Do you have a skill, passion, or hidden talent you want to offer? Do you have a service you’d like to purchase in support of non-profits?

Join YSEC’s special “”Skills Drive”" MeetUP co-hosted with Well of Change on Wednesday, July 28th at the Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Ave, 4th floor, 6-8pm.

Discover a new way to raise funds for your own organization or favourite charities & non-profits.

Come and donate your services or buy someone else’s.

All proceeds go to YSEC or to your choice of charities registered with Well of Change.

Before the mix of festivities and chaos hit the streets of Toronto this past weekend, YSEC joined a panel of young entrepreneurs representing the city at the G20 Youth Summit. Known as MY SUMMIT, the event convened youth delegates from all the participating nations.

Moderated by Gavin Sheppherd of The Remix Project – a community organization with several budding social enterprises – the panel was prodded on their thoughts about the challenges and opportunities the city holds for young entrepreneurs.

Their verdict? Canada needs more community hubs and informal associations dedicated to young entrepreneurs, but stands to gain significantly from looming transformations in all social systems – from energy and agriculture, to healthcare and education.

As the delegates spoke about means of influencing the future, social entrepreneurship seemed to captivate their interest.

A delegate from South Korea contemplated the distinction between social enterprise and corporate social responsibility, while another from Mexico was concerned that developed nations were yet again dictating a prescribed development path for emerging economies by suggesting that they develop in cleaner ways. The latter point was an important cue in establishing a framework for collaboration among nations, but misses the point that a global full press of social innovation is needed to adapt to a rapidly shifting world. While it is entirely reasonable to demand that developed nations assume much of the burden of ensuring better social and environmental practices, it is also vital for all nations to do what they can to stimulate, aid and practice wide scale social innovation.

The event revealed the depth of interest young leaders from around the world are taking in social entrepreneurship as a concrete way forward. In contrast to the weekend’s moments of despair in the streets, the sense of promise was palpable. And that’s a very good thing.

Presented by YSEC & George Brown College’s Institute for Entrepreneurship & Community Innovation (IECI).

This 4-part series will take you through the steps of creating a business plan for your enterprise, social enterprise or nonprofit.

Outcomes:

- Draft a business plan
– Get an expert opinion on your idea’s strengths & weaknesses
– Utilize market research to create financial plans
– Create a draft marketing plan

Taught by Professor Mark Simpson, Co-ordinator & Professor of Management Studies, International Business Management, Small Business Entrepreneurship

June 2, 9, 16, 23   I    6-9pm

George Brown College
230 Richmond Street East

50% discount for YSEC Members. To become a member click here.
35% discount for additional members of your team.

Limited seating available. Register here.

Monday, May 10, 2010

• Community Power Finance Forum. Meet and mingle with entrepreneurs, funders, and policy makers for sustainable energy projects. It’s all happening at MaRS DD (101 College St). Want to know more? Click away.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

• MASS Talk Special Edition: Tim Jackson on Prosperity without Growth at Charles Pachter’s Moose Factory. Come to Charles Pachter’s Moose Factory(22 Grange Avenue)from 6pm – 8pm and hear more about economics for a finite planet. This event is FREE.
• From Push to Pull: Creating Demand for your Offering. It’s a webinar for everyone. From 12pm – 1pm; spend your lunch hour learning how to build your customer base with the best marketing techniques. Register today.
• StartupNorth: Canada’s rise as a technology leader. It’s a panel discussion with technology entrepreneurs. Learn from their journeys at Toronto Board of Trade (100 King Street West) from 7:30am – 9:30am.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

• Cleantech in Canada Breakfast Seminar: What’s New With Wind? From 7:30am – 9:30am, have more than just breakfast at MaRS DD (101 College St), learn more about clean tech, too.
• Carbon Footprint & GHG Inventories: A Guided Tour of Greenhouse Gas Planning and Management. At $650 per ticket, this all day event at Pinchin Environmental (2470 Milltower Court, Mississauga) is hosted by Sustainability Learning Centre. Want to know more? Follow the link.
• Advanced Business Fundamentals: The Eight Steps to Analytics. Head over to the 1st Canadian Place (100 King Street West) from 8am – 9:30am and learn to do more with analytics. Follow along for more details.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

• CSR and Social Media 2010. There is so much to learn about social media and you can learn it all at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
  123 Queen Street West. Follow the link for all the information about this full day conference; including the agenda and speaker’s list.

