(Source: http://sloone.wordpress.com/2009/03/page/2/)

YSEC is wishing all our wonderful female SE’s a wonderful International Women’s Day.  Last night a woman won Best Director at the Oscars for the first time in history, I can’t think of a better way to lead into today’s celebration. Today we celebrate women around the world. And tomorrow, you SE’s will have brought on full gender equality in your communities and in the world.  Here are some ways to celebrate yourselves and other women today and other fun things happening in Toronto this week.

All week:

• It starts Monday, March 8th and goes on for 10 days straight. The WISH Summit is an online event with topics ranging from health to family to beauty and more. Find out all about this summit here.

Monday, March 8, 2010

• Join Me On the Bridge is an international event about women and peace. Male or female, if you’re in Toronto, come out to the Bloor Street Bridge. Meet at Castle Frank Subway Station Exit  at 12:30pm. Bring a drum/shaker/percussion instrument. the aim is to get a gathering, worldwide, on bridges from San Francisco to Congo to call for an end to war and to demonstrate that women can build the bridges of peace and hope. Which bridge is the meeting point in your city? Find out!
• The Power of Us: International Women’s Day starts at 7pm at MetroCentral YMCA (20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto) Tickets are $17.50 through uofttix.ca or $15 at Women’s College Hospital. Don’t miss the party. Youth activist Jessica Yee speaks, and Canadian artist d’bi young performs.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

• CSI is hosting their March edition of Blogging for People Who Should. Come out to 215 Spadina Ave from 6pm-8:30pm and learn the basics of telling a compelling story online. It’s a four day session with a lot of great tips and lessons. Follow the link for more information.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

• U of T hosts the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Unconference. Be at the Hart House (Debates rooms) between 2pm and 5pm to join the conversation with others just as passionate about environment and sustainability as you. Here’s more information.

Have a great week! Make the most of every event and every day.

The Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada, in partnership with SiG@MaRS, present Earth Hour….

A Speakers Event on the current trends in social innovation and social enterprise at local, national and international levels.

Speaking are:

David Bornstein, Author ‘How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas‘, which chronicles and analyzes the work of social innovators who are successfully addressing social problems at scale in several countries.

Nathaniel Whittemore, Editor, Change.org, and Founder, of Assetmap, a platform for sharing and leveraging the social capital that exists within every community.

Tonya Surman, Co-Founder and Executive Director, of the Center for Social Innovation, whose mission is to catalyze social innovation in its home base of Toronto and around the globe. Click here to view a video of Tonya inviting you to this event.

Pre-register at http://revisionearthhourtoronto.eventbrite.com/
PWYC online or at the door.
Suggested donation of $15 for students and YSEC Members and $20 for the General Public.

MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street.
Doors open at 6:30 PM, Event starts promptly at 7:00 PM
Event ends when MaRS turns the lights off for Earth Hour 2010, 8:30 to 9:30 PM

Note: re:Vision 2010 conference participants attend free. Apply by Monday the 8th of March to be eligible for subsidies. Registration closing the following week. Sign up for the conference here.

In the Premier’s own words:

…this conference will enable young men and women interested in social entrepreneurship to enhance their knowledge, gain insights from accomplished professionals, hone their leadership and collaborative skills, and network with peers. I would like to thank the organizers and volunteers with YSEC for making this event possible.

Click here to view the full letter.

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Registration is closing soon so don’t miss out on this fantastic experience! Apply by Monday the 8th of March to be eligible for subsidies. We also have a contest running so one lucky person will win a free ticket. Head to the re:Vision website to book your place now!

If you or somebody you know is interested in sponsoring re:Vision 2010 please contact us directly.

Join Tonya and her fellow speakers, as well as 100 young change makers, at a conference like no other.

Register now.

You can also enter our video contest for a chance to win a free ticket to re:Vision!

