Part of the “social” in social impact is working with other organizations in the community to strengthen each other’s work. At Impact Hub Minneapolis-St. Paul, we value all of our partnerships — past, present, and future. One of these valuable partnerships is with Social Enterprise Alliance Twin Cities, so we sat down with Ashleyn Przedwiecki, their community manager, to talk a bit about it. Read on to learn more.
“A partnership is always about making sure that you are lifting up the organization that you’re working with an equal or greater capacity to what you’re hoping to get out of it.”
~Ashleyn Przedwiecki of Social Enterprise Alliance
Would you mind starting out by telling us about Social Enterprise Alliance?
Absolutely. Social Enterprise Alliance Twin Cities is a chapter of a national organization, with 18 other chapters all around the US. We have our national headquarters in Nashville, and every chapter has the ability to serve its community in its own unique way. But as a whole, the Alliance is there to empower, support and equip social enterprises to succeed in any number of ways, whether that’s through knowledge services, workshops, open office hours, mentorship, training, or any number of things depending on their impact area.
Specifically, our chapter is focused on the idea of building a movement around social enterprise, making these businesses more visible and making social enterprise a household name so that more people understand what it is and the value that it brings to our community. Additionally, we are encouraging all leaders to see themselves as social entrepreneurs and drivers of social change, and to use business as a tool for good. We do that in a number of ways: hosting workshops and conversation opportunities for people to get together to talk about relevant topics, grand challenges, struggles, and push the movement for all businesses to have a social or environmental impact built right into their business model. We believe that a purpose-driven economy is the way of the future, one that is driven by purpose over profits. It’s important for businesses to be paving the way to that new economy.
Could you tell us about your role at Social Enterprise Alliance?
My role is the community manager. I wear many hats, from communications and marketing to producing events and creating spaces for like-minded people to connect. I help support members, host impact hours, and try to connect entrepreneurs to the resources that they need in the community. It’s always a wonderful opportunity to be at the center of what’s going on in the social enterprise world here in the Twin Cities.
Am I correct in saying that you also have your own social enterprise?
That’s somewhat true. In addition to SEA TC, I am running my own business in sustainable event design and production. I run a for profit business, and I incorporate social and environmental impact into the work that I do. The core of my core stems from making a positive impact on the world. I would definitely consider that aspect to fit right into the work of the Alliance. However, I am not currently set up as a legal Public Benefit Corporation or certified B Corp yet. Legally declaring my impact with a status such as PBC or B Corp is a tangible way that I can showcase my commitment to social impact. I’m not quite there yet, but it’s something to work towards and I encourage all small business owners to consider in the future! I also integrate my sustainability practices into all of the work that the Social Enterprise Alliance TC does on the ground.
That alignment is important. Continuing on that thought, how do you think the missions and goals of Social Enterprise Alliance and Impact Hub align?
I think the overall vision of both of these organizations are right in line; in fact, they are ultimately working on creating a purpose-driven economy that works for everyone. We both focus on empowering and connecting people who believe in something bigger than themselves and are working to integrate that into the core of everything that they do, including their businesses. We are also both globally connected. Social enterprise is something that is much more commonplace in areas like the United Kingdom and Australia. Often many businesses and organizations around the world are running social enterprises without realizing that they are.
I think having a place and a community of people that understand that you’re not only running a business, but that you’re running it for a greater purpose, is something that both of our organizations try to create space for and connect like-minded people globally. There’s a strong alliance of goals around equipping people to elevate an equitable economy that works for everyone, around promoting innovation, and in trying to think of how to do business in a way that’s never been done before. Both organizations bring like-minded people together and are trying to always pushing innovating to cocreate a new future.
Could you talk a bit about the partnership between the Social Enterprise Alliance and Impact Hub?
Absolutely. We support one another’s workshops and programs and we have specific agenda items that we’re working on together. For example, Impact Hub was a wonderful supporter of our impact showcase event last May, which highlighted social entrepreneurs and enterprises and celebrated their impact throughout the community.
We also often come together to partner around big community events, such as Twin Cities Startup Week, which happens in October every year. For the last few years, both of our organizations have pulled together resources and ideas to try to equally support the space and introduce social enterprise and impact ideas to the greater community. So, we often partner on different events around that specific time, as well as supporting the community through mentorship programs and highlighting members of our ecosystem. We also share our experts or mentors with Impact Hub as well as direct entrepreneurs to the community space at Impact Hub because we don’t have a physical space of our own. While we are sort of online and ethereal movers, Impact Hub provides that grounded space and place. We often find ourselves here, supporting and connecting entrepreneurs to national and global contacts, and use the Impact Hub space as that gathering place to find those like minded people.
If you were mentoring an organization who is looking to partner with another organization, what advice might you share with them?
I think it would depend on what the organization was looking for, and the circumstance. Coming to Social Enterprise Alliance or Impact Hub first is a great step because we see a lot of what’s going on in the space. And there are many mentors and people who have been around for a really long time that can make the right connections for you. As an entrepreneur, sometimes the most challenging part is reaching out for help and asking for what you need, when you don’t know what you need. Finding people who have been working in the ecosystem for a long time can be a little daunting and challenging, but there are a lot of experts right here at Impact Hub, as well as through the Social Enterprise Alliance.
