Issue link: https://takingitglobal.uberflip.com/i/955494
Closing Reflections Jennifer Corriero | Co-Founder and Executive Director, TakingITGlobal In my journey as a social entrepreneur, I am continually inspired and uplifted by power of creativity, community and technology as tools for transformation. It is incredible to be able to support young people in creating vibrant and hopeful pathways that shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for everyone. Our Sprout Fellowship model has allowed for learning experiences to be shared in many ways and I would like to express my gratitude to TakingITGlobal team members Ronit Schwabe and Jessica Matthews for their leadership and ability to organize and deliver so many meaningful opportunities for our fellows, ranging from the intensive summer training hosted at OCAD, Field Trips, facilitation of personalized mentorship sessions along with regular evening group learning sessions with guest speakers that directly respond to the needs and questions of our participants. There are also many other TakingITGlobal staff, alumni, advisors, mentors and friends who have generously offered their time, talent and experience to support this effort. I would also like to recognize the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth and express my appreciation for the support that was provided to youth as part of this program. It is critical that when we think about growth of the economy, that we are also thinking about the environment and the health of society as a whole. Social Innovation allows us to imagine new models and approaches that support sustainable growth for people and the planet. For those of us who support young people in our lives, as family members and community members, it is important for us to remember how delicate ideas are when they first form in our minds, hearts and dreams. We need to take care of one another and foster spaces within education systems, workplaces and public spaces, that truly allow ideas to be expressed and nurtured. We need to reflect on what it really takes for ideas to sprout and grow into something beautiful so that we can all be a part of contributing to environments that allow children, youth to thrive and grow into adulthood as healthy citizens. I do hope that the insights shared in this report have offered you a little extra burst of support in your own path and social entrepreneurship journey. 18