PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vice President Kamala Harris and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, former governor of Rhode Island, visited Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) in downtown Providence, R.I., today to meet local social entrepreneurs and learn about their businesses. Also in attendance were Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman David Cicilline, and Congressman James Langevin.
The entrepreneurs presenting in-person to Vice President Harris were Dr. Eugenio Fernandez, Jr., founder of Asthenis; Sandra Enos, founder of Giving Beyond the Box; Sterling Stallman, cofounder of Incred-A-Bowl; and Philip Trevvett, cofounder of Urban Greens Co-op Market. In a "mini-pitch" modeled on SEG's traditional pitch night presentation format, all four of them described their business mission in two minutes and answered follow-up questions.
In the Vice President's comments, she said that to grow the U.S. economy, it's vital to consider the needs of small businesses. She emphasized that many small businesses are inherently engaged in social impact because they are such an important part of their communities, and that running a small business is usually not only about profit but also about having impact in a community and measuring success based on that impact.
"We were excited to host Vice President Harris and Secretary Raimondo and even more excited to hear how crucial impact and small business are to their agenda," said Kelly Ramirez, CEO of SEG. "They recognize that the entrepreneurs they met, and many others that are part of SEG's vibrant social impact ecosystem in Rhode Island and beyond, are helping our economy to become more just, equitable, and resilient."
"I was happy to tell the VP about our future plans," said Sterling Spellman, cofounder of Incred-A-Bowl. "We have a big vision for our Incred-A-Bowl Fresh Start program, employing people who are deemed unemployable or hard to employ. We plan to go nationwide by 2030 and give 2,500 people a chance to open their own Incred-A-Bowl and offer other people opportunities. We believe in a second chance for people to get back into the workforce so they can not only provide for themselves but help others grow personally and professionally."
About SEG
Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) creates positive social and economic impact by providing social entrepreneurs and enterprises with the tools and networks they need to thrive. It fosters an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable, and resilient economy. SEG operates statewide in Rhode Island from four programming sites in Providence, Newport, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Its network of 600+ enterprises and 250+ business and community leaders contributes time, expertise, and funding to grow Rhode Island's social impact ecosystem. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.
Media contact:
Karen Donovan
Communications Director
[email protected]
401 383 4286
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Social Enterprise Greenhouse Hosts Vice President Kamala Harris and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Visit to Providence Today - PRNewswire
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