To find what’s going to be the right partnership for you at the right time, it does depend on what you need, so I recommend connecting with someone first, just to get to know what they’re doing and how you can support them. Then, develop that relationship with the key leaders of the organization before diving into a partnership. It’s always great to just feel out the relationship and decide whether or not you can mutually benefit one another, because a partnership is always about making sure that you are lifting up the organization that you’re working with an equal or greater capacity to what you’re hoping to get out of it. It’s always best to just ask them; never make assumptions about what an organization wants or needs; just be sure you come together to the table to decide what could benefit the community and the people that you’re serving. Talk about whether the right partnership and space in which to elevate each organization’s goals more quickly.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention to our community?
One other thing that I wanted to mention is a partnership we have with Forge North that adds value to our community. It’s still in development, but it’s really close to being released. Together, we’ve been working on a resource and tool directory for startups, entrepreneurs, and small business leaders called Startup Space. It’s a digital hub of organizations, community leaders, and people that are serving entrepreneurs all around our community, designed to be a one-stop shop for any entrepreneur or individual who is stuck looking for a partnership or looking for that next phase. The digital hub aims to help them find the resources they need more quickly and see the landscape of what is available to them, because often just searching online doesn’t yield the results that you need. Impact Hub is one of the resources that’s listed for sure, among many others. The Forge North community has come together to say we need to build a platform and be that support system so entrepreneurs can thrive more quickly. That’s been something that’s been very exciting to work on, and I can’t wait for that to come out, likely during Twin Cities Startup Week. I’m really excited about what’s next for our region. With the millennial generation constantly asking businesses to be more transparent, ethical, and sustainable in their methods and models, it’s the right time to be a socially minded business.
In this blog, we are highlighting some of our team members so the community can get a chance to know us better as we transition into our new space. We most recently took time to chat with Bailey Johnson, our events and marketing manager, about her perspective on this month’s themes of social inclusion and leadership.
So let’s get started! Bailey, good afternoon. What is your role at Impact Hub?
I am the Events and Marketing Manager. My role encompasses everything from managing social media and the website to newsletter communications. I also manage internal events for our members and coordinating external event rentals.
One of the themes at Impact Hub this month is social inclusion. What does that term mean to you?
Social inclusion means giving everyone a seat at the table. I know that’s kind of a cliche, but it’s important: making sure that no matter where you come from, you have access to what you need to be successful. And that you feel welcome and accepted.
Great! How do you think Impact Hub contributes to social inclusion?
Impact Hub’s mission is all about creating a positive social and environmental impact through entrepreneurship. So by supporting our members; giving them a space to work and connect with other people, and providing learning opportunities and mentorship, we’re helping to support entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and do the great work that we can’t do alone. Specifically at Impact Hub, we’re also really trying to create a space of inclusion so that when you walk in the doors, you feel accepted, safe and welcomed, no matter what your background is.
Do you have a vision on how some of those points might further improve at Impact Hub?
Definitely; I think there’s always room to grow. We still are a pretty one note organization. Our membership base is pretty…I guess I would just say white. So we really want to diversify by inviting different communities to the Hub, make sure they feel included and have access to our space. We’ve considered lots of different avenues: providing scholarships, changing our hours of operation to accommodate people who are working full time or can’t get childcare, so that our spaces might be available to a wider group of people. Just having moved into this new space, being closer to the to the Green Line, there’s lots of ideas. We are excited to reach different neighborhoods and communities and go out t0 learn what people need and how we can be a resource for them.
We’re also talking about leadership this month. Could you share with us a leader you admire who you feel has had a positive impact on social inclusion?
Like I mentioned before, our members are really who we’re here for. I am inspired by the leaders that I’ve met right here in our community. People like Nick Alm with Mossier, who is working to support underrepresented communities in the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether that’s here, offering workshops and consultancy to organizations to teach better workplace inclusion practices, or in Kenya, where he’s helping LGBTQIA+ populations make a living as an entrepreneur where it’s illegal to be LGBTQIA+.
I also think of Tech Dump. Their CEO, Amanda LaGrange, is a key leader in our community, helping to support another underrepresented community, adults facing barriers to employment. Tech Dump gives them an opportunity to get them back on their feet, providing jobs and a training program. I am so inspired by the leaders right here in our own community.
Wonderful. I’d like to learn more about some of them and their organizations, as well. Anything else you’d like to share with us before we sign off for today?
I would just like to say how excited I am about being in this new space. The neighborhood, accessibility, and the potential that we have here to continue to build out based on the needs of our members and create a really thriving community is very motivating.
This summer, as we think through maintaining and building community, we are highlighting some of Impact Hub’s team members so the community can get a chance to know us better. We recently sat down in our new space with Mia Cannon, Impact Hub’s Community Host, to chat about her thoughts on this month’s themes of social inclusion and leadership.
Mia, what’s your role here at Impact Hub?
My title is Community Host, but our titles at Impact Hub don’t really encompass all the work that we have to do. My role here is community development and program development. I’m kind of the front face when people walk in the door. I make sure that the community is happy, interacting, that they’re finding connections, and that we’re offering programs that fit the needs of their businesses.
And do you find your role to be shifting at all, especially with the recent changes?
