During the 2nd week of February, EPICentre welcomed the newest cohort for the Libro-EPIC Social Enterprise Program. Throughout this 13-week program, participants will have the opportunity to attend exclusive workshops on topics such as human-centered design thinking, social impact, storytelling, and branding, testing ideas, and other business fundamental topics. They will also work closely with a trained social enterprise coach from Pillar Nonprofit Network on business model generation. 

Each of the social enterprises will also have access to $2,000 on eligible business expenses, and in addition, have the opportunity to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges for a chance to win a $5,000 cash prize, sponsored by Libro Credit Union. This program is valued at over $6,000 and is 100% free of cost to all participants. 

Welcoming the 2021 Social Enterprise Program Participants: 

• Beneficent Learning – Founder, Omolade Williams 
  Seeks to bridge the gap between the demand for and supply of specialist roles by providing guidelines and collaboration relating to diversity and inclusion of culture to employers and entrepreneurs
  https://www.blaccess.ca 
• Community Family Fitness Centre – Executive Director, Angela Yakonich, Co-Founder, Bradley Bellavance and Program Coordinator, Danielle Atogwe 
  A fitness centre where profits will go toward providing supports to people experiencing homelessness, affordable housing and food security
  https://www.wfhcp.com/community-family-fitness 
• Mantra Farms – Founder, Vikas Varma Datta
  A new kind of vertical farm that reduces the significant hurdles of labour and energy consumption and is an effective utilization of space 
• Seeds Rooted in Youth – Founder, Janneke Vorsteveld 
  Experiential outdoor programs for both youth and adults in Huron County on topics such as outdoor skills, medicinal plants, understanding bees, meditation, fishing, conservation, farming, and many more
  www.seedsrooted.org   
• Sheth Events Designs – Founder, Shriaa Sheth
  Environmentally sustainable and educational event planning to reduce the impact of events on the environment 
  https://www.shetheventdesigns.com  
• The Working Class – Co-founders, Christine Montgomery & Vita Fiore
  An innovative workforce development program for marginalized individuals that provides in-house employment opportunities through their catering service, which will offer boxed lunches and suppers to migrant workers