2008-2010 Enitiative Projects in Neighborhoods

Enitiative funding has been awarded to the following projects that exemplify the vision of entrepreneurial Scholarship in Action in neighborhoods:

Family Business Center
Public Relations for Local Organizations
Extension of Northside Entrepreneurship Learning Initiative
Mask & Puppet Cultural Heritage Resource Library
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)
Black Syracuse
Student-Community Engagement Initiative
Marketing Not-For-Profit Entrepreneurial Organizations
C3 Studios Initiative: The Student Video and Digital Film Company at Cayuga Community College
The E-Ship Road Map
Managing Media Assets – Creating Audio and Video Products from the Production of Live Events: An Auburn Public Theater/Cayuga CC Joint Venture
The Ethnography of the University: Studying Scholarship in Action
Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurs
Creation of On-line/Credit-free Training Modules in Entrepreneurship
The Downtown Writer’s Center Exchange
Syracuse Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp
Youth Entrepreneurs of Syracuse Conference
Guatemala Project
Service-Learning & Civic Leadership
Westcott Neighborhood Bulb Planting Project
SCORE and Morrisville State College Joint Initiative
Inclusive Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities
SANE Civil Leadership Institute
Microbrewery/Brewpub Feasibility Study
Jefferson Row

Family Business Center

Larry Bennett and Craig Watters, both members of the faculty at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, and Carol Hill, Director of Workforce Solutions and Community Relations at the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to establish a New York Family Business Center.

The Family Business Center will develop strategies and policies to perpetuate family ownership while advancing those strategies necessary for success: business planning, organizational structure, management practices and succession planning. Members of the Center will meet regularly, participate in skill building workshops and receive up to date strategies on the management of family businesses. These issues may include leadership succession, ownership transfer, long-term planning, and financial equity among and between parents & children, sibling challenges, career paths for family members, communication, harmony and other issues specific to family run businesses.

Public Relations for Local Organizations

Dennis Kinsey, Associate Professor, and Robert Kucharavy, Professor of Practice, both in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, have been awarded an Enitiative eTeam grant to create a public relations design center.

The public relations design center will combine the efforts of six course sections each academic year to provide students with real-world exposure to clients requesting public relations services. Students will be working with clients who are entrepreneurs and will be exposed to the public relations needs and challenges that start-up companies and nonprofits face when they are in the fledgling stage and have the most need for marketing, yet have few financial resources. Students will have to be innovative in building successful public relations strategies given the constraints that many new organizations face, further preparing them to think as entrepreneurs and innovators.

Extension of Northside Entrepreneurship Learning Initiative

A team of Le Moyne College faculty have been awarded an Enitiative grant to extend the activities of the Northside Entrepreneurship Learning Initiative.

This initiative will develop entrepreneurial learning across the curriculum at Le Moyne College while contributing to revitalization projects on the North Side of Syracuse. Faculty will lead student teams that will develop plans for entrepreneurial initiatives on the North Side. New proposed class projects include the formation of a gallery and art initiatives to help the Northside Mosaic project, an e-Commerce course that will develop a webpage for an emerging business, and student involvement with the Downtown Writer’s Center to develop entrepreneurial skills in literary endeavors.

Mask & Puppet Cultural Heritage Resource Library

Geoffrey Navias, Artistic Director of Open Hand Theater, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to develop a Mask & Puppet Cultural Heritage Library through the Open Hand Theater.

Open Hand Theater will create a library of traveling cultural resource units, which will include a series of puppets or masks with other artifacts, music, and folk literature that present a specific culture or geographic location with an emphasis on cultures represented in the Syracuse community. Le Moyne College students have been involved in the planning process and will continue to work on the creation and implementation of this new entrepreneurial venture from the conception stages through final implementation.

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Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)

The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University has been awarded an Enitiative grant titled Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV). Peter Blanck, Burton Blatt Institute Chairman and University Professor, will use the funding to support the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans and the entrepreneurs participating in the program over the next two years.

Building on an innovative program created in 2007 to expand the reach of educational programs in entrepreneurship available to veterans, the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University is leading a nationwide partnership with the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Mays Business School at Texas A&M University and Florida State University's College of Business to offer cutting-edge training in entrepreneurship and small business management to veterans with disabilities. Leading BBI’s efforts have been Gary Shaheen, Managing Director for Program Development, and James Schmeling, Chief Operating Officer.

