Here’s some really exciting news that almost slipped through the grates of the Techburgher grill last week. We’re back from the Fourth of July break, so check this out:
Last Tuesday, June 30, President Barack Obama highlighted innovative programs that are transforming communities around the country, calling upon foundations, the private secto and social entrepreneurs to partner with the newly created Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation to invest and scale up these innovative programs.
Pittsburgh Social Entrepreneurs Felix Brandon Lloyd (Skill-Life), Chris Koch, & Andrew Butcher (GTECH Strategies), all current Echoing Green Fellows were among the select crowd of social innovators from around the country gathered for the President’s announcement.
Having recently created the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation along with a $50 Million Social Innovation Fund the President declared that “now more than ever, we need to build cross-sector partnerships to transform our schools, improve the health of Americans, and employ more people in clean energy and other emerging industries.”
The words rang true for Koch and Butcher, 2007 Heinz College graduates whom co-founded Growth Through Energy and Community Health (GTECH) in 2007 with a vision of transitioning environmental liabilities (such as vacant land) into community based economic development opportunities in the green economy. GTECH reclaims vacant land through the growth of alternative energy crops to transition blighted space and serve as a platform for Green Jobs. The two were awarded an Echoing Green Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurship in 2008 and are a 2009 Portfolio Venture with the Social Innovation Accelerator.
Attending the event was “an immense honor and significant opportunity” noted Felix, President and CEO of Skill-Life, Inc. Skill-Life is developing a game-based platform through which tweens earn real-life rewards as they play games that teach life skills such as financial literacy, nutrition and citizenship. A beta version of the Company’s first application of this platform, CentsCity, will be launched later this month. Lloyd is a 2007 Echoing Green Fellow and Skill-Life was incubated with Innovation Works’ AlphaLab.
Both social enterprises are located in the Construction Junction facility in North Point Breeze and are planning a follow up roundtable with the White House and other public and private partners for the coming months.
“It is clear that Pittsburgh is at the forefront of the Social Innovation dialogue, and we, as a community, have a tremendous amount to be proud of, and to share with the nation,” stated Butcher.
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