Jumpstart at the White House

Jumpstart Co-founder Shawn Landres speaks to White House gathering
of faith-based social entrepreneurs

Jumpstart presented a Jewish perspective on social entrepreneurship at the July 11th White House Faith-Based Social Innovators Conference. The afternoon’s discussions offered new insights about the important role that faith-based social innovators play in expanding opportunity and addressing social issues.

Senior White House directors Jonathan Greenblatt of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation and Joshua Dubois of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships convened the gathering of more than 100 leaders from a diversity of faiths and organizations.

Emily Leventhal, Shawn Landres, Jonathan Greenblatt (White House), Joshua DuBois (White House), Joshua Avedon, & Paul Vandeventer (Community Partners)

Shawn was one of only nine featured “spotlight innovators” chosen to address the entire conference because they and their organizations “are finding innovative ways to make a positive impact on our society and economy.” His remarks were about Jumpstart’s work, and about bridging the gap between faith-based and secular social entrepreneurship.
“Faith-based need not mean faith-bound,” Shawn reminded the room. “And secular social enterprise need not isolate itself from faith-born creativity.”

Jumpstart was represented by Shawn and Co-founder Joshua Avedon, as well as board members Emily Leventhal and Rachel Cohen Gerrol (who just started her term as Chair this month). We were joined by Paul Vandeventer of Community Partners, with which we operate the Project Partnership, a joint venture to fiscally sponsor emerging Jewish and interreligious organizations. Also present was Perry Oretzky, President of the Angell Foundation.

Learn more:

• Check out the Storify-ed live tweets from the conference
• Watch the video of Shawn’s remarks
• Read excerpts from Shawn’s remarks
• See photos from the event

Media & Blog Coverage

• JTA news brief
• “Of Wedges and Willing Allies” (Paul Vandeventer, Community Partners)

Organizations

• White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation
• White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
• Community Partners
• Project Partnership
• Angell Foundation

Follow the conversation on Twitter: #WHInnovation, #FBSocInn

• Jumpstart: @jmpstrt
• Shawn Landres: @shawnlandres
• Jonathan Greenblatt: @j0nathan_g
• Joshua DuBois: @joshuadubois