Yeah, I think my role has really shifted from when I started here. I think what generally happens is that people come in who are really interested in the work and the mission of Impact Hub, and they find a different way to grow that role outside of what they were generally hired to do. I think being in this new space will help us grow our programming more, so I think that my role will take on more of those responsibilities.
I saw you posted yesterday about the new programs for August. Tell us about that.
Yes, the Skills a la Carte is really exciting. It’s been something that I’ve been working on for a bit in a different sphere, and it emerged into this. We want to offer workshops that give people concrete skills. We don’t want them to walk into a class for a lecture, and walk away with only theoretical ideas We’re looking to do different workshops for different stages of business, so that people can walk out with specific tools and see outcomes right away…kind of hard, fast-hitting information to get them going and solve their needs.
One of the themes this month is social inclusion. What does that term mean to you?
Social inclusion means to me that when someone walks into a space, your focus is on understanding who that person is and where they come from. Everyone was dealt different cards, and some of those cards that you get are automatically better than other people’s cards. And so when you talk about the term “equity,” to me, that is what social inclusion highlights – it’s understanding where people are coming from and understanding that through no fault of their own, their needs might be different than someone else’s needs. Someone who I was talking to recently described it really well. She said in America, there’s this whole bootstrap idea, like put your boots on, strap up, and like, get going! Right? Work hard, and you’ll get there. And she’s like, not everyone is even given boots right away. People don’t even have boots yet to even strap up. So how do we even get those people boots? How do we get people even shoelaces to keep those on once they get there? And so to me, social inclusion really focuses on that equity aspect of bringing people into the space together.
How do you think Impact Hub contributes to social inclusion?
I think my favorite thing about Impact Hub is that I’m always meeting new people, and they’re always doing things that I haven’t heard of before, or I don’t know a lot about. And so when I think of Impact Hub, I think of it as a home. When you go home, you are in this space that welcomes you for who you are. So, Impact Hub is a home for people to be who they are. We welcome them. We assist them in what needs they have, and understand that people are coming from all walks of life.
One of the other themes this month is about leaders. Leadership. Would you mind sharing with us a leader who you admire who has had a positive impact on social inclusion?
The person that I think of is a man named Dave Newell. He is currently the Director of a Leadership Center down in North Carolina. Someone will walk through his door, and he will immediately accept them for who they are; he never wants anybody to pretend. He’s so into authenticity that it immediately welcomes anyone else to be that way.
A really good example is when we were on a Habitat for Humanity trip together, and everyone else was inside playing games, bonding, and being social. I had gone outside with sidewalk chalk and I was drawing and listening to music all by myself. And instead of what I think a lot of people would do, would be like, “Hey, come on, inside, join everybody, like come be a part of the group,” he came and just picked up sidewalk chalk and just started drawing with me. Completely silent, right, completely joining somebody in their little world. Accepting them for who they are, and not necessarily asking them to change to fit who he is. So when I think of social inclusion, I think of meeting someone where they’re at and really taking the time to get to know someone. He did that with any person that walked through the doors, figure out where they were coming from. And he always would let people be their light… he’s amazing. I have so many positive things to say.
Melodic voices of the acapella ensemble Caritas float in the air. The group performs to help human service organizations raise money. They are “love in action.” In the center of the group is Mark Hiemenz living his purpose to help others. He is a baritone, “governance geek,” human rights advocate, husband and owner of Wiser Paths Consulting. A man who uses his gifts, experiences and passion to guide organizations to reach beyond the potential they see in themselves.
If you had asked Mark in his youth if he thought he would be a consultant later in life, he would have said no. However, now looking back at his repertoire of life experiences, it seems like that is where he was headed all along. As a former executive director of two different organizations, and having worked in corporate philanthropy for over 25 years, Mark came to the conclusion that his knowledge of how to combine business practices and people’s passion could generate positive growth for organizations.
“Passion without the right materials can be a train wreck, and just trying to dot the i’s and cross the t’s without any passion is at best boring for people or at worst a train wreck.
— Mark Hiemenz
Mark works mostly, but not exclusively, with non-profit organizations. He consults in two areas: how an organization runs and the personal development of the team behind the mission. His first step is always to create a space where his clients are comfortable and can be vulnerable. He cultivates a level of trust so that his clients can be open about their experiences with the organization and so they know that his role is to guide not judge.
Mark gathers his information through one-on-one interviews. He asks the same questions to get an understanding of the different perspectives of where the organization is at, where there may be struggles and the hope that those involved have for the future. From the large picture the interviews give him, Mark creates a concrete plan for the organization. He works with them to choose which of the paths provided they want to take and then to prioritize the different pieces. Approaching it this way, Mark seeks to understand his client and to personalize the outcomes for what they actually need.
Mark’s favorite moments in his work are when the “light bulbs go off.” Whether it is in an interview with an employee or while they are working through the steps of their new plan, he loves aiding in the realization that people can grow their passion’s potential. He finds purpose in bringing joy back to people’s work and reshaping work environments to be happier and more equitable.
It’s one reason why Mark enjoys being a member at Impact Hub. It surrounds him with a community of individuals who are also working to reshape their communities. It is “networking not for sales, but to be the person I want to be.”
With his values of integrity, justice and transparency, Mark has committed his life to learning, teaching, and pushing others to see outside of the realm of their own perceived possibilities.
