Entrepreneurship for the Common Good

by Dave Blanchard

In The Next Christians, Gabe Lyons, founder of Q, chronicled a growing movement of socially conscious Christ-followers who are grounded in their gospel commitment and seek to advance the common good of all people. Perhaps Lyons could have shared your story. Perhaps you are one of these Restorers.

Many of us have felt the call of God pulling us to where our deep passions and skills intersect with His heart. When we discover these unique places, we can’t help but become entrepreneurial. We create new organizations and set out to join God in the renewal of all things.

We thrive in the beginning of this adventure on the intellectual and emotional adrenaline sparked by the infancy of our organization. But great ideas take great effort, and some of the very things necessary for sustainable success—such as working in community and receiving quality mentorship—are easily left out of the picture. Without this vital support, we fall short executing on our calling.

To address these challenges, the Q team has collaborated with us to create Praxis, the first program for entrepreneurs to receive the support they need to create high-impact, gospel-centered organizations that advance the common good.

Each year, we open the Praxis accelerator to 12 mission-driven for-profit and non-profit organizations in the early stages of their development. We strive to accept a diverse pool of fellows working across the seven channels of culture.

Praxis Fellows receive world-class mentorship, an incredible peer community, and the opportunity of being awarded $100,000. They will also attend three collaborative events where they will receive guidance from over 20 highly experienced mentors, including Gabe Lyons, founder of Q, Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, Joy Anderson, founder of Criterion Ventures, Stephen Graves, founder of Coaching by Cornerstone, Chris Crane, former CEO of Opportunity International, Charles Lee, founder of Ideation, Peter Greer, CEO of HOPE International, and Catherine Rohr, founder Prison Entrepreneurship Program.The culminating event will be held in 2012 during Q Washington, D.C. where the $100,000 in cash awards will be given to the top three organizations, as voted on by the Praxis Fellows and the Q audience.

Applications for the first class of Praxis Fellows are due July 15, 2011.

Visit the website at www.PraxisLabs.org to apply and for more information. You can also follow the program on twitter @praxisinfo.

Watch Dave Blanchard speak on Praxis Social Entrepreneurship at Q Portland.

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What do you think a gospel-centered organization looks like?
How has mentorship affected your work?