What could we unlock in our economy if we started recognizing people for their strengths, not the barriers they face? Today, at least 10 million Americans are shut out of the workforce by experiences like homelessness or involvement with the justice system. Despite deep wells of talent, these individuals face obstacles to employment, often caused and compounded by the racial inequities embedded in our systems. Employment social enterprises (ESEs) are key to unlocking this vast talent pool.
ESEs operate across sectors and level-up the employment experience by serving as both triage and trampoline for the people they employ: offering stabilizing support (think assistance with housing, transportation, and childcare), and providing a springboard to an increasingly mobile career journey. This model is evidence-backed, yielding at least 8 years of increased economic mobility, a north of 250% increase in housing stability, and a 66% reduction in reliance on government benefits. Most impactful is the ripple effect that happens: individuals build their resumes while gaining skills and financial independence, families thrive, and our communities prosper.
In this workshop, you’ll learn about the cross-functional partnerships that make employment social enterprises successful and scalable. You’ll hear from REDF, the nation’s premier venture philanthropy focused on employment social enterprise, Homeward Bound of Marin, a social enterprise and REDF grantee focused on ending homelessness, and Woodcock Foundation, a REDF national funder that supports inclusive economic development. You’ll come away from this session with resources and frameworks to identify, partner with, and support the employment social enterprises in your community.