“I help people be better than they are and even better than they thought they could ever be.”
— Mark Hiemenz
https://www.wiserpaths.com
His mother would travel abroad when he was younger. Journeys to the Gulf Countries from Somalia seemed like a world away for a young Umar, especially when she would be gone for weeks at a time. His mother was an entrepreneur, a trader, a woman who had an amazing talent to create things. Seeing how hard his mother worked, inspired him both as a young kid and now as an entrepreneur himself.
Umar Ahmed is the creator and owner of Twiggy Fresh, a company that makes and sells natural bamboo toothbrushes. Growing up, instead of using a toothbrush to clean his teeth, he used a miswak twig made from the Salvadora persica tree. These twigs have been used for thousands of years as dental hygiene tools.
It’s a jarring fact that Americans throw away roughly 1 billion plastic toothbrushes per year. For Umar, this was a problem. And he saw a solution. Combining his passion for environmental protection and his upbringing in the entrepreneurial spirit, Umar started Twiggy Fresh at the beginning of 2018.
The miswak twig is a natural product and poses no problems as far as waste creation. But he knew that Americans would never go for such a product. So he figured out a way to make a 100% natural toothbrush. And Twiggy Fresh was born.
The toothbrushes are made from bamboo for the handle and natural nylon for the bristles. Making these toothbrushes may be a small thing in relation to the giant problems of waste creation and environmental pollution, but Umar continually comes back to the importance of taking small steps.
“When you think about big things, global problems, yes they are big. But also you have to believe we can take small steps to achieve what we want to achieve. That will inspire not only you and me and others but also maybe a lot of people who did not even know about what you’re doing.
In order to create change, we must break down the big problems into smaller action steps.
Umar also highlights the value of learning. He says that he’s learning every single day, not only as an entrepreneur, but as an individual, a community member, and as a father.
Living a life of open-mindedness has created the space for Twiggy Fresh to grow and begin making an impact in this place Umar calls home. He says by doing this work, he’s finding new ways to be a part of his community and to have a positive impact on the environment.
This is the mindset that composes the core of Impact Hub’s mission as well. There is room for change in our communities and thankfully, there are many doing this change-making work. For Umar, it’s been motivating to be part of a network of people doing meaningful work. The opportunities to learn from others, partake in workshops and other training sessions, and network with passionate people has been life giving to him and his work.
Living out this meaning is living out hope, something Umar has in abundance. The connections he’s made and continues to make with his community are an antidote of hopefulness for him. It’s a hope that transcends his work life. He talks with excitement about the life his kids have growing up here in Minneapolis, a radically different environment from that of his own upbringing. He cherishes the chance to see his kids grow up here with the opportunities that they have.
“There’s a lot of good in everybody and if you can just see that, then we can not only benefit ourselves but also our future.
It’s this hope that continues to move Umar forward. It’s a hope that can move us all forward.
““It is important that our partners are part of the community that they want to help because we believe that the local people are the best ones to know what their community truly needs.”
— Elaine Tymchak, Cultivate International
Elaine Tymchak is the founder and executive director of Cultivate International, a nonprofit that partners with local community leaders to equip them with training and coaching to implement sustainable community development projects. We had the opportunity to chat with Elaine to learn more about her work with Cultivate and how the Impact Hub has made a difference. Here is what she had to say.
Tell me more about what you do?
I am the founder and executive director of Cultivate International. We equip local leaders with comprehensive training and coaching to turn grassroots efforts into thriving community development programs in the developing world and in the United States. We work directly with local leaders who are part of the community and experience the difficulties of poverty and injustice that impacts their community. These leaders have come to a point where they feel they have to do something about it and make a difference. They have an idea for a community project but need a little help. We provide them with the training and skills necessary to succeed.
What are some examples of the issues these leaders are trying to solve?
Some leaders may want to help others in their community find sustainable employment while others are looking for ways to educate their children, address food shortages or preserve their culture. We help local community leaders take their idea and make it into a reality by coaching and training them on what it means to be a strong leader, what are the best practices in the nonprofit world and how to successfully implement community development programs in their community. We also coach them on how they can take an idea and build a business plan, fundraise and manage finances. Finally, we help them access funds in the US through fiscal sponsorship.
How many communities are you working with?
Currently we are working with 15 communities across the developing world. Right now we have partners in the Philippines, Kenya, Mozambique, Liberia, Zambia, Ghana and India working in education, poverty reduction, youth outreach, cultural preservation and more. We are also offering this program to people in the Twin Cities and the US but it hasn’t taken off yet.
How have you ended up in the places you currently work?
The idea of Cultivate first came to me in 2010 when I was in Nairobi. I had just finished my Masters of International Development and was in deep thought about the difficulties I was seeing in Kenya. I had established relationships with a lot of local leaders there and started with some of these contacts to build Cultivate. I launched Cultivate in 2016 and have grown our partners mostly through word of mouth.
What kind of partners does Cultivate work with?
It is important that our partners are part of the community that they want to help because we believe that the local people are the best ones to know what their community truly needs. This is one of our core values and why I founded Cultivate in the first place. To have the local people help address their own community development needs.
