Q: How did the CBICP come about? A: Business education is part of the vocational services that community colleges offer across California. RPI worked with the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Business Education, the Insurance Educational Association and the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West to get hard data on workforce shortages and job skill requirements. The survey conclusively showed that association members found it difficult to find qualified workers who had the specific skills needed for entry-level positions.

The National Urban League is a non-profit, nonpartisan, civil rights, and community-based movement that serves over 2 million people, providing direct services, research and policy advocacy to help individuals and communities reach their fullest potential. Primarily working with African-Americans and other emerging ethnic communities, its network of over 100 professionally-staffed affiliates in over 35 states helps to close the equality gap for people at all economic levels and stages of life.

Since its founding by the Presbyterian Church in 1912 as an immigrant settlement house, St. Christopher House (SCH), has offered vital services to less-advantaged people of all ages and ethnocultural backgrounds in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Successive waves of immigrants from around the world have made Toronto their first stop in Canada, and SCH works in partnership with the community to facilitate their integration into Canadian society and to promote personal and broader social change.

YB: You can’t just complain about how bad the world is. When you’ve been given so much, you need to give back. Andy and I have been active philanthropically, but I don’t believe that’s enough—we need to enable people to help themselves. I wanted to create a system wherein every barrier to entry was taken away and all that you need was drive and a little bit of self-motivation to make meaningful amounts of money, and in that process not only help your organization, but help others as well. Q: Why did you choose to start a merchandising venture?

A lot of people talk about “double bottom lines,” “social entrepreneurship,” and “blended value”—but for the Society of St.Vincent de Paul of Alameda County, CA (SVdP), these concepts all involve three simple things: People, principles, and action. People shape an organization; principles guide it; and the art of leadership manifests itself in acting upon those principles. At SVdP, our mission is to serve those in need, to encourage fellowship for all involved, and to create spiritual opportunities for those interested.

Q: How does Women Building Futures help women achieve economic success? A: Our goal is to prepare women for long-term employment in Alberta’s construction trades. At the end of the program, we find jobs for them with employers who will register the women as apprentices, not just hire them as construction laborers. These women have the preparation ,work skills, and a ‘no-quitter’ attitude that employers appreciate. This year, we will be adding to our standard programs. We have some funding from industry to train more women to work in oil, gas, and mining.

Based in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the New England Adolescent Research Institute (NEARI) provides cutting-edge care for emotionally disturbed adolescents and educational resources for their families, teachers, and other professionals. In 2003 NEARI’s total revenue was over $2.5 million -- about 90% of which was derived from NEARI’s Special Education Program services. “What makes NEARI unique is the students that we are able to work with,” says NEARI Executive Director Steve Bengis. “Our kids exhibit high levels of acting out and we have to both manage their behaviors and educate them.

“The Center was developed by and for parents, by listening to and being driven by parents. This is what has allowed us to keep our market,” says Mara Kaplan. Mara is CEO, and one of the founding moms, of the Pittsburgh, PA-based Center for Creative Play. What is unique about the Center is that it was developed by and for parents of children with disabilities. Kaplan’s son has a serious disability, and this adds a level of passion to her work.

In 2000, Boku Kodama, Executive Director of Urban VOICE, a technology job-training program for low income inner-city residents, launched Urban WORKS (West Oakland Reinvestment Kick Start). This new social enterprise provides technical support for social justice and community service organizations, as well as jobs for graduates of the Urban VOICE technology programs. In the four years since it was launched, Urban WORKS has averaged $40,000 in annual gross revenues, while Urban VOICE has an annual operating budget of $445,000.