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Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneur and Ashoka Fellow Jane Leu is spending time in Residence at San Jose State, from now until April 2010. Jane is the Founder of Upwardly Global (www.upwardlyglobal.org) an exciting high-impact organization that works with recent immigrants and refugees. She has received numerous prestigious awards nationally for her innovative leadership and contributions as a leading social entrepreneur and she is working with Ashoka's University Programs to inspire SJSU campus community to embrace the spirit and tactics of social entrepreneurship as a force for change in the world.
Jane's residency will consist of class visits, student group workshops, faculty conversations, office hours and individual advising, a career panel, and an event open to the entire campus and local community. We will use these various interactions to familiarize our campus with social entrepreneurship as a concept and career field, assess and map student, faculty and community interest in social entrepreneurship, as well as understand the unique contribution SJSU could bring to this growing field and sector.

Jane's residency will explore whether SJSU, with its diverse student body, could become an important new talent pipeline for the California and Bay Area social entrepreneurship sector. Through feedback and insight gathered during Jane's residency, SJSU will explore if or how SJSU could become a leader among Cal State schools with regard to social entrepreneurship.

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Social entrepreneurship is the practice of creating systemic solutions to social problems using innovative, sustainable, scalable, and measurable approaches. The Social entrepreneurship program is being devoloped by SJSU Students and Faculty and gives SJSU students who are interested in gaining hands-on social entrepreneurship experience and are passionate about helping to explore and launch a Social Entrepreneurship Program.

Students involved in the program will work closely with leading and internationally recognized social entrepreneurs, faculty, administrators, students, and San Jose community members to develop networks, activities, and points of intersection around social entrepreneurship. This is a 10-12 hour per week position that carries with it a small stipend of $500.

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