Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation

The Beeck Center exists to inspire and prepare all with the necessary skills to innovate solution-based social change. Find us, friend us, follow us: The Beeck Center || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

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"Don't wait. Start stuff."

How many book ideas have you had in your lifetime? How many revolutionary apps have you dreamed of developing? How many late-night discussions on political reform have you shared in a Harbin common room?

Life is made up of an incredible amount of "talk" and very little "walk." It's so easy to get caught up in a routine and never take time to do something once you get settled in your daily life. That book idea gets scribbled in an old notebook. Your genius app is "stolen" by a professional developer. Political reforms stay in discussion-mode only. Life goes on. 

Change doesn't happen in your fleeting moments of free time; change is dependent on energy and enthusiasm. You don't have to solve world hunger, but the next time inspiration strikes try setting aside time for it. Rather than tell your friends how cool it would be to start a non-profit, maybe google the logistics involved. Or, hey, you could always swing by the Beeck Center.

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We're making room for new ideas at The Beeck Center... What do you think should go on our whiteboards next? 

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"We are the ones we've been waiting for." -Colin Beavan

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"Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry."

There are a lot of quotes out there that describe what it’s like to be a social entrepreneur, but this one really hits the nail on the head. It’s not that those involved in Social Impact are trying to reinvent the wheel, but they are trying to make sure the wheel is still working.

Sorry I just explained an analogy with a different analogy.

Basically, when it comes to tackling problems in the social sphere, there is a dependence on innovation. Many of today’s issues have existed for generations; clearly it’s time for some new ideas. This is where social entrepreneurs come in: they are eager to think outside the box to come up with and implement an inventive solution.

So, you can give a man to fish, you can teach him to fish, or you can revolutionize the fishing industry. Clearly, the tasks only get more difficult as you go on, but necessity is nothing if not the mother of invention. The world right now needs some social entrepreneurs to go beyond what can be done; it’s time to do what must be done.

The Beeck Center does not pretend to have all the answers, but we’re willing to help supply others with the devices to come up with a few of their own. However, a revolution is not a one-man job. With our experiential opportunities, collaborative spaces, and Georgetown home base, we’d like to believe that people who come through ICC 100 walk out with some innovative ideas for making their own impact. Whether it’s revolutionizing the fishing industry or not, if it’s Beeck Center Approved it’s bound to be good. 

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"You got to be willing to walk in a storm." -Ray Lewis 

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"Everything that can be invented has been invented."

It’s no wonder this is one of the greatest misquotes in history; since 1899 no one has wanted to take credit for it. Their silence is no surprise, though. Think of it this way: when something's really old, you say it's been around for as long as sliced bread... Sliced bread was invented in 1924.

However, just because there are still things left to create doesn't mean it's easy to be innovative. In the past 100 years we've come up with the television, Google, Napster, and more, but what does it take to remain inventive in the 21st century?

We at The Beeck Center believe in the combination of Impact and Innovation. We're helping students, faculty, and global leaders make solution-based social change both near and far. We strive to provide, inspire, and prepare as many people as to go out into the world and leave a trail of Innovation and Impact behind them. 

You know as well as we do that there's plenty left to invent (I'm still waiting on that hoverboard, THawk). So with that in mind, The Beeck Center aims to foster entrepreneurial and solution-based thinking towards whatever these next 100 years may bring. 

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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela