Compass Fellowship Benefit (Photos by James Li)

Halfway through the evening, Arthur Woods and Neil Shah stood up to thank everyone in attendance and explain the mission of the program and our plans for expansion. Fellows Alex Honjiyo, Tom Zorc, and James Li joined the two founders to reflect upon the ways in which their Fellowship experiences had changed their first years of college. They also each discussed their own social ventures, noting the impact Compass has made on where they are today. Following the speech, guests continued to enjoy the food, drinks, and company. Many in attendance made generous contributions towards the future of the program and the goal of reaching 300 Fellows on 20 campuses by 2012.

The night was a huge success overall and Compass Partners is very grateful to all those who continue to support the Fellowship. If you are interested in learning more about our fundraising efforts or making your own contribution, please visit here.

There’s nothing more exciting for us than to see the incredible things that our good friends and partners are accomplishing. We’re proud to have had an amazing relationship with Sparkseed over the last couple years. They are now gearing up for a high impact summit for ambitious, young leaders that we wanted to share with you.

Dangerously Ambitious, is their first annual gathering of young social innovators, angel investors and professional allies. The theme is “unusual relationships through unforgettable experiences”. Rather than a typical conference of panels, keynotes, and presentations, we are convening for 4 days of sky diving, sea kayaking, yoga, hiking, and urban gaming. The goal is to build new relationships and encourage bold collaborations. More details on their summit click here.

Every student participated in Compass Partners’ Project H2O simulation, a social business activity that simulated a water crisis facing the fictitious third-world country of the Gavel Republic. Students were challenged to solve the water crisis by assuming roles in either a start-up company, MicroSolutions,  a large commercial beverage company, Orbital Beverage Co., or through a position in the Gavel Republic. Following an introduction video created by the Compass Team, each student received an extensive guide detailing the scenario and assigning a set of resources and constraints for each of the three groups. The students worked in small teams to create a creative solution to the crisis and then presented their ideas to the rest of the congregation.

The overarching theme of Project H2O was to enforce that some of the greatest issues facing our world can be solved by assuming a social entrepreneurial role, whether that be from the position of a small business, a large corporation or the government.

The George Washington University

The Compass Fellows program is cementing its base at George Washington University for Fall 2010 through partnerships with the GWU School of Business, Social Enterprise Forum, and undergraduate Net Impact chapter which will facilitate the process of replicating the Georgetown pilot program’s success. Dan Preiss and Cristina Roman, the founders of GWU’s Compass Fellows chapter, and their team will spend the summer preparing for what promises to be a tremendous journey starting this fall. The partnership between The George Washington University’s Social Enterprise Forum and School of Business, which will lend expertise in both social impact and entrepreneurship, is an ideal position to grow the newly-formed Compass Fellows chapter.

American University
Through the leadership of Sheena Yoon and Josh Kaller, the American mentor team is working this summer from all corners of the globe to launch the Compass Fellowship on their campus this fall.  Compass has already established a solid relationship with the School of International Studies as well as several business professors, and looks forward to expanding its network even wider in the coming months. The mentor team at American proudly represents a variety of countries and intends to integrate a global perspective of social entrpreneurship into the program for each of the freshmen fellows who are accepted.  The American team is spending the late summer preparing for the arrival of its freshman applicants and is looking forward to an exciting year that is sure to be full of great surprises!

Indiana University
The Compass Fellowship is venturing out to the Midwest – taking root in Indiana University with the help of brothers Nick and William Huster. Through partnerships with local businesses and entrepreneurs, and the Liberal Arts Management Program, the IU Wing of Compass is shaping up to be a huge success. In July, our inaugural group of mentors is entering a s eries of training modules to prepare them to start shaping the lives of their fellows and in August, recruitment will begin. The college town of Bloomington, IN is an exciting home for this class of Compass Fellows, being a hotbed for musicians, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals. This is the first step toward making the Compass program truly a nationwide endeavor – and we’re so excited to make it happen.

Here is a post from 2010 Compass Fellow Nick Maida:

My name is Nick Maida, student at Georgetown University and founder of Africa Unite. This time next week things are going to be a little bit different to say the least. I will be half way around the globe in one of the most impoverished nations in the world, Ethiopia, in an effort to work towards the launching of Africa Unite. The experience will prove to be an eye-opening one. I have repeatedly been told, “no matter what expectations you may have, you are going to be shocked.” The two-week trip will be filled with opportunities to network and work with microfinance institutions, NGOs, and possible business partners.  However, the intangibles cannot be overlooked in building relationships and making ineffably valuable contacts.  The African business culture is very much relationship-oriented and the process of becoming an insider, rather than outsider, is a process that will certainly extend past the short two-week trip.  I will be staying in a home in Addis Ababa, the capit

al, and the city of Dima with a friend whose extended family lives there.

I approach this trip with a great deal of excitement. The emergence into the culture, living with a local family, and the opportunity to get an insider’s perspective will be invaluable to furthering the success of Africa Unite. And needless to say, it will be an amazing adventure and a lot of fun.  The Africa Unite website is now up and running at www.AfricaUniteOnline.com. I will be blogging and posting video on a daily basis so that you can follow my trip. I hope you will come along for the ride.

Angela presents her venture, "Headlines," at the Gala

The following is a post from one of our Fellows, Angela Morabito:

This past Monday night, when most Georgetown students were celebrating the last day of classes, the Compass family had something extra to celebrate.  Lohrfink Auditorium was full of Compass members and supporters for the graduation of the 2010 fellowship class.

Getting there was a process none of us will forget.  From weeks of modules, coffee meetings, and mentor group activities came the community of socially-minded, creative people we call Compass.  At some point, everyone was stressed.  At some point, everyone was a little nervous about their ventures.  At some point, everyone had to lean on each other.  But at that point, on Monday night at the Gala, everyone was happy.

We were happy because we knew that the Gala was not the end of Compass.  It was just the beginning of Compass, as both a program that will bring the joys and challenges of social entrepreneurship to schools across the nation, and as an ever-expanding group of friends that all of us cherish.

But the Gala wasn’t just one big party (although it sure felt like one!).  Each fellow was charged with the task of giving a three-minute presentation of their ventures to a crowd of nearly three hundred people.  How do we fit this past year, and all we have accomplished in it, into three-minute slices?  To be honest, I don’t know how we did it – it took lots of rehearsal, and, yes, even some last-minute cramming – but Compass made it happen.

It was such an eye-opening experience to see the friends I had made throughout the year speak about their passions; there is not a single one of us who doesn’t plan on changing the world.  I got to see people I usually run into in class, at the gym, or in the dining hall in a totally new way – it made me realize how thankful I am to have these people in my life, and how their talents and dedication inspire me every single day!

When it came my turn to speak, I was extremely nervous.  All I could hear as I walked onstage was one high heel after the other.  But as soon as I started to share my project, I felt at home.  What a way to finish the Compass Fellowship’s inagural year:  I had no doubt that I was in the right place, with the right people, and doing the right thing.  I can’t wait to see where all of our ventures take us, or to meet the next group of fellows.  To the entire Compass Team:  Thank you for making my freshman year so awesome!

The Following is a post by 2010 Compass Fellow: Elizabeth Sabol-Jones:

Mondays are always hectic. The week has just started, morning classes seem never-ending, and the students of Georgetown have to get back into the swing of a week of homework heavy nights supplemented by a good dose of caffeine. Regardless of this typical Monday schedule, there’s one Monday event that never gets repetitive: Compass. And for the week of April 12, Compass was a “sweet” success.

On April 12, Compass Fellows and Mentors made their way to Love Café  on U Street for the weekly module, which consisted of sitting down with Warren Brown, owner of love Café, to discuss how to form strategic partnerships. As an avid baker, I found myself getting more and more excited throughout the day, counting down the minutes until I would be able to ask the renowned bakery owner and Food Network star about his experience and time as a DC café and bakery owner. I was not disappointed.

Stepping into Love Café, I was greeted by comfy seats and a case of cupcakes that looked delicious! The Compass group was guided to a small seating area as we waited for the module to begin. As Warren began talking about his baking experience, I found myself agreeing with most of his comments. As he talked about his diverse background as a lawyer turned baker and business owner, one thing he said in particular forced my face out into a grin. Warren, saying something along the lines of, “A lot of people think baking is difficult because it’s exact and temperamental, they think baking is all in the science, but it’s really about the experience. You throw in a little of this and a bit of that and switch things up. You have to feel the recipe.” Without realizing it, I subconsciously began nodding my head, thinking of how I bake…basically without the use of measuring cups and constantly changing or adding things to my recipes.

Although Warren was talking about the experimental nature of baking, this idea of embracing the unknown directly corresponds to the art of forming strategic partnerships. In Compass, we do not learn a specific method for forming partnerships or networking; there is no exact recipe to reach out to people. Guidelines are our starting point. Just like in baking, you begin with a basic recipe: a little flour, some sugar, butter is a must, and then a smidgen of vanilla; but after the basics, you move on to the unknown: some bananas maybe some pumpkin puree, a bit of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg. Forming partnerships with people is the same. We each introduce ourselves, exchange stories, and hope for a connection; but honestly, after the formalities, it’s all about the extras, the surprises, and the random combinations that just seem to work and yield results. Forming partnerships does not break down into necessary components that add up to the same results every time, but if you work hard enough and constantly open yourself up to new ideas, you’re bound to get results.

So, thanks Warren, you taught me to “let the chill come off the cupcake,” not to over-flour my batter, and reminded us that partnerships are not preplanned actions. And let me say, getting complimentary cupcakes was definitely the “icing on the cake” for the day.

To make this all happen, we are taking 6 summer interns to work with us over the summer. The full description of the program is here, but rest assured – this will be an incredible experience.

If you’re interested in being a part of this team, visit our internship description here and send an e-mail to interns@compasspartners.org.

Hey Everyone! My name is Angela, and right now, I am the luckiest person on Lau 3. That’s because, while people flip through textbooks and crank out papers, I’m working on my Compass Venture!

Note: Compass has taught me that working smarter is just as great as working harder. So, I have spent many an hour in Lau flipping through a textbook or cranking out a paper (don’t worry, Mom and Dad…:), but now it’s most definitely Venture Time. The Compass Family has made me a better student- teaching time management but also building a community of very dedicated people who never stop being inspiring- y’all are awesome!!!

Another Note: What is my venture, you ask? It’s called Headlines: Smartwear for Women. What is Headlines, you ask? It’s an accessories line (headbands, barrettes, scarves, and hopefully even headphones someday!) that challenge negative female stereotypes.

My road to my venture idea was a bit different than most…I went from water purification systems to online dating to a bakery to spaghetti sauce before I landed on Headlines! Compass helped me hone in on a cause that means a whole lot to me– and that cause is women in society. I bet everyone can name several smart women in their lives who take real pride in their intelligence. So, why is Headlines necessary? Because the two standard images of women in the media seem to be the dorky bookworm or the HIlton/Lohan/Spears crew. (Compass has taught us that the media sends lots of messages- and the message our venture sends through the media is a crucial part of the marketing experience). Women, especially the young ones, want an affirmation that they can have the best of both worlds (smarts and fun…both of which Compass has in abundance!) I have no doubt that there are plenty of smart women out there who love fashion and mainstream culture just as much as they love to learn. (I have no doubt that there are lots of us here at Georgetown!) And it is time for us to stand up and be counted.

When I look back to the start of my freshman year, I am so thankful to Compass for helping me to gain confidence in myself and and experience new things (with great people!) along the way. From that first round of interviews to our ropes course retreat to boot camp to last night’s cupcakes- it has been a fantastic ride!

Thanks for reading! And now for a shameless plug: If you’d like to learn more about Headlines, go here! And follow the blog for updates and merchandise photos, coming soon! Check out my website.