Social Sector Thought Leader Boschee to Visit

Jerr Boschee, Founder and Executive Director of The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs and one of the world’s most influential leaders in the nonprofit sector, will spend several days in Pittsburgh helping to strengthen the region’s social sector. His visit, organized by Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Social Innovation, will involve workshops, meetings and seminars with students and representatives from the nonprofit, academic, foundation and government sectors to talk about social entrepreneurship and how it can help strengthen the region’s social sector.

Jerr Boschee has spent the past 25 years advising social entrepreneurs in the United States and abroad and is considered one of the founders of the social entrepreneurship movement worldwide. A sought after speaker, he has delivered seminars or conducted master classes in 41 states and 14 countries. He served as an advisor to England’s Department of Trade and Industry Social Enterprise Unit from 2001 to 2004. Boschee is also Chairman and CEO of Peace Corps Encore! Inc., a nonprofit he co-founded in 2003 to re-deploy former Peace Corps volunteers and staff members on short-term assignments in their areas of professional expertise. The NonProfit Times has named him to its nonprofit sector “Power and Influence Top 50” list in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

The general public may register for:

“Social Entrepreneurship: The Promise and the Perils”
This seminar is geared to nonprofit leaders and board members who are interested in bringing social entrepreneurship to their organization.
Cost: $25
November 7, 2006, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in Westmoreland County
November 8, 2006, 8:30-11:30 a.m. in Pittsburgh

Closed door sessions will include a major workshop and discussion with local nonprofit executives and experienced social entrepreneurs to discuss advanced topics, challenges and the support structure needed to advance more innovation in the region’s social sector. Several smaller meetings with local government, foundation and academics will focus on advancement of the field in Pittsburgh.

Jerr Boschee’s visit is being cosponsored by Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, Robert Morris University, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, McCune Foundation, Nonprofit Leadership Institute, Duquesne University, Olszak Management Consulting, Social Innovation Accelerator, The Forbes Funds, The Grable Foundation and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Social Innovation was established in 2006 to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in the social sector. Based in the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, the Institute will focus on creating new courses, conducting research and establishing outreach programs aimed at promoting innovation and societal change. To learn more about ISI, visit www.heinz.cmu.edu/socialinnovation.