A Year In Review: The Inaugural Social Entrepreneurship Cohort on a Year of Growth

At the beginning of 2021, NBA’s Social Entrepreneurship program launched its first-ever Social Entrepreneurship Cohort. This cohort was the first of its kind and consisted of 10 members, who attended the SENT Seminar in 2020 and demonstrated an interest and willingness to work with NBA’s social enterprise team on a deeper level in order to launch and grow their new social service organizations.

This cohort model was a shift from a one-time collective gathering, the SENT Seminar, to several gatherings throughout the year. The goal: to enhance relationships between entrepreneurs, support budding social enterprises and provide education for social entrepreneurs. 

Of the 10 cohort members, three applied for and received Fall 2021 Mission & Ministry Grants totaling $17,000, two members have received their 501(c)3 status, and four of the cohort members launched crowdfunding campaigns in 2021 that NBA was able to match. As their time together came to an end, several cohort members shared what this intentional space created for them meant for their personal growth and the growth of their ministries. Watch their reflections below.

Managerrie Winston on Being Thankful Through the Ups and Downs

Constance Folsom on Finding Vision in the 2021 SENT Cohort

Andre Brown on Accountability 

Amber Mattingly on Being Inspired and Finding Community

Loren Richmond on Joining a Community of Entrepreneurs

Delesslyn Kennebrew on Feeling Accomplished