Main Street Birmingham, Woodlawn Foundation Partner in ‘SocialVenture’

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Woodlawn Foundation and Main Street Birmingham are partnering to create a new initiative, called SocialVenture, that will combine nonprofits, social entrepreneurs and small business in an effort to foster community development.

"Every day we work with small business owners who don't just want to make money, they also want to make their community a better place to live," Main Street Birmingham Interim Executive Director Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker said in a statement.

“SocialVenture will be a space where like-minded people can work side by side, sharing ideas and resources to make them more successful.

The two organizations announced today that they hope that SocialVenture will become a hub for social entrepreneurs.

The 12,000 square foot building will be directly across from 55th Place Arts, a new business and arts incubator in Woodlawn and will become the new headquarters for both Main Street Birmingham and Woodlawn Foundation. The headquarters will also have shared workspace and conference rooms available.

Main Street Birmingham is a nonprofit agency that works to foster neighborhood revitalization in nine urban commercial districts in Birmingham. In 2010, the Woodlawn Foundation was formed to help the struggling neighborhood be better utilized.

“This will be another draw for people in Birmingham to come back to Woodlawn, to see it in a new light and to think about how they can invest their time, talents and resources in Birmingham’s great neighborhoods,” said Sally Mackin, the Woodlawn Foundation’s executive director.

By Martin Swant
AL.com