For example, we started working with a young man named Calvin. After completing his education as a teacher, he was placed as a teacher in a rural community in Northern Zambia. The district has 11,000 people and only one primary school for the entire area. Thus there are a lot of kids that can’t go to school as it is either too full or too far of a walk. Calvin wanted to help more kids have the opportunity to learn. He came to Cultivate with his idea for opening his own school and worked with us to build a small, informal community school that serves about 50 kids. He has found people in the community to help as teachers and hopes to expand the school to reach more children within the community. While it may not be a formal school operated by the government, at least he is helping the community by giving kids the chance to go to school. These are the kind of grassroots projects we love to help with.
What are some of the challenges you face?
The vast majority of people we work with come from Eastern and Western Africa. There is unfortunately a lot of stigma and distrust in the nonprofit world about their work. This is where we come in. Cultivate provides leadership development and assistance on how our partners can gain trust from US funders and become effective project leaders. We teach them a lot about cross-cultural communication and help them “learn the lingo” of the international nonprofit world, which is very specific. We know that they are already excellent leaders with great ideas. We just equip them with the training, skills and knowledge of how to succeed in the nonprofit world.
How does your model differ from other nonprofits?
We aren’t just coming in and providing charity but empowering local people to be the leaders in their own community and make a difference. A core belief that we have is that communities have the capabilities to address their own problems they just need the knowledge and expertise on how a nonprofit works. That is where we come in with our coaching and training programs. We’re arming them with the skills they need to succeed whether it be project management, fundraising, community development or how to manage a nonprofit.
We help them learn how to be accountable for their work, inspire them to keep going when times get tough and help build confidence that they can succeed.
Paradox has been partnering with Cultivate since early 2016 to support Seed Foundation and its primary school that educates over 100 children in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya.
Why do you do this work?
We see that the system is broken. There are times that community development works so well and it is encouraging. But there are times when you see that whoever holds the money holds the power so foreign funders are deciding what they want to do in these communities, not the local people. Our goal is to challenge this system of foreign aid. To give money to the local community leaders to determine what they need and how they want to change things.
How does this model succeed?
The local leaders are much more passionate to have their programs succeed as it is their community and it is what they want and need. We are empowering them to take charge of their own future.
How has being part of the Impact Hub helped?
I got connected to the Impact Hub in 2016 as I was just getting started with Cultivate. I met a few people at the hub who really inspired me and connected me with others. It really helped because a lot of people have been in the same position as me and we bounced a ton of ideas off each other.
The hub has also really helped because as a small nonprofit director I have to do a million things and I don’t know how to do it all. It has been amazing having a network of people at the hub to help me out! Furthermore, the people at the hub are amazing. Everyone is trying to make an impact for humanity. I’ve met a lot of very kind, passionate people.
What is something you have learned through this work?
At Cultivate it is not just the day-to-day coaching and training work we are doing with our partners, but it is more. We are building bridges by connecting people from all around the world. We are opening up people’s minds and hearts to others who are different than us. I believe it makes us all better human beings.
Wes Meier is the CEO and co-founder of EOS International. EOS stands for Emerging Opportunities for Sustainability and EOS’s mission is to empower rural families in Central America with access to safe drinking water and opportunities to generate income through simple technology solutions and education.
Since their founding in 2008, EOS has accomplished 2,325 installations of simple, inexpensive, and locally serviceable technologies and have helped over 534,167 Central Americans access safe drinking water and opportunities to generate income.
We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Wes about his inspiring work and here is what he had to say.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS LINE OF WORK?
I grew up in Iowa and studied Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University. After I graduated I was scared to jump right into a 9-5 job so I looked into other opportunities. I love travel and wanted to explore a new area and learn Spanish so I decided to join the Peace Corps.
In the Peace Corps, I served in the Agricultural and Food Security sector in Nicaragua. I lived in a rural community near El Sauce, Leon, and it was a truly life-changing experience. It opened my eyes to a lot of things and I realized that I was extremely passionate about this kind of work.
I initially started working with local farmers to incorporate sustainable farming practices such as live erosion barriers, improved fertilization strategies, and planting nutritious family vegetable gardens. My work quickly morphed into technology design and implementation where I implemented several of our early-stage technology solutions in the community. This work quickly grew to other Peace Corps volunteer sites throughout the country.
The journey has kind of been a slow process but I’m really happy that I had the opportunity as a Peace Corps Volunteer to test out models and technology solutions, and to really understand some of the needs and resources available. It was during this time that I met our co-founder and current country director Alvaro Rodriguez, and we founded EOS International. That was back in 2008 and we have been learning and growing ever since.
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF EOS INTERNATIONAL?
EOS International empowers rural families in Central America with access to safe drinking water and opportunities to generate income through simple technology solutions and education. EOS promotes, manufactures, installs, tracks, and educates its users on life-changing technology projects that allow access to clean water and create economic opportunities for individuals to break the cycle of poverty and improve their quality of life.
Nicaragua and Honduras, where EOS primarily operates, are some of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with fifty percent of the rural population living below the national poverty line. A large majority of the impoverished population lives in rural areas, where access to basic services is limited and to where businesses and NGOs rarely travel. In addition to living in remote areas and possessing little purchasing power, most rural families continue to live without access to clean drinking water and have little opportunity to generate income.
HOW DOES EOS PROVIDE SAFE WATER?
