Online Resource for Upcoming Social Enterprises in Arizona

A new web resource for budding social entrepreneurs and changemakers in the American Southwest has been launched on September 22, 2011. SocialEconomyAZ.org is the creation of Vanna Gonzales, Assistant Professor of Justice and Social Inquiry at the School of Social Transformation, which is an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Gonzales says, "SocialEconomyAZ.org aims to connect local consumers, entrepreneurs, and business owners to a wealth of information and to each other, and to advance research and teaching in areas that connect social entrepreneurship to social justice, community development and economic sustainability."

Upcoming social entrepreneurs with exciting social innovation ideas and social enterprises in different stages of development can find useful information on the website such as links to legal and financial support, and advice on how to cultivate a start-up. Teachers who are keen to know more about social enterprise theory or wish to develop service-learning courses can find resources as well.

Community members, students and socially responsible companies keen to support the Arizona economy, or simply looking for a suitable organization to get involved with, will discover a growing map and directory of Arizona's social economy. The site also provides plenty of networking opportunities and sharing news and ideas for social entrepreneurs and social investors alike.

Gonzales has been interested for a long time in the potential capacity of governance and non-profit organizations to promote social and economic justice through social innovation and enterprise. She believes that SocialEconomyAZ.org can be a leading resource in Arizona for people who have a new economic vision, which is more in line with today's global parameters and community needs.

Gonzales observes, "As writer and global economy guru Thomas Friedman said recently in an NPR interview about his new book, 'That Used to Be Us,' the days of having a 50,000-worker factory move to your city are over. What we need are 50,000 people - 1,000 of whom are starting jobs for 10 people, 50 creating jobs for 100, and 100 hiring 30. Everybody needs to be starting something."

In today's global economy that is dominated by a highly automated production environment, socially responsible entrepreneurship offers a more sustainable path to job growth. It includes innovative enterprises in the social economy, such as farming and food cooperatives, non-profit service organizations, and re-use and fair trade retail stores.

Photo Credit: rafaortman