We’re proud to announce Courageous Kitchen’s Dwight Turner has been selected as part of the cohort in an exciting new program to accelerate social businesses for the most at risk. The program, run by Santa Clara University’s Miller Center, targets businesses serving people on the margins, such as migrants, refugees, and human trafficking survivors. Dwight will receive business training and mentorship over a six month period, which includes a non-cash scholarship to participate in accelerator program’s culmination events in the bay area this October.
What is Social Entrepreneurship?
A regular business is created to take profits and distribute them to the owners, shareholders, or reinvest them back into the business. When a business reinvests profits into efforts to assist society instead, we refer to them as social businesses or social enterprises. The excitement about this new type of ethical business in recent years has led to many private sector and government backed efforts to support and stimulate their growth.
Over the past 15 years, the Miller Center at Santa Clara University has been especially active in the development of social entrepreneurs. The programs they have created coach, train, and mentor future social impact makers to prepare them to meet with potential investors. Dwight will be part of the Global Social Benefit Institute’s (GSBI) first Social Entrepreneurship at the Margins Cohort. He is selected to represent Courageous Kitchen with 21 other organizations, out of over 100 applicants.
Who is Dwight?
If you haven’t met Dwight Turner, he describes himself as both the director and janitor of Courageous Kitchen. These dual roles exhibit his willingness to do any task to help his team, and the families we serve in Bangkok. This isn’t an exaggeration either! On a given day, you may catch him coaching our young chefs in the kitchen, leading a street food tour through Bangkok, and speaking about the plight of urban refugees to a local school.
Dwight was surprised to learn he is selected, saying: “Courageous Kitchen is largely funded by the cooking classes we provide and have never had an opportunity like this cohort program. So, I’m really thankful. Also it’s great to see the Miller Center pivoting to tackle complex issues that would normally be overlooked by the business sector. It’s exciting to think that Courageous Kitchen will be a part of this new conversation, I can’t wait!”
More Info
We’re excited for Dwight’s journey to Silicon Valley, although we’ll miss him while he’s away traveling! You can read more about this program, and the other fascinating organizations selected to participate, in this announcement from the Miller Center.
