Changemaker Institute
Changemakers (n) – People who use their skills, expertise, gifts, and power in a way that creates positive social change and affirms the humanity of all people.
Program Overview
Starting a business is hard and can be very isolating. The Changemaker Institute (CI) supports budding social entrepreneurs who are interested in building a business or program with social or environmental impact. Our program unites graduate students, exceptional undergraduate students, and Tulane staff with little to no business background across Tulane who are working on a social impact business idea and provides a curriculum, framework and community to nurture ideas and provide and receive feedback and support. The program is best for early stage and exploratory venture ideas and is a great stepping stone to other accelerators.
What Is CI?
The Changemaker Institute (CI) is a semester-long program that fuels business with social or environmental impact. CI Fellows meet weekly, in person, at Propeller, on Wednesdays from 1-3 PM.
Our alumni describe the program as a “laid back accelerator” and “a family to nurture your ideas.” At the close of the program, Fellows share their ventures and their learnings in a public community showcase and receive actionable resources and feedback.
Who Are CI Fellows?
CI Fellows are either founders of their own social impact venture (such as a non-profit, program, student-run organization, or business) OR are innovators building new capacity within an existing organization.
Most CI Fellows are Graduate and Professional Students across Tulane. We occasionally accept exceptional undergraduate students and Tulane staff who have a strong understanding of the social issue they are seeking to address.
We strongly encourage team ventures, but solo participants are accepted.
Where Does CI Take Place?
CI participants meet weekly on Wednesdays from 1-3 PM in the Spring semester at Propeller (4035 Washington Avenue), a nonprofit organization in New Orleans that grows and supports entrepreneurs to tackle social and environmental disparities.
We see CI as a “mini Propeller” and many CI alums have gone on to become Fellows at Propeller. CI Fellows are responsible for their own transportation and arrive via car, carpool, bike, public transportation, or a Tulane shuttle for transportation (it is about an eight minute drive from both Tulane’s uptown and downtown campuses). Lunch is provided each week.
How Does CI Work?
We lead CI Fellows through a process that supports them to develop, research, test, and refine their idea for a business or program with social or environmental impact
During our weekly meetings, CI Fellows gain:
- A warm, supportive, inclusive and adaptive environment to nurture your idea
- Business development skills via design thinking and lean canvas methodology
- Mentorship from Tulane and New Orleans’ social entrepreneurial communities
- A framework and process to deepen their understanding of social issues skills
- Preparation for applying to funding opportunities at Tulane and beyond
- Introductions to guest experts, field mentors and access to a network of changemakers within and beyond New Orleans
- A community of “like-hearted” student changemakers striving to create positive change
CI NEWS
Contact
Julia Lang
Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Career Education and Life Design
Email: jlang@tulane.edu
Phone Number: 504-247-1963