KU to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week through lens of social entrepreneurs


LAWRENCE — Each November since 2008, Global Entrepreneurship Week has been celebrated internationally to encourage and inspire innovation.

This year, the University of Kansas School of Business will host its Global Entrepreneurship Week celebration Friday, Nov. 22, with a special focus on social entrepreneurship.

“We continue to see an increasing interest in social entrepreneurship from students,” said Charlotte Tritch, associate director of entrepreneurship programs and the event coordinator. “Global Entrepreneurship Week is a perfect platform to expose students from across campus to the concept of social entrepreneurship, and shows how students can use entrepreneurial thinking to solve today’s social challenges.”

The daylong celebration, titled “Strengthening Communities and Growing Economies through Entrepreneurship,” will begin 9 a.m. in the Lied Center Pavilion. The celebration will kick off with a student competition. Teams of KU students will present their ideas for ways to promote economic growth in Wyandotte County, specifically Kansas City, Kan.

At 10:30 a.m., the chief executive officer of Silicon Prairie News, Regan Carrizales, will moderate a panel on social entrepreneurship, which will include Jeremy Farmer, Lawrence city commissioner and chief executive of Douglas County food bank Just Food; Wyandotte County Commissioner Ann Brandau-Murguia; entrepreneur and KU alumnus Munro Richardson; Andrew Stanley, KU alumnus and founder of VolunteerMark; and John Gordon Jr., executive director of Kansas City nonprofit Boys Grow.

The day will include comments by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran on the role of public policy in promoting entrepreneurship. Moran, a longtime advocate of entrepreneurship and innovation as a path to economic prosperity, is returning to KU for the second year in a row to help the School of Business celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Attendees also will enjoy a networking lunch with area social entrepreneurs, KU students and faculty, and invited guests.

With more than 130 participating countries, Global Entrepreneurship Week has become the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators who bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

The event is free and open to all KU students, faculty and staff, but space is limited, and registration is required by Friday, Nov. 15. Attendees can register online. For more information, contact Tritch at 785-864-7563 or ctritch@ku.edu.

Media are invited to attend.

Wed, 11/06/2013

author

Austin Falley

Media Contacts

Austin Falley

School of Business

785-864-3852