First, we target water quality. Most Central America communities are developed enough where they have some type of a water system. Generally it is a gravity fed system where water is gathered from a stream or in the mountains and piped into an elevated tank to the community. The community tank has pipes that provide each home with running water. However, over 90% of the water is contaminated with bacteria. Therefore, our first step is to test the water systems in each community to understand what they are drinking.
The second step is water treatment which is done via water chlorinators. Chlorine tablets are the most effective way to treat unsafe water and remove the bacteria that is making people sick.
The third step is ongoing monitoring, evaluation and distribution of the chlorine tablets. We use a market-based model to distribute the chlorine tablets to community distribution points throughout the country.
Since we are targeting a community water system as a whole, we are able to directly target the source of the problem and provide treatment to entire communities at once. It is the best system to guarantee success.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT HAS EOS MADE?
We have provided clean water services including training, education, and support for 1169 communities impacting 526,742 people. Our 50 chlorine distribution centers have created income generating opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
For our fuel-efficient ovens, over 40% of oven beneficiaries, which are mostly women, were able to start their own businesses. The ovens are safe to use and eco-friendly, using approximately 80% less firewood than traditional wood-burning ovens. By baking and selling goods, users were able to increase their annual income by 65%.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY LIKE FOR YOU ON THE JOB?
I work remotely here in Minneapolis and oversee our operations in Nicaragua and Honduras along with our co-founder and country director Alvaro Rodriguez. We have a total of twenty on-the-ground staff in Nicaragua and Honduras. Our locally managed team works to ensure the successful implementation of technology solutions through tracking, evaluating, and revisiting community installations to ensure a long-term, positive impact.
A lot of my day is spent communicating via Skype or WhatsApp calls with our staff, and overseeing some alliances and partnerships that we’re creating. However, I also work to build relationships here in the US with partners and donors.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF WORKING AT THE IMPACT HUB?
The Impact Hub is not just a local network but a global network with hubs across the United States and around the world. This has been wonderful as I’ve been able to tap into different hubs both across the US and internationally and use the co-working space during my travels. What has been so beneficial for me is that I get to meet like-minded people in the social impact space all going through the same challenges.
WHY DO YOU DO THE WORK YOU DO?
By school and training I’m an engineer so I have a really common passion for technology and technical solutions. During my time in the Peace Corps and running EOS International, my passion has morphed into solutions for scaling in business, all within the realm of of social impact.
It is thrilling to make a positive impact in the countries and communities that we’re serving. I am very fortunate to be able to travel into these countries and get to witness firsthand the impact we’re making. I’ve also enjoyed all the new challenges of growing a business from the ground up.
EOS DOESN’T DONATE THEIR TECHNOLOGIES BUT INSTEAD ENSURES THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE MAKING THEIR OWN INVESTMENTS. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS MODEL?
I think this idea stemmed from coming as a Peace Corps volunteer and seeing firsthand what development looks like. In my opinion, the Peace Corps model is one of the best models out there. By sending a volunteer into a community, we were paid a stipend that was just above the local living wage, so I was paid about six dollars a day. This is critical because you’re living with the community members and living with the same resources and challenges as everyone else. This meant that I had to come up with solutions from within and that was much more difficult but more sustainable in the long term.
We used this same model with EOS, realizing that we are not giving out handouts and instead we are making sure people are investing and have some skin in the game. By investing in technologies, the community is investing in their own future. We tweaked the model a little bit to take it where we can grow and expand. This model also allows the communities to hold us accountable so if we’re not providing the right solution, they will let us know and we can fix it.
HOW ARE YOU FUNDED?
About 50% comes from the US (individual donors, foundations and grants), and about 30% of the investment comes from the actual community, and the remaining 20% comes from a local government. Our goal is to find the resources from within so currently about 50% comes from within country and 50% comes from our US base.
EOS IS VERY PEOPLE-FOCUSED. WHY DID YOU GO THIS DIRECTION?
Over the years, we have evolved as an organization. Starting off with a technical background, I was always counting and paying attention to the numbers but then I realized that it is just a headcount and that wasn’t what mattered. What matters is the people we are impacting and how we are impacting them and improving their lives. Our job is to communicate and educate our investors and donors on what kind of impact they are making on the community level. Together we are making a difference and that is what matters.
Amanda LaGrange is the CEO of Tech Dump and sister company Tech Discounts. Tech Dump and Tech Discounts is a Twin Cities based social enterprise that uses electronics recycling and refurbishing as a workforce training tool working primarily with individuals coming out of incarceration or in recovery from addiction. They use their model of recycling and refurbishing as both the funding tool and laboratory of their training.
We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Amanda about what it is like leading this exciting venture and here is what she had to say.
Tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am originally from Indiana and I’ve lived in Minnesota now for almost 12 years. Growing up, I loved to play “business” so no one was surprised when I studied business in school. The social enterprise movement was picking up at this time and I had this dream of how can we use business for good. Serendipitously, I found Tech Dump right at the perfect stage in my career. Now we have plenty of examples in the Twin Cities of how you can use business for good and Tech Dump is right there on top.
Where did the idea for Tech Dump come from?