Friday, May 14, 2010

• MASS Learning: Designing Great Public Engagement Programs. Come to CSI (215 Spadina Ave) for this full day event. This event runs from $199 – $249. More details available, just follow the link.

NEXT WEEK:

Monday, May 17, 2010

• $99 Digital Content Workshop. Hosted by the Toronto Star, this 2 day workshop starts at 10am at Toronto Star (1 Yonge Street, Editorial Department). Learn about web and mobile reporting at $99/day or $250 for all 3 days. Register here.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

• The David Suzuki Foundation, in conjunction with Siemens Canada, brings us The Sustainable Cities Challenge. This FREE event At Royal York Hotel (100 Front Street West, Imperial Ballroom) runs from 8am – 11am. Learn more.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

• Toronto Entrepreneur Advisory Roundtable brings us Roundtable #5: Relationship and Referral-based Marketing:  Growing Your Sales through Strengthening Client Relationships and Referrals. Held at CSI (215 Spadina Ave) from 6pm – 9pm. Only $20 for YSEC Members. Save your spot today!
• SiG@Waterloo “Innovators in Action” Speaker Series featuring Cindy Blackstock. Explore issues affecting Aboriginal children from 7pm – 10pm at The Museum (10 King Street West, Kitchener). Learn more.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

• Unsexy but Indispensable: Social Media Plans and Policies for Nonprofits. This Cause Marketer’s Meetup will feature an informal case study presentation by Bianca Freedman from the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation  and Virginia Middleton from Kids Help Phone. Interested? Be sure to be at CSI (215 Spadina Ave) at 5:45pm. Get your $10 ticket here.
• YES!+ Toronto Young Professionals Skills and Networking Night The Art of Success: An Inside-Out Approach. Also at CSI (215 Spadina Ave) from 7pm – 9pm, YES!+ wants you to learn unique and innovative skills to achieve your ideal life with ease while meeting like-minded young professionals. $10 for non-YES!+ members. Sign up here

Saturday, May 22, 2010

• International Biodiversity Day!!!

Do you want funding? Do you know how to tell your story to potential investors and partners?

Learn how in this highly interactive workshop series.

Over four weeks, you will have the opportunity to work on your business plan with assistance from The Institute of Entrepreneurship and Community Innovation.

Participants are encouraged to share their ideas with other participants, network, and develop their social enterprise / business ideas.

This seminar series will review business plan concepts and provide the opportunity for hands-on application.

Concept reviews are 30 – 60 minutes with 2 hours dedicated to hands-on application to your plan.

Outcomes

• Utilize market research to create financial plans
• Develop a marketing plan
• Create a draft of your business plan
• Know funding sources

Seminar 1 – June 2nd – The Pit

Have your social enterprise / business reviewed by the Pit Bosses.  Provide a quick pitch and be bombarded by Q & A. Exact length of pitch will be confirmed upon final registration numbers.  All participants will be provided with the “must know” questions.  Ignore at your peril.

• Know where you need to improve
• Use the knowledge gained to build a great plan

Seminar 2 – June 9th – Market Research – Telling Your Story

Need funding?  Then you need to tell your story.  And how do you tell your story?  Market research is the key – market research allows you to build your financials.  No one cares about your opinion – just the facts.

• Learn cheap and effective market research steps
• Turn your research into your financial plan
• Gain confidence in your business and your ability to tell the story

Seminar 3 – June 16th – Marketing

A great idea is no good if you can’t sell it.  Does it take big bucks?   It doesn’t need to.

