
Fighting climate change one idea at a time
Social entrepreneurs create innovative ventures designed to change society for the better, borrowing lessons and principles from the business sector to address pressing social problems.
Understanding one’s target group, building a realistic business plan, and learning from experience are all integral parts of a social entrepreneur’s work.
However, social entrepreneurs see an even bigger ecosystem than the market. By definition, social entrepreneurs are focused on society as a whole. All entrepreneurs measure profits, but social entrepreneurs value most highly social, rather than financial, profit.
We engage students in active learning about entrepreneurship and social profit, preparing them to take up flexible, creative, and compassionate roles in society.
The idea of social innovation runs deep throughout our institution’s history. In many ways, Dwight Moody was an archetypal social entrepreneur who found a way to extend world-class education to those who could not afford it. NMH might now be developing a new generation of Dwight Moodys focused on building a more just and sustainable world by acting with humanity and purpose.
This yearlong class, started in 2015 thanks to the generosity of William R. Rhodes ’53, is the cornerstone of NMH's social entrepreneurship program. It is offered to eight to 10 selected junior “fellows” who start by sharing their own stories and hearing from and interacting with social entrepreneurs from a variety of fields.
Recent visitors include:
In the second unit of the course, students form teams to practice developing and proposing a social enterprise connected to the local community in Greenfield. This practice phase helps students work through the intricacies of learning about community needs and founding an organization.
Later, students create new teams and build their own social enterprises, using experiences and knowledge gained from the rest of the course. A team of volunteers with varied backgrounds and expertise advises students. Proposals must be approved in principle and for funding by a board that considers the organization’s sustainability, financial plan, intended impact, and efficacy. The board also examines the need for the organization, potential competitors, the larger ecosystem in which the new organization will operate, and how students intend to measure their organization’s impact.
Throughout the year, students build critical skills including communication, reflection, and perseverance.
My philosophy is: Fail early, so you can eventually succeed.
My philosophy is: Fail early, so you can eventually succeed.
Struggling in a class doesn't mean that you are not good at it.
I want dance students to engage their own memory and intellect.
"I’m a teacher and a dean. Teaching always comes first."
NMH bridges gaps and makes it real.
Science isn't just talk, but it certainly helps.
I love teaching AP Bio. The kids are highly motivated.
“The best thing about NMH is the connections you make.”
“NMH challenges students to innovate and persevere while keeping in mind the effects of our actions on the community."
“This community gives me the resources to grow as a student and discover passions I never knew I had.”
“I am confident in myself and my abilities to succeed, thanks to NMH.”
"I love the freedom I have to explore what I am passionate about."
"NMH gives us space to experiment and gradually to grow into ourselves."
"I noticed how welcoming everyone was when I first came to campus.”
“The first step to excelling at NMH is embracing your own individuality.”
“I appreciate the bond faculty and students have at NMH.”
"The community at NMH is unlike any I’ve ever known, and for that I am grateful.”
"NMH allows me to be myself in the classroom and ensures I am an articulate, curious, and courageous student.”
“I was initially surprised by how relaxed, yet academic, the environment is."
"The curriculum here is hard, but it’s the right amount of hard."
“The academics are extremely rigorous, but because of the way teachers present things, it’s like, ‘I have school today!’”