Dear Reader:
We are excited to bring to you the Spring edition of Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal. The first regional web-based journal of its kind, the Journal brings together Philadelphia’s social innovators and entrepreneurs who are on the front lines solving our most pressing social issues in the region and beyond.
In this third edition of the Journal, we feature articles that examine innovations in special education, mentoring, fresh food and nutrition, and government services access. You’ll meet leaders who have created new education models that target children who have special education needs and are achieving success. You’ll learn how a group of Philadelphia leaders and policy-makers tackled “food deserts,” took their Fresh Food Financing Initiative to the White House and made it a national model for replication. You’ll see how one for-profit company created a public benefit software program and through partnerships with local nonprofits is now connecting thousands of people to government benefits they qualify for here in the region and beyond. And you’ll gain insight into new models of providing mobile dental services to inner-city children and youth, along with new ways of connecting with vulnerable youth that will change the future of how we provide mentoring services.
We have also invited contributions from local and national experts in organizational leadership, in management, in performance-based and high-impact nonprofits, and in leadership development. As always, some of these articles are provocative by design, and we look forward to getting your reactions and feedback. What excites us is that regionally and nationally known and up-and-coming authors are contributing thought pieces on disruptive innovations and lessons about what works and does not work in the social sector.
We have many people and organizations to thank, including our local funders and investors: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Foundation, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, Independence Foundation, The Thomas Scattergood Foundation and St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children, William Penn Foundation and Wachovia Foundation. We also want to thank our partners from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Fels Institute of Government, and School of Social Policy and Practice, along with La Salle University and Drexel University.
Finally, we appreciate all your feedback and welcome your input and ideas. We encourage you to get involved, whether by contributing articles, blogging or sharing ideas about social innovators and innovations that we might highlight in future issues. This Summer we’ll feature several innovators who were nominated through “Nominate an Innovator.” To reach us, please email Tine Hansen-Turton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Nicholas Torres at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thank you for tuning in! We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Nick and Tine