• Grassroots marketing strategies
• The power of your personality

Seminar 4 – June 23rd – Feedback

Peer review.  How clear is your story?  Get the real feedback from your peers.  Walk away knowing what you need for success.  The story is coming together – let’s talk about sources of funding.

• Business plan reviewed against a scoring grid
• Take away comments to finish your plan
• Understand finance sources

About the Instructor

Mark Simpson is the Founding Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship & Community Innovation at George Brown College, and has run his own business consultancy for more than 20 years. Mark is passionate about helping young entrepreneurs plan for their ideas. 

Event Details:

All seminars will run from 6-9 pm. Registration and refreshments at 5:30 pm.  

Location:
 230 Richmond Street East
Institute of Entrepreneurship and Community Innovation (The Institute)
The Centre for Business
George Brown

Cost:

$200 for series
$130 for additional members of your team (please contact us at info@ysec.org for discount code)

50% off for YSEC members

Monday, April 12, 2010

• ONN’s Our Sector, Our Vision 2010. Are you making it out to this 2 day conference? ONN is covering various topics based on the community’s feedback. Looking for more program and ticket details? Just click on the conference title and follow the link.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

• TechSoup Canada Toronto Net Tuesday RSS: What’s in it for me? You’ve heard about RSS before but you’re not really sure what it is…or how to make the most of it. Well TechSoup wants to inform you at the CSI (215 Spadina Ave) for just a $5 donation. The workshop runs from 5:30pm – 8pm.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

• DEADLINE: National Academies Communication Awards. The Society of Environmental Journalists is giving away 4 cash prizes. If you have, or know of, original works that address issues and advances in science, engineering and/or medicine for the general public, follow the link to apply for recognition.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

• Green Jobs: Getting them off the ground. Come to CSI (215 Spadina Ave) and learn about the “Cool Rexdale” and “Building Neighbourhoods from the Inside Out” projects while networking with others looking to bring green jobs into our city. Be there from 12pm – 2pm. This event is FREE.
• Book Launch – Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit: 10 Clean Technologies to Save Our World. Be at MaRS DD (101 College St) at 6pm if you love CleanTech. Click the link for more info.
• Dinner Social Group. Meet fellow vegans at the Green Earth Vegetarian Cuisine (385 Broadview Ave, north of Gerrard) at 7pm. Meat and Eat. Space is limited, RSVP today with an email to: tvadinner@veg.ca

Friday, April 16, 2010

• The Characteristics and Character of a Social Entrepreneur is hosted by the CBBF. Tonight, from 7pm – 9pm, come out to for this FREE event at the Toronto Baha’i Centre (288 Bloor St West) and hear Célia Cruz, Director of Ashoka Canada answer some key questions about who an SE is. Click the title to save your spot.

Whatever you do this week, we want to know about it. Tell us what made your week shine.

Are you a student looking for your big break for your startup?

Apply by April 19th to be Ontario’s Next Top Entrepreneur at the Discovery ‘10 Conference for a chance to win up to $18,000 in funding or $5,000 advisory services from Deloitte, or a lunch with the Managing Director of Maple Leaf Angels!

The registration form and details regarding the competition are available here.

- Join the city’s vibrant community of young changemakers
– Meet some of the most innovative minds and projects
– Learn more about social entrepreneurship & social enterprise

Connect and reconnect with changemakers in the community this April 22, 2010 from 6-8 pm at the Centre for Social Innovation (215 Spadina Ave., 4th Floor).

To cover costs of the event, we’re charging $10 at the door. 
(Free for YSEC members. Not a member yet? Learn how to join here).

See you there!

Check out their full essays at Globe and Mail: What it means to be a mentor.

Catch Tonya Surman and Nathaniel Whittmore at re:Vision Earth Hour and Mark Simpson at re:Vision 2010. Registration still open. Don’t miss out!