The idea began in 2010 when finding employment was tough and even tougher for people who had some challenges in their past. The business model of how do we make money and employ and train individuals with some sort of barrier was the main question we were trying to answer. We played around a bit with other products such as cars, skis and snowboards and other things and eventually moved to electronics. Electronics seemed to make a lot of financial sense because there are lots of commodities inside of them that can be fixed and sold. Furthermore, it is easy to train people on how to fix them. It ended up being the best business model out of anything we have tested before so we went with it and it took off.
How did you come up with the name Tech Dump?
In 2011 when we tested the concept, we used the name Tech Dump and the name stuck. We then had to rebrand the name for our retail outlets since the name “Tech Dump” was not the most appealing name for consumers who were looking to buy refurbished electronics. That is when we came up with the name Tech Discounts for our retail stores.
What were some of your failures along the journey?
There have been many failures launching a start up social enterprise however a couple of pivotal moments of my own failures stick inside my head. In college, I remember when I walked out of exam and felt like I knew nothing. I was really upset so I called my parents and after talking to them, I realized that I was the one pushing myself. That revelation was truly helpful as it made me realize that I was a perfectionist and I’d have to work on allowing myself the opportunity to fail.
When I worked in corporate finance, I soon discovered that there is not a lot of room for failure. It was a very different world and that was difficult for me. After that, I left and entered into start-up land. It was a huge culture shock. There are no training wheels or bumpers along the way. You can easily make the wrong decision and that is very scary.
I first joined Tech Dump as Director of Marketing and I had to learn all about testing and learn to accept the concept that you are not going to have things perfect when you first test them. It was very different from the corporate world where you had it all done right immediately.
A lot of my journey at Tech Dump has been about trusting my gut and it has been really hard when I have a perfectionist personality. One of best things is realizing that I fail all the time and that is how I learn and grow. It is ok to not be perfect. Then the big failures are not so scary and by taking chances, you can ultimately learn and succeed.
I’ve also learned that it is harder to accept failure in the social impact sector as it impacts people that are already facing challenges. The weight of it feels so much different than in the corporate world. There are amazing humans tied to those failures. It is harder to talk about it but we must talk about failure as it helps us grow.
Why do you think we are so adverse to failure?
For me it is because I hate the thought of letting someone else down. I also don’t like letting myself, my team and the community down. It is our human nature to want to be liked and loved. We all have this desire so failure is very difficult. I believe there is way too much expectation put on people to be perfect rather than allowing them to be themselves and talk about failure. There is so much to learn from failure if we can accept it, talk about it and grow from it.
Do you think failure is necessary?
I believe that failure is necessary. It keeps us all humble and helps us make better decisions. Early on as CEO, I struggled to find my voice especially because I was only 30 when I was named CEO and all the media attention around my age made me doubt myself at times. But eventually I learned through failure.
Here is an example. In Spring of 2016, Tech Dump spun off Tech Discounts. Soon after, we opened a second retail location in Bloomington. The opening was beautiful and the store was perfect. Yet a mere 18 months later we closed store because it was not performing well. Customers and others may have thought of it as a failure but we looked at it as a learning opportunity. We learned what we had done wrong and also we realized that our other store in Golden Valley did better so in total our business was better with just one store. We learned a ton from it and I look at it very positively, not as a failure.
How do you stay positive in the start-up world?
I try my best to stay humble. I keep it in balance. Being surrounded by fellow entrepreneurs is a huge support. Finding the people you can be real with and who will keep you on track. One of advantages of a nonprofit is you are held accountable by a Board of Directors.
As a leader how do you encourage your team to take risks?
I do this by learning how my own fear of failure started to impact my team. Once I realized this, I made sure to instill a common belief around failure. I tell my team that we are striving for excellence but not perfection. Ever time there is a failure it is a learning opportunity and we strive to create the right response. I remind myself and the team constantly, “Let’s see what we learn” and I don’t let my own fear of failure impact others.
What do you like about the Impact Hub?
I feel that the social impact space is the perfect spot to model this example. To take risks in a supportive environment and learn from them.
Jason Walker is the Communications Director for Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA), a nonprofit whose mission is to support the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through farmer-to-farmer networking, innovation, demonstration, and education.
We had the opportunity to sit down and learn more about SFA and their work to help sustainable farming. Here is what Jason had to say.
What is the role of SFA?
SFA is a farming networking organization that works to boost sustainable agriculture in Minnesota and beyond by enabling networking opportunities among its members and by providing educational offerings through conferences and classes. Recently we began focusing on the potential of soil health to solve problems within the farming community and beyond. We have learned that soil health helps farming communities by fighting climate change, increasing water quality and giving rural farming families a chance to not only survive but to thrive. This is exceptionally inspiring!
How does SFA educate their members?
We offer two large conferences a year where our members come and learn in a conference-style format. While this is fun and effective, what is most powerful for our members is our smaller field trainings on the farms offered throughout the year. These field trainings give our members a way to meet and network with other farmers in their unique farming community. Minnesota has a diverse geology and landscape therefore we have a lot of different kinds of farming communities spread out throughout the state. For example, the Superior region has a much different farming ecosystem than in other parts of the state. Farmers from all different parts of Minnesota can meet and learn about new initiatives in the field such as deep winter greenhouses where you can grow food throughout the deepest of winter. Sharing ideas and innovation is a fabulous tool for our members.
Did you grow up on a farm?