The Burton Blatt Institute: Centers of Innovation on Disability (BBI) fosters public-private dialogue to advance the civic, economic and social participation of persons with disabilities in a global society. The institute takes its name from Burton Blatt (1927–85), a pioneer in humanizing services for people with mental retardation, a staunch advocate of deinstitutionalization and a national leader in special education. BBI currently has offices in Syracuse, New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Tel Aviv. For more information, visit http://bbi.syr.edu.

Black Syracuse

Joan Bryant, Associate Professor in the African American Studies Department at Syracuse University, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to organize and interpret “hidden” African American research collections around entrepreneurship in the Syracuse region.

The project provides students hands-on experience with archival processes and materials that comprise African American research collections. It aims to make collections related to local businesses, organizations, events, and individuals accessible to community members, students, and scholars. Bryant’s course will heighten public awareness of the significance of African American culture, entrepreneurship, politics, religion, and social history in the region.

Student-Community Engagement Initiative

Jan Cohen-Cruz, Director of Imagining America, and Christine Elliott, Programming Coordinator for 40 Below, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to create a permanent link between 40 Below and the Syracuse student population to increase retention after graduation.

40 Below will involve area students in the Syracuse community through civic participation, internship opportunities, and engagement in the arts, culture, business, and politics. Students will discover and engage in the cultural opportunities Syracuse has to offer, increasing the appeal of the city. By retaining young professionals in Syracuse after graduation, human capital in Syracuse will increase.

Marketing Not-For-Profit Entrepreneurial Organizations

Wally Elmer, Professor of Business Administration at Le Moyne College, and Geoffrey Navias, Artistic Director of Open Hand Theater, have been awarded an Enitiative eTeam grant to develop two marketing courses in which students will assist existing and emerging entrepreneurial efforts of not-for-profit organizations that operate on the north side of Syracuse.

Professor Elmer has extensive marketing experience including work in the not-for-profit sector. Mr. Navias has been active as a not-for-profit entrepreneur for over twenty-five years and has been extensively involved in the social and economic development of Syracuse’s north side. Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels will gain an appreciation for and understanding of the strategic planning process as well as the unique nature of not-for-profit entrepreneurs.

C3 Studios Initiative: The Student Video and Digital Film Company at Cayuga Community College

Steven R. Keeler, Professor of Telecommunications/Broadcasting, Director of Cayuga Community College’s Programs in Video and Electronic Media, Audio and Music Production, and Telecommunications Technology, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to create a student-managed video and digital film production company and distribution enterprise, supported by a practicum course at Cayuga Community College.

Through this project students will learn the business of running an independent video and film production and distribution company. Students will also learn the operations of production companies, from project development to final distribution. Entrepreneurship knowledge will be infused into the video production curriculum, giving students knowledge and experiences to help them start their own businesses when they leave CCC.

The E-Ship Road Map

Steven R. Keeler, Professor of Telecommunications/Broadcasting, Director of Cayuga Community College’s Programs in Video and Electronic Media, Audio & Music Production, and Telecommunications Technology, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to create a road map for student entrepreneurs.

The entrepreneurship road map will be designed to be followed from admission to college through the successful inception of a business after graduation. The plan will be a pilot project in the college’s Audio/Music Production and Video/Film programs but will be designed to be adopted by other academic disciplines. The project has three objectives: 1) to infuse entrepreneurial activities into the curriculum, 2) to establish relationships with and commitment from the community and government agencies to enable graduates to continue their entrepreneurial activities, and 3) to provide potential students with a clear plan for entrepreneurial business development from their first day in college, through successful creation of a business and beyond.

Managing Media Assets – Creating Audio and Video Products from the Production of Live Events: An Auburn Public Theater/Cayuga CC Joint Venture

Steven R. Keeler Professor of Telecommunications/Broadcasting Director of Cayuga Community College’s Programs in Video and Electronic Media, Audio & Music Production, and Telecommunications Technology, and Carey Eidel, Executive Director of Auburn Public Theater, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to develop a partnership between the Auburn Public Theater and CCC to create audio and video products from live events.

The project will combine the resources of the Auburn Public Theater with those of the CCC Telecommunications Department to infuse entrepreneurship skills into video and music business practicum courses. The two organizations will engage in a joint venture to teach student entrepreneurs how to produce live events and market and distribute the media assets that result from those events.

The Ethnography of the University: Studying Scholarship in Action

William Kelleher, Associate Professor of anthropology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to engage students in a study of Scholarship in Action between Syracuse University and the surrounding community.

