As I was preparing for the Lunch-and-Learn about Social Entrepreneurship, I started compiling a list of some useful resources. This list is not meant to be all inclusive… just a tool to get you started and to inspire deeper research for your particular needs. Happy researching!

• Measuring the Triple Bottom Line
  • MultiCapital Scorecard: http://www.multicapitalscorecard.com/multicapital-scorecard/
  • Sustainable Accounting Standards Board: https://www.sasb.org/
  • Global Reporting Institute Standards: https://www.globalreporting.org/standards
• Achieving the People Bottom Line
  • Put People First: http://www.cultivatingcapital.com/human-capital-people-triple-bottom-line/
  • Fair Trade International: https://www.fairtrade.net/
  • Engaging Employees in Community Action: http://www.triplepundit.com/special/building-healthier-communities-aetna/engaging-employees-around-community-action/
  • Local Example – Amavida Coffee: https://amavida.com/about-amavida-coffee/
• Achieving the Planet Bottom Line
  • Purchase as close to locally as possible to reduce incoming freight charges
    • For inspiration visit: http://inhabitat.com/tag/locally-sourced-materials/
    • Time Magazine article about “Buy Local”: http://content.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903632,00.html
    • Discussion about implementing in the construction industry: http://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/15165/title/regional-materials-benefits-and-advantages/viewall/true
    • Options vary by industry
  • Use sustainable materials in your products
    • Bamboo: http://www.sustainablematerials.org.uk/resource/bamboo.html
    • Post-Consumer Recycled: http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/
    • Full list available at SustainableMaterials.org.uk/Resource/
  • Use sustainable packaging
    • Interesting article about the current state of the packaging industry: http://www.justmeans.com/blog/sustainability-is-no-longer-optional-for-suppliers
    • Sustainable Packaging Coalition: http://www.sustainablepackaging.org/
    • Interesting article listing some troublesome and common packaging problems and solutions: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/jul/18/good-product-bad-package-plastic-recycle-mistakes

Click here for tickets.

Update 5/2/17: Late breaking news! Tom Murphy, founder of Spenser and Associates, is sponsoring an upgraded Dessert and Drinks menu for everyone that joins us. We will be “thinking beyond” cookies and plain coffee and offering a variety of sweets, sodas, and espresso-based coffee drinks.

Pensacola Socialdesk, a coworking facility, will host a Lunch-and-Learn on May 8th at 11:45. The topic is “Thinking Beyond Profit-Making: How Social Entrepreneurs Achieve the Triple Bottom Line.” The event will feature a panel of community leaders sharing their knowledge about how companies of all types and sizes are realizing that there are sustainable competitive advantages to be found, and profits to be made, by focusing on the triple bottom line. Often referred to as the “three P’s,” the triple bottom line broadens an organization’s focus to include social issues (people) and environmental concerns (planet), as well as profit into business planning.

The panelists include Mona Amodeo, PH.D., Founder and President of idgroup; Daniel Jacobs, Director of Strategy & Engagement at Five Point, LLC; Dr. Haris Alibašić, Professor of Public Administration at UWF; and Jill Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Innisfree Hotels. The panel will be moderated by Jim Sparks, owner of Onpace Local and advocate for using the tools of entrepreneurship to build a better world.

Asked why discussing social entrepreneurship is important to the community leaders and business owners in Northwest Florida, Dr. Mona Amodeo responded, “there is a real opportunity for businesses to authentically embrace a focus on the 3 P’s; people, planet, and profits. Studies increasingly show Millennials and even Baby Boomers are looking to do business with companies that produce more for sustainable products and services—they will even pay more when they find them. It’s a win-win-win. Beneficial for the company’s financial bottom line, the environment, and the community.”

This is the second Lunch-and-Learn on the topic of making business decisions that have positive community impact. Pete Nowak, owner of Pensacola Socialdesk, said “There is no better way to change our community for the better than to have great minds coming together and working toward a common cause. Connecting people through these events is a passion of mine and we are all interested in learning more about how to use the techniques of social entrepreneurship to build a stronger Pensacola.”

Tickets to the event are $15. Students of all ages are invited for $5 with Student ID. The event is scheduled from 11:45 to 1:30pm on May 8th. A lunch of sandwiches, fruit, chips, and beverages is included in the price.

Click here for tickets.

As an ardent advocate of social entrepreneurship, I work at the intersection of business, academia, and community, to create new opportunities for building a better world. The idea for this panel came from speaking with Pensacola Socialdesk owner, Pete Nowak. The two of us were discussing whether there was a positive return on investment from corporate social responsibility. In the end, I agreed to conduct further research and to provide a presentation on the topic.

Through the process of researching the return on investment of corporate social responsibility, I started asking some of the people in the field locally, including Mona Amodeo, Ph.D., from idgroup, and Haris Alibašić, Ph.D., from the University of West Florida’s Public Administration department. During the research phase, Bob Foster from Venture Hive hosted a Lunch and Learn at Socialdesk. Right then, I realized that a panel discussion would be much better than a PowerPoint in engaging the community in this topic.

One of the positive outcomes, even before we host the actual event, has been making two new contacts with people that are passionate about corporate responsibility. I am excited to include Jill Thomas from Innisfree Hotels and Daniel Jacobs from Five Point, LLC in our circle of social innovators in Northwest Florida.

Pensacola Socialdesk is hosting the event from 11:30 to 1pm on Monday, March 13th, 2017. Registration is free for students and $10 for everyone else. A light lunch will be provided.

If you would like to join us, please register on our EventBrite page here.

A huge thank you to Pete Nowak and David Musselwhite from Pensacola Socialdesk and to our awesome panelists for agreeing to participate.