I did not grow up on a farm but in a small town in Kansas. I moved in Minnesota in 2006 and began my career as a journalist. Through my work as a journalist, I developed an appreciation for food, co-ops, and the wealth of farmers markets that are creating a vibrant food-focused local economy. I lucked into a meeting with SFA where I got into this position where I can marry my journalist skills with my passion for sustainable food.
What motivates you to do farming work?
The roots of my motivation come from the knowledge that food has an impact on every person’s life. As a society, we are becoming more aware of what healthy food is and means not only to our bodies but to our environment. As a parent of four children, I also want to be mindful of what my own family is eating especially when it comes to sugar. I am paying more attention to what is “real food” and that is what I want to feed my family. Unfortunately, real food such as fresh fruits and vegetables is expensive.
By boosting rural economies and family farmers, we can improve the quality of life for everyone through the foods we eat. If there are more foods like this available and cost-effective, it can have a real impact on society as a whole. For me, working for an organization that is doing this amazing work is very rewarding.
Is there a disconnect working in farming but having an office in the city?
Even though I’m based in the city, my organization is a virtual office. Many others are working on a farm so they keep me grounded. The best thing about being here is I can work at the Impact Hub and meet people who can impact SFA in a positive way.
Everyone eats so it is important for non-farmers to understand what farmers go through so we can lift people up.
-Jason Walker, SFA
What has been good about working at the Impact Hub?
I love the environment here at the Hub. It has a soothing, calming environment that doesn’t feel pressured. I like how there is community and interaction if you want it and there is enough space to focus when you need it. Furthermore, the mission of the Impact Hub aligns very closely with my organization and me personally: To make the world a better place.
What is something you’ve learned in this work that is translatable to people living their everyday life?
We have to always remember that we are living in a very divided society. It is harder to connect with our differences and we have become very isolated on a human level. I am always struck by the connections we make despite our differences. We are a big state, a big country and a big world yet we all strive for the same things in life. We all want clean water, healthy food, to protect our families and our planet.
How do you tell the story of SFA and why it matters?
As Communications Director, when you are talking about food it all comes back to a storytelling perspective. Everyone eats food and drinks water. We need food to survive however we also come together to share and create food. When talking about SFA, what I do is keep coming back to the idea that a person produced what we are eating and to think about how it was made and by who. Was the food produced in a way that aligns with your values? My goal is to get people to think more about the food they eat and have a connection with it. Everyone can have an impact on making choices around food. The food that sustains us can also lift us up and solve some of the world’s problems. My question is, “Are we going to do this?”.
Susan Hammel is the founder and president of Cogent Consulting, an independent, Minneapolis-based strategic, financial, and impact investing firm empowering purpose-driven organizations that drive positive social impact in their communities.
Cogent Consulting applies traditional investment discipline, community engagement, and creative design to impact investing and strategic advising. They work with a diverse set of mission-driven investors and entrepreneurs through evidence-based and actionable advice.
We had the opportunity to sit down and learn more about Susan’s background and what drove her to launch Cogent Consulting. Here is what she had to say.
Tell us more about yourself and your background.
Susan: I am the founder and president of Cogent Consulting. We are a public benefit company with a mission to empower purpose-driven organizations to drive positive social change in their communities. I was trained in finance and worked on Wall Street. While I was there, I was struck by the powerful notion that money can be used as a force for good and came up with the idea of founding Cogent Consulting as a way to help organizations figure out how to invest according to their values, mission, and passion.
What was it like working on Wall Street?
Susan: Being on Wall Street was a huge culture shock especially since I worked for a small non-profit before coming to Wall Street. At the non-profit, I saw that despite the enormous amount of passion and energy the staff had, we still couldn’t do more to create change. I realized that I needed to go where the money was so I moved to Wall Street to learn the investment industry with the goal of bringing that knowledge back to the non-profit world.
Five years later I went to grad school at Harvard where I learned about government and the public sector which gave me insight into how I could harness my passion for helping organizations invest to make a positive social impact. I moved to Minneapolis, began working in this area and then launched Cogent Consulting.
We are advocates for people who have a passion for their work and a commitment to creating their own success. Our financial acumen is balanced with demonstrated leadership ability, appreciation for the values of people we assist, and an innate ability to communicate effectively. We empower individuals to achieve their organization’s mission, and in turn they shape lives and make a difference in their communities.
– Susan Hammel, CEO
What have you learned since founding Cogent Consulting?
Susan: That “doing good” means different things to different people. For me, I have faith-based values and social justice, taking care of the earth and people are very important to me. Clients have a variety of different issues that empower them to do good ranging from climate change to racial injustice to sustainable agriculture. Good can be defined in many different ways.
Why did you choose finance as your focus?
Susan: In social impact, sometimes it is hard to know if you are making a difference however with finances you have concrete ways of measuring your impact and that can be very empowering.
What makes you inspired about your work?
Susan: I bring passion to work with me every day. I am excited to bring the finance piece of work into the social justice and impact sector, to marry the two worlds and create something better. Many people think you can’t do well and good at same time. However, I’m here to show people that you can make money and do something positive. If everyone thought about where their money was invested, it would change the world and that excites me.
How long have you been a member of the Impact Hub and what do you like about being here?
Susan: I have been at the Impact Hub for almost 4 years and I love the new space. I love the positive environment, and how active the social impact community is here at the space.
