On March 22, 2013, Eastern University’s Enactus team, formerly known as SIFE, attended the Baltimore Regional ENACTUS competition. Over thirty-five colleges from the East coast congregated in Baltimore to present their team’s projects, and how they have affected their campuses in terms of environmental sustainability, social justice, and business promotion. Eastern Enactus presented six of their best projects.
Blankenburg is Eastern’s initiative to teach business skills and spend quality time with inner-city students in East Norriton Middle School. The goal is to invest in the student’s education and motivate their interests in graduation and post graduation plans.
Eastern Enactus is responsible for creating the on-campus community garden, where students cultivate the produce which is then donated to Broad Street Ministries. This year, a second garden is being constructed at Good Samaritan Church in Paoli, Pa. and produce will go towards their food closet.
Colonial Electric is another one of Eastern Enactus’ projects. Colonial Electric approached the Eastern Enactus team in order to put a social media plan together. The team created a LinkedIn Blog, Facebook page and Twitter account. Eastern Enactus provided them with valuable information to increase their brand awareness, brand image and communication with their target audience.
The Rooted Micro-Enterprise Development Program is a project in which the Eastern Enactus team has worked on creating a micro-finance venture in North Carolina, which will offer affordable loans to refugees to start their own enterprises. Eastern Enactus has been responsible for conducting searches for MED funding, writing the business plans, creating the company logo, and conducting research.
Eastern’s Enactus team is holding a second annual Shark Tank event, which mimics the ABC network’s original series, in order to promote an entrepreneurial spirit on campus. During this event, students presented their business ideas to judges and students in a competition for cash prizes.
Freedom Stones is a non-profit organization which fights human trafficking through income generation projects aimed at not only providing financially for vulnerable families and their children, but also works to empower individuals through holistic training and skills development. Eastern Enactus is responsible for largely conducting the market research for the business.
Eastern’s Enactus team left the competition as regional champions and was presented with the opportunity to continue to compete nationally in Kansas City, Mo. If interested in joining the Eastern University Enactus Team, please contact Dr. Socci at asocci@eastern.edu.