Scholarship in Action projects often bridge the divisions that may be perceived between citizens and scholars, and students in this course will be encouraged to study the collaborative and innovative efforts that break them down. The course will focus on student-community-faculty collaborative projects that address social gaps by co-producing plans, programs, performances, structures, and organizations in the city of Syracuse, particularly its south, west, and near west sides. It will help students to understand the complex nature of the university as an institution and the ways that institutions are embedded in wider political, social, and economic contexts.

Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurs

Onondaga Community College, Child Care Solutions, the Small Business Development Center, and the Children’s Learning Center at OCC have been awarded an Enitiative eTeam grant to help students preparing for careers in early childhood education develop the entrepreneurial skills they will need to creatively respond to the unique challenges of the field and adapt to evolving, diverse child care needs within our communities.

Through this e-team project, the partners will develop new interactive, web-based learning modules that demonstrate creative teaching strategies while more effectively preparing students to creatively address child care challenges facing both child care providers and individuals struggling to obtain affordable, high quality child care in our communities. Faculty will consult with the Small Business Development Center to develop a business plan module for online and face to face sections of EDU 180 and link the course to components of the SBDC’s online Small Business Start Up. Students will also use the Children’s Learning Center on the OCC campus as a case study.

Creation of On-line/Credit-free Training Modules in Entrepreneurship

Elizabeth McCormick and Thomas Paczkowski, from Cauyga Community College, and Terri Bridenbecker, Executive Director of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to create online, credit-free training modules in entrepreneurship.

To develop the project they will convene a team of community resources, including individuals from SCORE, The Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Development Center to solicit their views of the type of training most valuable to area social and economic entrepreneurs. This information will be synthesized by small business consultants and educators who will identify the topics for delivery and the most effective mode of delivery. Offerings at other colleges and universities will be reviewed for relevance as part of the planning process. The team will then design the training program and adapt it to the SUNY Learning Network.

The Downtown Writer’s Center Exchange

Phil Memmer, Director of the Arts Branch of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to build a bridge between the Downtown Writer’s Center (DWC) and the creative writing programs at Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, and Onondaga Community College.

The DWC will send visiting authors to participate in creative writing courses at the three colleges. The authors will provide students with information about the business of writing: the publication process, finding an agent, small business issues, starting a small press, and other entrepreneurship topics that are part of the writing life. The students from that class will visit the DWC for the author’s reading. As a result, the DWC will see increased participation by area college students and students will be exposed to the business side of the writing life from professional authors.

Syracuse Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp

The Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University has been awarded an Enitiative grant to provide ten full scholarships for the Syracuse Entrepreneurs Bootcamp to deserving entrepreneurs who would not otherwise be able to pay the fee.

The Syracuse Entrepreneurs Bootcamp is led by Syracuse University faculty and features presentations by successful guest entrepreneurs. The Bootcamp is a rigorous six-session program designed to assist entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in growing businesses successfully and profitably. Topics covered include business concepts and models, writing a business plan, marketing, financing your business, legal considerations, and more.

Youth Entrepreneurs of Syracuse Conference

Craig Watters, professor in the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, has been awarded an Enitiative grant to support the Youth Enterprise of Syracuse (YES) conference.

The Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management will launch the YES conference in fall 2008, with an attendance goal of 200 youths between the ages of 13-25. The YES conference is a full-day event that will teach and inspire youths about entrepreneurship. The day combines inspirational role models, including prominent local entrepreneurs and nationally recognized entrepreneurs, with several break-out sessions that will touch on specific topics of starting and growing ventures. Sessions and presentations will be tailored specifically for youth aspiring to be entrepreneurs, looking to grow an existing venture, or are just interested in entrepreneurship.

Guatemala Project

Amanda Nicholson, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, and Brenda Rosenbaum, Director of Mayan Hands, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to expand upon the successes of an ongoing fair trade business project between Guatemalan craftswomen and Syracuse University.

Products created by Mayan women in Guatemala have been selling in the SU bookstore since February 2007 to the campus community. Just over $10,000 worth of jewelry has been sold at the University, with all proceeds going back to Guatemala. The grant will help cover travel expenses for the SU-SIFE team, which will travel to Guatemala City and visit different groups to scout new ideas that will translate into new products specifically designed to sell to the college student consumer and to the wider consumer base that they target.

