud@thegiin.org by March 18, 2011. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we strongly encourage early applications.
No phone calls please. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline:

03/18/2011