Monday, March 1, 2010

• MobileMonday Toronto -Mobile Start-ups Pitch for $$$ to Venture Capital Dragons. Come to the MaRS disvocery distract (101 College St., in the Auditorium) from 6pm – 9pm and hear the pitches; see what you can learn for the upcoming YSEC pitch competition.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

• Wake up early and make it to the 2010 OEA Breakfast Speakers’ Series. This $75 ticket event will give you the opportunity to learn the practices applied in the City of Guelph as discussed with Mayor Karen Farbridge. Register online today.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

• There’s a Cleantech Investment Breakfast today with Angel Investors looking for your clean tech start up. HURRY and submit your information and be in this room full of potential investment!
• If your start up involves the health industry you’ll want to check out the OAHPP Lunch and Learn: Larry Green. It’s from 12pm-1pm and will give you the chance to exchange in health issues with leading experts for FREE at 480 University Ave. (3rd floor main boardroom).
• It’s the start of YSEC’s 3 part series at the Centre for Social Innovation. Big Shiny Organizations: Organizational Development Workshop Series kicks off with Michel Neray of the Essential Message and his workshop: Strategic Positioning of your Social Enterprise. Membership pricing applies so if you don’t have yours yet, give us a shout at info@ysec.org.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

• Workplace Conflict Resolution and the Bottom Line takes place at at the Centre for Social Innovation from 8:30am – 11am. The Barnes Management Group how to handle conflict with your best interest in mind. Tickets are $89 and you can sign up by contacting Joel Borgida by email:  jborgida@barnesmanagementgroup.ca
• There’s a 2 day workshop starting today in Barrie, ON. Business Building Strategies 2-Day Workshop will cost you $145 promises to teach you how to streamline a growing business

Friday, March 5, 2010

• Celebrate youth entrepreneurship with the red carpet premier of YES Movie at 6:30pm. After the movie, come out to the after party at Proof and mingle with fellow young entrepreneurs. Tickets are available online, just follow the link.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

• NetImpact at Schulich is hosting their 2010 Green Edge Conference. Get together to celebrate and learn more about clean tech and reducing your carbon footprint. For ticket information, just send them an email. It’s the only thing you’ll want to do this Saturday.

Tell us which events made your day. Have a great week everyone!

That’s just one of many, but where’s yours? Send us your entry today!

Click here now to enter, and be sure to let your friends know!

On March 5th and 6th 2010, The 2010 Health and Human rights conference will be presented by University of Toronto International Health Program (UTHIP).

The 2010 Health and Human Rights Conference (HHRights) is about the impacts of international aid and development on the health, rights, and livelihoods of people around the world. How have rich countries influenced the governance and growth of poor countries? Does aid go to where it is needed and how can we ensure that it does?

There will also be a special focus on student overseas volunteerism, and the popular NGO-Networking Fair is returning along with some new and exciting features, including the workshop which will be presented by Jason Saul who is the Chief Executive Officer of Mission Measurement. HHRights 2010 promises to be a truly engaging and not-to-be-missed experience for those who interested in social entrepreneurship too.

More detail information about the conference’s focus follows this article written by Edil K., who is vice-chair of HHRights 2010 committee.

Social Enterprise: Is it really the Best Solution to Achieve Positive Social Impact?

One may argue that social enterprise is an example of ‘enlightened’ capitalism, as organizations and companies use markets, which Marxists loathe as generators of social ills, to achieve lofty social ends.  Jason Saul’s Mission Measurement is emblematic of a popular trend toward corporate social responsibility (CSR), as his firm evaluates the social impact capacity of both for and non-profit organizations and assists them in crafting solutions to achieve palpable social improvement. Although I agree with and applaud his organization as it checks organizations undertaking CSR projects, is social enterprise the best means to achieve social goals?

Is it troubling that mammoth corporations, such as McDonald’s, are now taking up the task of social responsibility? For instance, Ronald Mc Donald House Charities aims to ameliorate children’s health and well being. The help they provide families with young children stricken with cancers and disabilities is truly admirable, but isn’t the entire premise Mc Donald’s producing and marketing nutrient starved fast food to the general population, including children, antithetical to social improvement as such foods can spur illness? Sure some companies are self-reflexive and may want to better society, but some corporations need to be cognizant of possible conflict between corporation mandate and its social amelioration goals. Could social enterprise be viewed as short term solution? Why do we question poor corporate practices while simultaneously commend their charitable acts as if the latter can erase the former?

