SEG and the Swearer Center at Brown University Welcome New 2020 Social Innovation Fellows

 

Providence, R.I. (November 2, 2020) — Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) and the Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University today announced a new cohort of ten new Social Innovation Fellows. The Social Innovation Fellowship, launched in 2019, is a two-year developmental program that offers undergraduate students intensive skills training, hands-on experience in innovation alongside community partners, and access to a broad network of social innovators for mentorship.

Social Enterprise Greenhouse partners with the Swearer Center to provide fellows with training in social innovation, access to coaching from more than 250 business and community leaders in the SEG Volunteer Network, and opportunities to learn firsthand what it takes to launch and grow successful social ventures.

“We’re excited to welcome our new fellows and to continue our partnership with Social Enterprise Greenhouse,” said Betsy Shimberg, interim director of the Swearer Center. “Through this partnership, students benefit from coaching and hands-on experience in the real world of social enterprise while also staying connected to the extensive resources of Brown University faculty, advisors, and staff. Our fellows are able to learn about innovation directly from practitioners in the field while developing their own individual approaches to social entrepreneurship and leadership.”

“We look forward to immersing our new Social Innovation Fellows in the concepts, processes, knowledge, and practices of social enterprise and community engagement,” said Austin Wilson, SEG program manager. “Thanks to our partnership with the Swearer Center, these creative young innovators have a head start on bringing positive, sustainable change to our communities. As first-year fellows, they will undertake internship experiences with social ventures in the SEG ecosystem and receive mentoring from our network of experts. As they move into their second Fellowship year, they will establish their own social ventures and advance specialized research projects into innovation across multiple industries.”

The new 2020 Social Innovation Fellows are:

  • Maggie Bachenberg of Fairmount, Minn.
  • Lucas Robles Capovila of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Meera Kurup of Nashua, N.H.
  • Michelle Liu of Princeton Junction, N.J.
  • Noah Pirani of Miami, Fla.
  • Rhythm Rastogi of Vadodara, Gujarat, India
  • Laila Rodenbeck of New Delhi, India
  • Carina Sandoval of North Riverside, Ill.
  • Greta Welch of Chadron, Neb.
  • William Yang of Boonton, N.J.

Students selected as Social Innovation Fellows participate in the program throughout their sophomore and junior years. The ten new 2020 fellows join the original cohort of seven fellows, who entered the program in 2019. For more information about the Fellowship program, please visit: https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/swearer/programs/social-innovation-fellowship/11

About Social Enterprise Greenhouse
Social Enterprise Greenhouse creates positive social and economic impact by providing social entrepreneurs and enterprises with the tools and networks they need to thrive. We also foster an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable and resilient economy. SEG operates statewide in Rhode Island from three programming sites in Providence, Newport, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Our network of 600+ enterprises and 250+ business and community leaders contributes time, expertise, and funding to grow Rhode Island’s social impact ecosystem. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.

ABOUT THE SWEARER CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE:
In 1986, Brown University President Howard Swearer founded one of the first public service centers in the nation, now named for him — the Swearer Center for Public Service. The Swearer Center is a hub of community, scholarship, and action at Brown University. Through innovative programs and fellowships that reach across Rhode Island and around the globe, the Swearer Center connects people to co-create knowledge and positive social change, advances the field of engaged scholarship, and integrates social innovation with community engagement. For more information, visit www.swearer.brown.edu.

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Contact:
Karen Donovan
Communications Director
kdonovan@segreenhouse.org