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Are They Poor? Remembering Dr. King's Legacy
We pause to remember Dr. King who was assassinated 40 years ago today, before completing the Poor People's Campaign, an effort to secure economic opportunity and justice for Americans of every race living in poverty, which he called "the second phase of the civil rights struggle." When asked why he wanted to help whites from places like the Appalachian mountains, King answered: "Are they poor?" The graph below compares the levels of poverty in America at the time of Dr. King's death and the poverty that continues in our communities today.
Source: Washingtonpost.com, April 4, 2008.
Round II of Accelerating Socal Entrepreneurship in Virginia: Successful Conference Encourages Participants to Share Ideas and Enthusiasm for Social Innovation
 Governor Kaine and Lt. Governor Bolling headlined the Phoenix Project’s statewide conference on Accelerating Social Entrepreneurship in Virginia on March 19, 2008 at the Richmond Marriott. Two hundred leaders from the public, private, nonprofit and academic sectors throughout Virginia attended, including leaders of thirty universities.
Following an address by Governor Kaine, the luncheon panel included remarks from Lt. Governor Bolling; Jim Ukrop, entrepreneur and Chairman of Ukrop’s Super Markets; Dr. Gregory Dees, author and co-founder of the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business; and Dr. Diana Wells, President of Ashoka, a multi-national nonprofit organization supporting social entrepreneurs through venture capital. During the afternoon program, the Phoenix Project, Community Wealth Ventures and Ashoka facilitated sessions on creating and sustaining social enterprises and introducing social entrepreneurship education in the academy, respectively.
This conference is the second in a series focused on placing Virginia at the forefront of the social entrepreneurship movement. The first such event was convened by former Governor Mark R. Warner and the Phoenix Project in July 2007 in Falls Church.
More information about the program, including a forthcoming video, will be available on our website at: http://www.phoenixproject.org/socialentrepreneurship/events/roundtwo/ 
Former Gov. Mark Warner Visits Petersburg, Pledges Support
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, former Governor Mark R. Warner visited Petersburg to meet with a group of community leaders at an event organized by the Phoenix Project. In attendance were members of the city government, business leaders, representatives from Fort Lee military base, and higher education partners, among others. The event allowed former Governor Warner to discuss challenges facing the community, garner ideas for potential solutions, and to talk a bit about the work of the Phoenix Project.
Read the Progress-Index’s article Warner Visits Petersburg, praises nonprofit work here: http://www.phoenixproject.org/ resources/news/warnervisit.pdf
To see pictures, visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/mpforsyth/WarnerPetersburgEvent
Phoenix Project Featured in New York Times as Example of Social Entrepreneurship
In response to a column by David Brooks in the March 21, 2008 edition of the New York Times, Andrew Wolk, the founder and president of Root Cause, responded with description of successful social entrepreneurship initiatives currently underway in states around the country. The Phoenix Project is featured in Mr. Wolk’s letter for its efforts to accelerate social entrepreneurship in Virginia.
To read David Brooks article entitled, Thoroughly Modern Do-Gooders, visit: http://www.phoenixproject.org/resources/thoroughly_modern_dogooders.pdf
To read Andrew Wolk’s response entitled, Social Entrepreneurs: Here’s What They Can Do, visit: http://www.phoenixproject.org/resources/social_entrepreneurs_nytimes.pdf
Greg Werkheiser Authors Columns on Social Entrepreneurship for the Chronicle Newspaper of Northern Virginia
Late last year, Executive Director Greg Werkheiser began publishing a periodic column on social entrepreneurship in the Chronicle Newspapers of Northern Virginia.
Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program Update: The 2008 Suzann Wilson Matthews Class
We have nearly finalized our 2008 class for the Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program. This year’s class will be named in honor of our co-founder and board chair, Suzann Wilson Matthews, who has done so much to help the Phoenix Project take flight. The class hails from all corners of the Commonwealth, representing 16 different colleges and universities and a wide variety of academic majors and interests, including: Political Science, Business International Affairs, Social Work, Sociology, Health and Human Services, Geology, Economics, Religious Studies, Theatre and Finance, to name a few. This year’s students are also exceptional leaders who are engaged both on their campuses as well as in their communities. Students have held positions at their educational institutions as resident assistants, intercultural programs officers and disability resource officers, and have volunteered in their communities as tutors and mentors. Many exhibited compassion for their fellow citizens on a national scale participating in recovery efforts following the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
Their courage and concern do not end at our country's borders. Students have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity International in Guatemala and broadened cultural horizons by studying abroad in Belgium, China, Turkey, Taiwan and Kenya. The 2008 class has demonstrated potential to become outstanding leaders for our Commonwealth and our country. We are pleased to be part of their remarkable journey and cannot wait to join their experiences, ideas and skills together in an effort to alleviate poverty and position Virginia as a leader in the social entrepreneurship movement.
More information about the Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship program is available here: http://www.phoenixproject.org/socialentrepreneurship/nlp/ We will be posting additional information about this summer’s program schedule and further details about the admitted students in the near future.
NLP Faculty Member Chris Gergen Publishes New Book
 Chris Gergen, a member of the faculty for the 2007 Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program, has recently published a new book entitled Life Entrepreneurs. Drawing on interviews with 55 entrepreneurial leaders around the world, the book provides stories and strategies for integrating life, work and purpose through the power of entrepreneurship. Think of it as a road map for leading a life of adventure, fulfillment and service. It is relevant to audiences interested in leadership, entrepreneurship/social entrepreneurship, personal development, life and career transitions, and more. It's also a great graduation present! For more information, visit: http://www.lifeentrepreneurs.com/
Virginia Tech Launches Search for Economic Development Associate
 We are posting this announcement at the request of a member of our Higher Education Advisory Team. Virginia Tech is currently accepting application materials for an Economic Development Associate. The Economic Development Associate is an entry-level professional position in the Office of Economic Development. The Associate will assist in the research, design and implementation of applied research and technical assistance projects to enhance economic development in regions and communities across the Commonwealth. This 12-month restricted administrative / professional faculty position with the rank of lecturer reports to the Director of the Office of Economic Development. All candidates must apply online at www.jobs.vt.edu, posting #080335 and attach a resume or vita and a cover letter to the faculty application. Review of applications will begin on April 20, 2008.
Spotlight: Jamie Poniatowski
Jamie Poniatowski joined the Phoenix Project this semester as a student fellow based in our Petersburg office. Jamie has contributed significantly to our Petersburg Partnership, focusing largely on social services in Petersburg. She will graduate in May with a degree in human services, specializing in social work, at John Tyler Community College. She hails from Chesterfield. Jamie will also be a student in our Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entreprenuership program this summer.
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The Phoenix Project
P.O. Box 2304, Springfield, Virginia 22152
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