Indeed the critical evaluation of organizations such as Mission Measurement is needed to score corporations embarking on corporate responsibility. However, the solutions such organizations provide to corporations may inherently contradict desired socially responsible outcomes, as corporations themselves generate social impact issues; some corporation mandates cannot be reconciled with their charitable social ambitions and endeavors.

To its merit, Mission Measurement also critically evaluates and informs government policy, which I feel is the most effective way to bring about substantive social change. As the organization serves as a government check, it asks the tough questions, such as whether public funds are effectively spent to further optimal social projects. Indeed, Mission Measurement pressuring government to deliver public goods is perhaps one organizational aspect many may be keen on. Could the existence of social enterprises, then, index government failure to guarantee social welfare to all its citizens?

If you have similar questions about the nature of social enterprise, come and listen to Jason Saul, Chief Executive Officer of Mission Measurement, along with other academics and experts in the fields of social enterprise and human rights at the 2010 Health and Human Rights Conference, taking place March 5, and 6. You can purchase tickets online at www.hhrights.ca . Come to the conference with your critical thinking caps on!

- Edil K (Guest blog contributor)

Notes
Also, while Kraft Foods is attempting to be a better global citizen through such programs as Salsa, Sabor y Salud (U.S.), Health 4 Schools (United Kingdom), and Eating to Live Better (Mexico), shouldn’t we also be concerned with non-profit organizations like the American Red Cross and the American Humane Society. Saul’s organization deserves credit, as measuring company and nonprofit performance of social responsibility is important but is social enterprise really a sound means to engender social impact?

YSEC February MeetUp this Thursday

Looking for new and exciting events that will help you and your project grow? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s what’s on this week for our savvy SE followers.

Monday, February 22, 2010

• The Food Business Incubator is hosting How to Start a Food Business Seminar from 9:30am  – 1pm at the Council Chambers, North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge Street). Click here for registration and more information.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

• If you’re hungry to become an international business, come out to the OCIC Breakfast Meeting ~ Getting with IT: Social Media in International Cooperation. Hear and share some of the ways in which social media is being used by international cooperations; from raising awareness to mobilizing the publicrom. It’s FREE and happening at 10 St. Mary Street (Suite 420) in Toronto, from 8:30am – 10am. Sign up for free by following this link.
• One of the hardest parts of a growing business is dealing with difficult people. It happens, so be prepared. The OOMPH Group is gonna help you out with their Dealing with Difficult People session from 9am – 1pm. It’s got a high price tag of $250, but if you’re still interested, click here for registration.
• If you missed our workshop series about finances, Toronto Greenhouse has you covered. They’ll keep you busy from 6:30pm – 10pm with drinks and apps at this industry professionals panelist event, Green Finance, at the National Club (303 Bay St.). For a $30 ticket, just follow this link.
  

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

• Do you know where Elephant & Castle is? Then come by for Startup Drinks Toronto and meet entrepreneurs of all kinds. It’s a great place to make connections and inspire others to add a green spin to their ideas. It starts at 6pm. Don’t be shy, just drop by.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

• It’s our monthly YSEC MeetUp Event at CSI (215 Spadina Ave) and this time we want you to do the presenting. We’re gonna hear your ideas and help you practice your pitch with the help of Tim Harris. Then it’s all about the networking and making things happen while meeting the community. $10 if you buy online or $12 at the door.

Friday, February 26, 2010

• It’s another OCIC Toronto Breakfast Meeting. Today’s topic is Art as a Tool for Community Development. Join Amanda Proctor from 9:30am – 11:30am and learn to approaches to community development for you ideas. It’s FREE, but you still have to register.

• Journalists for Human Rights is hosting #tweet4rights: An Evening of Rights Media at the Cryptic Canvas (8 Waterloo Terrace, Toronto). Learn how to raise and spread awareness from 6pm – 10pm and get tweeting. Learn more about JHR.

• Do something special for yourself with Meghan Telpner’s Nourish Your Soul In The City Retreat. From Friday through Sunday learn how to combine food with holistic philosophies. More information available at Veg.ca.