Service-Learning & Civic Leadership

Meg Osborne, Counselor in Career Services, and Jeanine Eckenrode, Coordinator for Academic Advisement & Student Development, both at Cayuga Community College, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to explore service learning at CCC.

The grant will help generate a feasibility study to research and examine the implementation of a centralized Service-learning Office at Cayuga Community College. The project will also introduce students to models and leadership skills that lead to a better understanding of positive community interactions and to the development of a course entitled Introduction to Civic Leadership, which would offer students opportunities for purposeful community service and establish links to the local community.

Westcott Neighborhood Bulb Planting Project

Mark Rupert, Professor of Political Science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and Peter Wirth, Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Westcott Neighborhood Bulb Planting Project, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to support the Wescott Neighborhood Bulb Planting Project.

The Bulb Project raises funds to purchase large quantities of perennial bulbs from a major wholesaler, Van Bloem Gardens, and then distributes the bulbs free of charge to neighborhood residents and community and school groups on the understanding that they will be planted somewhere visible from the street to beautify the neighborhood. The ESF Landscape Club has designed a landscape plan for planting flowers in the backyards of homes on the northeast corner of the intersection of Westcott and Euclid streets. The plan will help beautify a central intersection of the neighborhood and students will gain real-world experience in learning to work with clients ranging from community residents to university faculty.

SCORE and Morrisville State College Joint Initiative

Christopher Scalzo, Assistant Professor in the School of Business at Morrisville State College, and Joe Anderson, of the Madison County chapter of SCORE, have been awarded an Enitiative eTeam grant to expand entrepreneurship in the community through a joint initiative.

The initiative is focused on three efforts: Boot Camp for SCORE Members, Entrepreneurial Video Toolkit, and consulting projects for students at Morrisville State College in the BBA in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management degree program. These three efforts will help to further skills of SCORE members, expose entrepreneurship students to real entrepreneurs, and create entrepreneurial projects for future entrepreneurs.

Inclusive Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities

The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University has been awarded an Enitiative grant titled Inclusive Entrepreneurship. Gary Shaheen, MPA (Maxwell 1986), Managing Director for Program Development at BBI, will use the funding to support StartUP NY, one of three national technical assistance centers on self-employment for people with disabilities established through the US Department of Labor/Office of Disability Employment Policy.

StartUP NY is an Onondaga County initiative, managed by BBI in partnership with the Whitman School of Management and other local partners. It provides business training to people with diverse disabilities and helps them obtain micro loans to start their businesses. Shaheen also will receive an E-Professorship award to establish a new course: “Inclusive Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities”.

SANE Civil Leadership Institute

Sarah Miraglia, graduate student at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and Mark Spadafore, Executive Director of the Syracuse Alliance for a New Economy have been awarded an Enitiative grant to fund research for the Civic Leadership Institute (CLI).

The CLI is a civic education program that facilitates a shared understanding of the Syracuse economy among a diverse range of community leaders. Miraglia’s sociology students will investigate local, national, and global trends from the perspective of participants in the local economy. Students will then come together to create a plan for various groups that is sensitive to these trends but that also takes the needs of the community into concern. This relates to entrepreneurship in the sense that much like individuals, businesses and non-profit groups operate in a community context and their success rests on comprehending and synthesizing the needs of the community into a plan for action.

Microbrewery/Brewpub Feasibility Study

Gregory Szczepanski, Director of Information Technology, and Thomas Paczkowski, Fred L. Emerson Endowed Chair in Innovation and Enterprise, both at Cayuga Community College, have been awarded an Enitiative grant to fund the preparation of a business plan to explore the creation of a microbrewery located in downtown Auburn.

The project is an academic exercise designed to engage students in the learning and development process, and development of the enterprise will be optioned as the research indicates and resources become available. Recipe refinement and market strategy development may be followed by contract brewing and distribution prior to establishment of the microbrewery/brewpub in downtown Auburn. The methodology to prepare a plan will be available for use at the Stardust Entrepreneurial Institute as a template for entrepreneurs interested in establishing a brew pub in their community.

Jefferson Row

Syracuse University’s COLAB, in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, partnered with the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce to recreate “Jefferson Row.” With the goal of linking Armory Square and Columbus Circle, students created visions, designs, concepts, and plans to turn Jefferson Row into a retail district. The Chamber will use facets of these visions and concepts as a template and starting point for their attempts to encourage the development of sustainable and high-quality retail offerings along Jefferson Row. It is the intent of the Chamber to continue to engage students throughout the next steps in turning these visions into reality.