Kean University-based Jersey Changemakers Network Helps Businesses Doing Good
Jersey Changemakers supports social entrepreneurs with free workshops, training and networking opportunities.
A statewide network launched at Kean University helps build connections and support for entrepreneurs who operate social enterprises that are created to help people and communities.
The network, called Jersey Changemakers, grew out of a series of free workshops held at Kean for social entrepreneurs. Bruce Waltuck, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Management, and Alex Rivera, director of the Center for Economic and Workforce Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean, are leading the initiative.
“Social entrepreneurs are people who see a need in the community and think, ‘I can create a venture to help,’” Waltuck said “Social enterprises take time, money and resources, but are driven by their owners' mission to do good. We created a statewide network to help support and inform, coach and train. That’s where the idea of Jersey Changemakers came from.”
The Center is designated as a United States Economic Development Administration University Center.
“With this initiative, Kean is extending its resources to community partners through faculty expertise and the services offered by our Center for Economic and Workforce Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” said Barbara George Johnson, vice president of external affairs and urban policy and research at the University. “By doing so, Kean is embracing the true meaning of being an anchor institution.”
The program offers comprehensive support for social entrepreneurs through various channels. The Watson Institute conducted a series of four-week social enterprise labs to provide training on topics such as financial literacy, business planning and grant writing over the past few years. Additionally, Jersey Changemakers holds monthly online meetings for members to share knowledge and resources and plans to launch new workshops this summer. The group is actively seeking to increase membership.
Participating entrepreneurs represent diverse community needs. Recent participants included at-home childcare providers in Mercer County and a Hudson County nurse who created a service that supports sustainability by recycling used furniture and other goods.
Rivera said social entrepreneurs “seek to have a positive triple bottom line, where their activities generate profit to help others while supporting people and the planet.”
These ventures can be either nonprofit or for-profit businesses.
One of the key benefits of Jersey Changemakers, he said, is the ability to connect entrepreneurs who serve similar communities and are working to address the same issues.
“Acquiring the language to talk about social entrepreneurship is one big benefit; it's a mental shift from traditional entrepreneurship solely focused on profit,” Rivera said. “Another goal of the network is for people to find others seeking solutions to the same problems they want to solve.”
Social entrepreneurs are already benefiting from Kean’s work. Wendy LaMotta of Hoboken is the founder of Round 2 Resources. The nonprofit collects donated household goods, clothing, electronics and other items and distributes them to people who need them. The goal is to reduce pollution while helping the community.
“Networking is a valuable asset within the small-business and not-for-profit communities,” she said. “We all bring a unique perspective to the table. It’s all about figuring out how to assist those in need.”
Martine Cadet, also a Kean adjunct professor, manages the network's marketing and social media presence. Jersey Changemakers is currently on LinkedIn and Instagram at @JerseyChangemakers.
For further information, contact jerseychangemakers@gmail.com