In April, a multinational group of 24 entrepreneurs and professionals visited Philadelphia to connect to our thriving social entrepreneurship sector and share the innovations that are successfully driving global social, economic and environmental change.
“These CEOs are taking the time to share their stories with us and we are learning things that I can apply directly to our communities at home,” shared Dace Indrika, ambassador of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia and founder of Culture and Art Center Nātre.
Steve Kelly of ELAP Services welcomed the group to his headquarters in Wayne as part of ELAP’s investment in employee leadership development. Kelly led the group through an overview of corporate social responsibility, sharing how ELAP Services was founded to address the American issue of skyrocketing healthcare cost and the role ELAP plays as a catalyst of change in the ongoing healthcare debate. During the visit, international visitors and ELAP employees broke out into round tables to talk one-on-one about how each visitor is making social change in their home countries. Projects range from makerspaces for youth and war survivors to activating public spaces through the arts.
Kareema Abusaab of the Philadelphia Department of Commerce walked delegates the services and investments the City of Philadelphia makes in businesses and neighborhoods. Visitors were interested to learn we unify the look of business districts and how we partner with Kiva City to get loans for small businesses. Roar for Good CEO Yasmine Mustafa joined Impact PHL’s John Moore and Richard Binswanger to present on the core points of B-Corp certification and discussed how entrepreneurs can grow social impact businesses.
