The Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies has launched a “Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition” (SEIC), reinforcing the University’s commitment to community service in the St. Louis region.
The inaugural event Sept. 8 featured a conversation with Joe Edwards, owner and developer of Blueberry Hill, the Tivoli, The Pageant and Pin-Up Bowl, all in the Delmar Loop neighborhood.
“Joe is a visionary entrepreneur whose work serves as a model for neighborhood stabilization and urban revitalization,” said Kenneth A. Harrington, managing director of the Skandalaris Center and senior lecturer of entrepreneurship in the Olin School of Business.
“There is no better symbol than Joe of a social entrepreneur — someone who uses entrepreneurial skills to craft innovative processes, approaches and solutions to help resolve social issues. Joe has been a catalyst for change and collaboration in the neighborhood, with remarkable results and impact.”
Rather than give a speech to the 150 people who filled May Auditorium in Simon Hall, Edwards sat in an armchair opposite another area social entrepreneur, Steve Zwolak, executive director of the University City Children’s Center. Zwolak interviewed Edwards about his path from opening Blueberry Hill to spearheading the effort to turn the Loop around.
“Really, it was about survival,” Edwards said. “There were some not-so-nice people in the area, and I didn’t want to deal with them. I wanted to set a tone for Blueberry Hill and I realized I had to work on everybody in the neighborhood — this meant dealing with the not-so-nice people, but also talking to the other merchants and city hall.”
With his unassuming demeanor, Edwards doesn’t give the impression of a social maverick bent on turning a neighborhood’s economic well-being around. But in the 33 years since opening Blueberry Hill, Edwards helped the Loop development expand beyond the University City border into the city of St. Louis.
He bought the Tivoli movie theater to preserve the building; built The Pageant to bring in top musical artists; and also bought several buildings on both sides of Skinker Boulevard, which he leases to various merchants.
Harrington said Edwards’ efforts are worthy of emulation. He said even though there is a financial prize, the SEIC isn’t really about the money.
“It’s about encouraging more people to be innovative like Joe Edwards,” Harrington said. “If we can make that happen, then we will all end up with a better society.
“It’s about tapping into the latent energy of people that has been restrained. It’s about finding and encouraging innovative ways to deliver needed public goods and services. The value of this competition is in the learning, encouragement, networking and feedback that happens when people enter.”
Anyone in the region is eligible to participate in the competition. The winners will receive up to $65,000. Part of the prize money is the $35,000 YouthBridge prize, which will be awarded to a youth-related venture.
In June, Youth-Bridge — the University’s partner in the SEIC — pledged $500,000 in funding over five years to help start the competition.
The 135-year-old YouthBridge Association was previously known as the General Protestant Children’s Home for orphans. YouthBridge’s mission evolved to fund and support multiple innovative youth-focused social ventures.
The competition’s winners will be announced April 27, but there will be a variety of workshops and activities to provide support for participants along the way.
Harrington emphasized that the competition involves students from all parts of the University and all degree levels.
He said this involves collaboration from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, the Olin School of Business, the School of Law, Arts & Sciences and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
The University and YouthBridge are inviting other area universities, institutions, community groups and foundations to collaborate on this effort. Interested individuals can participate in just some of the activities that will be held throughout the year.
For more information, go online to sces.wustl.edu.