Social enterprise can accelerate social change by focusing on creating social capital. Wesleyan University has played a major role in contributing to social change on issues ranging from divestment in South Africa during the era of apartheid government to being at the forefront of prison education and social justice in America. The Center for Prison Education, for example, has successfully achieved many of its goals through the support of committed students and faculty. There are also teachers, like my mentor Professor Rob Rosenthal, who champion community involvement and change in Middletown.

Wesleyan continues to move in the right direction as many current students strive for a world of greater social justice and equality. This trend toward social engagement has led to an explosion of non-profits and social ventures founded by current Wesleyan students. They are determined and ready to work for a better world, whether it’s in Kibera Slums or Mumbai or Bangladesh. We have seen young people like Jane Nestler ’12, Raghu Appasani ’12, Allana Kembabazi ’11, and Tasmiha Khan ’12, who have one thing in common—they are all undergraduate students at Wesleyan and are the leaders of the moment and of tomorrow. They rally students behind them as they share their dreams with the entire campus.
Given this surge of involvement and interest in social enterprise on campus, I encourage the Wesleyan administration to start a course on social entrepreneurship to equip students with the skills and on-the-ground expertise that would help those who wish to become involved in social change. Many of our peer institutions have already started to develop centers dedicated to fostering social entrepreneurship—offering classes, space on campus, networking events, and other resources. For example, Brown University has started what they call the “Social Innovation Initiative,” and this has yielded encouraging results. Such a course would allow students to take the critical thinking skills that Wesleyan’s liberal arts education teaches, and apply these skills to solving deeply entrenched social issues. This course would also foster collaboration and a support base for emerging social entrepreneurs.

I am always grateful for people like Catherine Lechowicz, the Director of Community Service and Volunteerism, who has already provided this support to students and works tirelessly to ensure that the spirit of social entrepreneurship stays alive and kicking. So far, the impact has been tremendous—and there are many possibilities to expand and deepen Wesleyan’s reach. If you take a minute to look at this year’s Dell Social Innovation competition, you might be surprised to see how our own Wesleyan students are blowing away their competitors. Last year the prize went to Wesleyan through Shining Hope for Communities, and this year it might be awarded to Wesleyan again.

When I say that Wesleyan is exploding with social change, some people might think I am crazy. But have a look around you—on your way to the dining hall you will see students tabling or selling tickets for events to promote social change. This is an era when young people all over the world are taking a stand.

I encourage Wesleyan students and faculty to join hands and offer their expertise to the rest of the community. Many people are surprised that a small school like Wesleyan can be in the top ten in votes in the Dell competition despite the assumed advantage that many larger schools have in the competition. I always tell them, “Wesleyan is a united front where the students are involved in what goes on, and they always want to be part of it.” This is why, though we are a small school, we move mountains.
We don’t entertain prejudices at Wesleyan because we are always eager for a better world. Wesleyan is making a huge splash in the world of social entrepreneurship. What else can I say but, “Go Wes!”
Odede is a member of the class of 2012.