The Role of the Student in Social Innovation Policy

The progression in the articles of the creation of the White House's Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation was as inspiring as it was important to the progress of social innovation in the United States. Having "civic entrepreneurs", or even just socially-minded people as part of the policy process is extremely important.

One section of Michele Jolin's article struck a chord with me personally. She has a section that mentions the (then unformed) OSICP would focus on, among other things, "fostering partnerships with the university community to prepare young people for careers in the non-profit sector; ensuring that the student load debt does not prevent qualified, interested young people from entering the nonprofit sector." In a field such as social innovation, where new ideas and a passion for change that has not been dampened the constrictions of bureaucracy are the keys to success. While some people can sustain this energy their whole lives, there are others whose social impact is at its maximum during college and directly after graduation.

While I have heard many important aspects of the OSICP, this is one that I have not seen any actual policy change in as of yet except for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. While this program is aimed to help students going into the public sector, it does not quite foster social entrepreneurs to go into the field of innovation soon after graduation. Working in the public sector for 10 years is not the same as having the financial flexibility to start an organization or social venture.

I would like to highlight one innovator who has a unique and inspiring option for social innovators facing loans that are debilitating to their goals. SponsorChange.org, created by Heinz College's own Raymar Hampshire, offers an extremely rewarding partnership opportunity for students, organizations, and loan collectors. Instead of offering a shortened loan terms, it offers $20 per hour of volunteer services at a local organization.  The organizations are offered a solution to The Center for American Progress’s “challenge of finding qualified staff at every level, especially middle managers, [that] has slowed their ability to expand, even when financial capital is available.”  Students give back to the community, organizations get the help they need and the loans get repaid in a timely manner.  Who can say no to a win-win-win?