WHAT

Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 10:30 a.m., Social Innovation Windsor-Essex, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) funded project will host an information primer.

This primer will give media, elected officials, industry leaders and community partners an overview of what social innovation is. The primer will explore social entrepreneurship, social enterprise and how each can play a role in our community to address complex issues like poverty. Leaders who are paving the path forward in this field will discuss social innovation in Canada, the provincial government’s role in supporting the social enterprise ecosystem, and how social finance is catalyzing private sector funds to support public and social sector initiatives.

Furniture Bank CEO, Dan Kershaw, will share an in-depth look at his organization’s social enterprise journey and how it is poised for growth in 2016, and we will hear from one local social enterprise organization.

WHO

Amy Alberton, Manager, Ten Friends Diner
Dan Kershaw, CEO, Furniture Bank
Adam Vasey, Director, Pathway to Potential
Uma Venkataramaiah, Director, Social Innovation Windsor-Essex

WHEN

Thursday, March 24, 2016
10 a.m. – registration begins for attendees
10:30 a.m. – welcome
10:40 a.m. – Adam Spence and Kevin Taylor from MaRS to provide an overview of social innovation in Canada, define entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, and explain what social finance in Canada is and what type of debt and equity financing is available for social enterprises.
11:10 a.m. – Stephen Cohen to share overview of the province’s social enterprises investments
11:30 a.m. – Dan Kershaw to share the Furniture Bank’s story.
12:20 p.m. – Dale Droski and Amy Alberton from Ten Friends Diner to share their organization’s journey as a social enterprise.
1 p.m. – Jackie Powell to share the 2016 Provincial Poverty Reduction Funding Strategy.
1:15 p.m. – Sojo Workshop for Not for Profits begins

WHERE

Essex Centre Sports Complex, 60 Fairview Avenue West, Essex, Shaheen Community Room