The Social Enterprise Model is simply the recognition of a social problem and using entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change.

The innovation regarding using the Social Enterprise Model with employability training is that it’s all inclusive in its practice and implementation. This model combines the components of job readiness training, emotional preparedness and personal strategic planning, with the introduction to an actual marketable skill-set.

Developmental programs for at-risk youth often focus on self-esteem building and goal setting, as they should. However, for most of these programs the process for self-development can be extremely abstract and ambiguous for At-risk youth. The process for many of these programs, often focus on self-development independent of tangible successes and achievements. The process often does not propose a relevant context for self-development, especially for Youth from our most at-risk communities.

Because self-development and economic development are traditionally addressed independent of each other, a major objective of Job Readiness Training; through the Social Enterprise Model is to combine both areas as a best practice to help at-risk youth reach their full potential. Opportunities to positively affect change are in the areas of:

• Behavioral change

• Confidence and esteem building

• Strategic thinking and planning

• Marketable and transferable employability skills

• Emotional preparedness for employment

• Entry-level employment

• Program sustainability

• Ratification of a social problem