When Richmond, California faced economic and social crisis in the 1970s, a group of volunteers responded by starting a drop-in center for those in need. The tiny organization continued to grow and respond to its community's needs, and is now Rubicon Programs, a multi-million dollar nonprofit organization that not only provides a broad spectrum of social services, but also operates three booming businesses. In this episode of The Visionaries, we'll visit Rubicon Bakery, Rubicon Landscaping Services, and Rubicon Home Care Agency, and examine the notion of social entrepreneurism and what place it has in our economy. Social entrepreneurism describes businesses that are providing a quality product or service to compete in the marketplace, in addition to providing a social service to their community. Rubicon Programs is giving people hope by giving them a job.
