Louisiana is First State in the Nation to Launch an Institute to Incubate Innovative Social Programs

Abstract

In the face of tremendous challenges in post-Katrina Louisiana, social innovators began solving the most critical problems facing Louisianans; and the State’s Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu took notice. In 2006, he created the first in the nation Office of Social Entrepreneurship to advance social innovation by supporting the creation and growth of the most innovate, measurable, and sustainable solutions to the social problems affecting Louisiana's citizens. As Lt. Governor Landrieu has worked to spearhead innovation in the public and private sectors, the Office of Social Entrepreneurship itself has become an example of innovative government practices.

In 2006, the Office of Social Entrepreneurship partnered with the Louisiana Serve Commission to launch the Changing Louisiana Initiative - a statewide initiative that drew 1,500 participants to city-specific conferences aimed at promoting citizen involvement in social entrepreneurship and volunteerism. As a result of this initiative, the Office of Social Entrepreneurship recognized the need to make a greater investment in social innovators to realize the transformative change desired. In 2007, the Office of Social Entrepreneurship initiated a partnership with Root Cause, a Boston-based consulting firm, to develop a strategic plan focused on incentivizing innovative and measurable solutions developed by social service providers – public and private, and to support its implementation. These efforts lay the groundwork for the Social Innovators Institute, which in these unprecedented economic times is more necessary and relevant than ever before.

According to Landrieu, “In these difficult economic times, when budgets are strained and social challenges are mounting, there is growing recognition that social innovation and entrepreneurship must be a significant part of the solution. We have to spend smarter and invest in what works to solve society's problems."