Center for Social Innovation

Entrepreneurship and small business development are catalyzing the revitalization of New Orleans, a city devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Join the New Orleans Service Learning Trip and become part of the city’s redevelopment as you apply your business skills to consult for local entrepreneurs.

This is a unique spring break experience for anyone interested in consulting, business development, community development, and/or entrepreneurship—an experience that has been unanimously declared “transformative” by previous participants.

Please note: this trip will not be offered for credit toward the Service Learning Initiative in 2010-11. To find out more about the informal New Orleans Trek, however, contact the Public Management Program.

Trip highlights

• Develop strategic recommendations for local small business owners participating in an “Entrepreneurship Challenge” facilitated by The Idea Village.
• Meet entrepreneurs who have benefited from the intellectual and financial contributions of previous Stanford GSB students.
• Gain a deeper sense of the management challenges facing this historic city.
• Understand the complex nature of post-disaster recovery and rebuilding.

About our partnership with The Idea Village

The Idea Village is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a vibrant entrepreneurial community in New Orleans. Following the destruction by Hurricane Katrina, The Idea Village’s role became integral to the city’s rebirth.

How has the school been involved in New Orleans?

Stanford GSB students responded with direct emergency relief efforts in spring 2006, a few months after Hurricane Katrina devastated many parts of New Orleans. They returned to the city every year through 2009 on Service Learning Trips, which have evolved with the needs of New Orleans’ business community.

Faculty Advisor

Rick Aubry, Lecturer in Management
Work focus: Rick Aubry has lead one of America’s leading social enterprises, Rubicon Programs, for over 20 years. His work at the GSB focuses on social entrepreneurship to effect positive social change throughout the world.

What did we learn during past trips?
	2009: The Stanford IDEAcorps team was assigned the daunting challenge of preparing Feelgoodz for its first major distribution deal: the launch of its line in Whole Foods. Business owner Kyle Berner later wrote of the experience: “My partner MBA team from Stanford stepped in and provided expertise from all angles: marketing, finance, management, logistics, operations, etc.” In just 3 weeks following the introduction of the flip flop line to Whole Foods, Feelgoodz’s sales have grown more than 7 times. Since then Ashley Payton (MBA '09) and Sara Thomas (MBA '09) joined The Idea Village, where they work with the portfolio of companies and help to plan the next New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
	2008: Coached by social entrepreneurs Rick Aubry, the students contributed to city revitalization by selecting a local entrepreneur to occupy retail space in The Idea Village’s new Business Innovation Center. "Hairdresser Finds New Roots in Ninth Ward" News Orleans CityBusiness
	2007: With social entrepreneur Rick Aubry advising the group, GSB students participated in the redevelopment efforts through strategic guidance and targeted grants to 25 small businesses. "Merchants Get Top Academic Advice" Times- Picayune New Orleans Edition "After Katrina, a Lesson in Business Hope" Los Angeles Times
	2006: Gutting houses to address the physical destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Trip account on the students’ blog

“The level of engagement of the Stanford GSB students and faculty was great. Each student seemed genuinely interested in the school and in finding ways to contribute to the education reform movement in New Orleans.” —Morgan Carter, New Schools for New Orleans