SIS Social Innovation Fellows

  • APPLY
  • Send email+ resume to tomasko@american.edu

    Meet to learn more about SIF and discuss your interests.

    Explore the Getting Started suggestions.

  • PLAN
  • Do the optional self-assessment.

    Think about what you want to accomplish this year; choose within the framework of SIF activities ones that best support your plans.

  • DO
  • Complete at least TWO SIF activities of your choice from the menu during the academic year.

    Develop a SIF community-building project.

    Participate in the SIS SE/SIF community activities.

SIF candidates can:

• Obtain information and advice about courses, internships, jobs and other opportunities. As background for this advice, they may complete an optional self-assessment and discuss it with the SIF co-directors.

• Attend and help develop events and experiential learning opportunities related to social innovation.

• Use SIF to build and expand their professional network.

• Obtain coaching about launching a new venture or starting an NGO.

• Have access to a start-up incubator partner of the Social Enterprise Program.

SIF candidates become Fellows after completing and reporting on at least two activities from the attached menu during an academic year. To qualify as a Fellow, they will also design and implement in collaboration with at least one other Fellow a project, activity, or event whose purpose is to build the SIF community. It will be planned in coordination with the SIF co-directors.

Menu of Options for SIF Candidates

 

LEARN

  • Take one of these courses and receive a grade of B or better: SIS 635 Introduction to Social Enterprise, SIS 635/696 Social Innovation: Context and Best Practices, SIS 696 Leading Social Innovation, SIS 635 NGO/Social Enterprise Management, or SIS 793 Social Enterprise Practicum (requires instructor permission and advance preparation).
  • Take a +Acumen online course receive a certificate of completion.
  • Attend a design thinking workshop on or off campus

MENTOR

  • Find a mentor in the social innovation practitioner community; do something of value for that mentor.
  • Mentor an AU student (grad or undergrad).

NETWORK

  • Build a personal SI-related peer support network.
  • Attend a social innovation/social enterprise related conference such has the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference, Columbia Social Enterprise Conference, or NetImpact.

ORGANIZE AND DRIVE

Form a team to plan and host a design thinking workshop or other SI/SE-related event for the campus community and/or the DC practitioner community.

Form a team to plan and host an IdeaLab, pitch competition, or hackathon for SIS students.

Organize a campus event with the Social Enterprise Association.

WORK

Have an SI/SE-related internship or job.

Plan, launch, or grow a new venture, or support the development of one.

Become involved with a DC entrepreneurship incubator.

CO-CREATE

  • Assist the SIF co-directors and Fellows in the further development of the fellowship (in addition to the community-building requirement).

In keeping with the spirit of the rapidly evolving field of social innovation, candidates can propose an activity they identify in place of one of these.

For more information contact Bob Tomasko, Director of the Social Enterprise Program: tomasko@american.edu