(From WorldChanging)

A great article and some innovative ideas posted up at World Changing by Jonathan Greenblatt. I wonder if a Social enterprise Corps could be part of an effort to establish a national Center for Social Entrepreneurship? Just a thought. Read Jonathan's piece for yourself:

Consider organizations such as the Peace Corps, the Corporation for National Service, and Teach for America (TFA). These groups leverage some of the most capable young people in the United States and deploy them to perform a range of noble activities, such as building homes, providing social services and teaching young people in some of the most neglected classrooms in our country. In turn for this commitment, the participants receive support through financial instruments like college loan relief, low-interest loans, and stipends.

No one joins TFA to get rich. Far from it. But the non-profit program offers a transformative opportunity for personal growth and community investment. Interestingly, even in a very hot job market, students respond to this challenge. TFA has become highly selective to the point that, due to the overwhelming demand, last year, 80% of applicants were turned down. Some TFA graduates continue to teach as a long-term profession, others go on to launch charter schools, and most pursue other careers beyond education. Regardless, for those two years, these young people and their peers in other organizations such as Americorps and the Peace Corps strengthen our civil society and create long-term promise for America at home and around the world.

So why not a Social Enterprise Corps (SEC)?

Imagine an institution supported by the government and organized to train motivated young people in the science of business plans, for-profit and non-profit management, organizational dynamics, marketing, etc. Candidates could be screened on basis of their business plans and selected after a battery of interviews, the perfect acid test to locate the true entrepreneurs with the potential to realize their vision.

Further thoughts on this at 4NonProfits.

Another angle is to institute the SECorps as one of several options for mandatory national service for all. I believe that in addition to providing a broader base for our military recruiting, national service would institute a process for educating all about their civil responsibilities. It would create a stream of young people who could teach reading, rebuild communities, learn the skills of social entrepreneurship, defend the borders, etc.

Some good points in this response, although I DO NOT agree with mandatory national service. I don't really think mandatory anything works very well. Best for something like a SEC to be voluntary, not as one of a number of mandatory options. I'd also say that something like this (or even my National Center for Social Entrepreneurship) could be produced with limited government involvement. Cooperation, as well as some assistance, could go a long way. But do we really need another bureaucracy?