Social Innovation Grant
The Entrepreneurial Grant program awards mini-grants of up to $500 for Social Innovation Projects. Do you have a new social change initiative idea?
If you are interested in applying, make an appointment with Kris Estenson - x3268.
Upcoming Proposal Deadline & Pitches:
If you inquire past the dates above, your application will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please contact Kris Estenson <estensok@stolaf.edu>.
Social Grant Recipients:
Laura Bretheim ’14 (Env. Studies), Christina Herron-Sweet ’12 (Env. Studies), Cassie Paulsen ’15 (Political Science and Env. Studies, Education Conc.), Sonja Helgeson ’15 ( Biology, Env. Studies), Will Lutterman ’15 (Env. Science, Economics)
Project: Take Back the Tap
Our goal is to raise awareness within the student body about the social and environmental implications of bottled water and initiate a change in student behavior with respect to buying bottled water and carrying reusable water containers, with the final outcome of eliminating the sale and distribution of bottled water on St. Olaf campus.
Anne Daily ’12
Major: Environmental Studies
Project: E.G.G.PLANTS (Everyone Gets to Grow Plants)
In conjunction with the Environmental Studies Department and the Food and Nutrition Service Learning Collaborative Grant, Anne worked with faculty and staff at St. Dominic Elementary School to create an organic school garden. E.G.G.PLANTS is a multi-study curriculum for the schools K-8 program that uses the garden as a resource, involving students in the entire process of creating the garden, integrating the produce into the school lunch program.
James Daly ’13
Major: Environmental Studies
Project:
Making Trayless Dining Easy: An approach to reducing food waste in Stav Hall
St. Olaf students dining in Stav Hall throw out roughly 3,000 pounds of food per week. Many colleges have moved to trayless dining because it saves money by significantly reducing food waste. The goal of this project is to make the behavior of dining without a tray easy. First, we will use sociological research to identify any barriers to this behavior. Second, we will work with Bon Appetít to minimize any barriers we uncover. Finally, we will use community-based social marketing to promote this behavior.
Elizabeth Harness ’13 (Env. Studies and Women's Studies Conc.), Zac Rakke ’12 (Biology), Alice Carlson, Anne Daily ’12 & Alison Carlson ’12 (Env. Studies)
Project: Mobile Chicken Coop & Guidebook/Instruction Manual
Our project will be to construct a mobile chicken coop for the SEEDS Farm and then create a guidebook/instruction manual for other community members to use as they plan their own mobile chicken coop. Mobile chicken coops are of great benefit to farmers who are trying to reduce the use of synthetic inputs and build a more biotic system into their farm.
Nicholas Kang ’12
Major: Biology and Individually Designed Major: Social and Community Development
Project: Smart Step Youth Initiative
The SSYA is dedicated to developing and delivering programs and services for youth living in communities struggling with any or all social disparities. Our association is organized and operated by youth who are strive to better their community and themselves by bearing the societal responsibility of creating positive social change. We believe that by training and preparing our youth with the positive attitudes, ethical morals, and transferable leadership skills, we can make a significant difference in the greater community.
Lauren Kramer, Andrew Kaul, Roz Anderson, Rachel Pain ’13 & Taryn Arbeiter ’12
Major: Biology (Lauren, Andrew, Rachel) | Concentration: Environmental Studies (Lauren & Andrew & Roz); Major: Political Science and French | Conc.: Management Studies (Taryn)
Project: Green Cone Composting
Our plan is to integrate composting into students’ waste-management habits by providing composting in dorms and honor houses. Unlike waste-diversion programs at many other schools, which contract with waste-management companies to compost off-site, our plan will convert waste to soil on-site at each building. We will work in conjunction with Student Work, Residence Life, and Facilities to implement a student-run composting system.
Jennifer Nilsen ’13 (Spanish, Management Studies Conc.), Anne Brooker ’13 (Psychology and Latin American Studies & Management studies Conc.) and Gabe Rysdahl ’11 (Math)
Project: No Child Left Unsupplied
The key problems that we are addressing are the issues that stem from the dichotomy between the excess of school supplies for some students while their classmates lack these same supplies. Our venture seeks to redistribute unused supplies in order to ease the burden of purchasing supplies for families who struggle to afford them. We feel NCLU begins to level the educational playing field because it will adequately prepare students for school, and give them self-confidence in their school readiness.
Lara Palmquist ’13 & Gabriel Trejos ’14
Major: Env. Studies and Biology (Lara); Econ. and Env. Studies with a Mgmt. Studies Conc.
Project: Compost Project for SEEDS Farm
SEEDS Farm is a Northfield based agriculture endeavor dedicated to fostering a healthy and sustainable community. My role in this ongoing research involves implementing a composting system for the farm that will involve local material and waste products. This composting system will provide a sustainable outlet for the natural waste generated by the farm such as chicken waste and vegetable products, as well as a connection to the local community through the employment of the food waste from the Bridgewater Elementary cafeteria.
Isaac Rysdahl ’14 (Sociology/Anthropology) and Anne Brooker ’13 (Psychology and Management Studies, Latin American Studies Conc.)
Project: Interchange Peru
Interchange Peru works in the district of San Juan de Lurigancho with the neighborhood community of Catorce de Febrero. Our mission is to foster community and individual development through education and the sharing of cultures. Volunteers and Peruvians work together to identify community resources and goals, investigate innovative programs, and collaboratively implement change.
Serena Xiong ’13
Major: Biology | Concentration: Biomedical Studies
Project:
Radon Awareness
In conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health's Indoor Air Unit, Serena will be implementing a public health project that will effectively promote Radon awareness for Hmong and Hispanic homeowners living in Brooklyn Center, MN.
The project will involve education on what Radon is and families will receive Radon test kits for their homes.