An SVPRI-led initiative, SERI (Social Enterprise Rhode Island), aims to capitalize on the significant amount of emerging social enterprise activity in the state, to increase awareness and share best practices to enhance the economic viability of our social services sector. SERI seeks to create an engaged social innovation community, become a hub for capturing state wide social innovation activity, and to make social enterprise development a key piece of the state’s economic development strategy. Further, SERI members work in the mission in which Rhode Island will build a reputation as the example for social enterprise nationwide. The SERI initiative includes the following components:

1. Social Enterprise Community: This an inclusive effort to bring together stakeholders from the private, nonprofit (including university faculty and students), and government sectors to develop mutually beneficial collaborations, share models, lessons learned and best practice; and to promote positive social and economic change in the state.
2. Events: Watch for new SERI and social-enterprise-related events in the Rhode Island area.
3. Resources: The SERI initiative powers social change by providing a platform to facilitate human, financial and intellectual capital to social enterprise. Partners provide pro bono consulting and reach into their network for resources and opportunities.
4. Innovation: In partnership with other community organizations, the SERI initiative will expand to develop and provide services that support social entrepreneurs and social enterprises.