The word is getting out about building flourishing communities in the Valley and beyond.
Some 143 people attended “Business for the Common Good: Kingdom Companies and Enterprising Ministries,” hosted by the Fresno Pacific University Center for Community Transformation (CCT) and School of Business. Participants came from Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Kingsburg, Madera, Merced, Tulare, Visalia, Reedley, Orosi and one from Salinas—about half for the first time, according to organizers. Among them were a record 35 FPU students.
The event, part of The Work of Our Hands Summit Series, took place April 28, 2016, in Valley Christian Center, 4649 E. Shields Ave., Fresno. Highlights included keynote speaker Ivan Gonzalez, a coach for social enterprises, and Tom Sine, author and futurist, who presented one of the 13 workshops.
See Sine’s interview with Randy White, D.Min., CCT executive director on Youtube.
“Business for the Common Good” is part of the CCT’s continuing effort to equip faith-based leaders and organizations to create enterprises with a social as well as a financial bottom line, providing goods and services as well as training and employment for people who need it most. This year two workshop tracks were available: one for business people, professionals and business students, and the other for churches and community benefit organizations.
Many social enterprises have received financial and developmental support from another CCT project: the Spark Tank. A friendlier version of Shark Tank, in Spark Tank leaders of proposed and existing benefit organizations pitch their ideas to a panel of local business leaders and FPU business faculty. In three years, 19 organizations have been aided.
Anyone interested in entering the next Spark Tank is invited to a workshop June 16, 2016, for help on creating a business plan. Register for the free event on Eventbrite.
Support for Business for the Common Good also came from APLOS, Tree of Life Cafe, Lanna Coffee, Young Men’s Initiative (Orosi), Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC), Valley Edible Landscapes, Say Hello Advertising, FACE Rock Pile and Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. Tree of Life, Young Men’s Initiative, Valley Edible Landscapes, Say Hello Advertising and FACE Rock Pile are all Spark Tank Winners.
More about all of the work of the Center for Community Transformation