In the spirit of community collaboration and engagement, Trent University Oshawa has signed on as the 2014 academic partner with the Durham Ideas Den, the Region’s largest social innovation challenge for young change-makers, to foster Trent’s budding social entrepreneurs and encourage the development and growth of ‘big ideas’ for the social good.

“Trent is delighted to be a part of the Durham Ideas Den initiative as the academic partner,” said Andy Mitchell, director of Government and Community Relations at Trent University. “A natural synergy already exists and we anticipate that both will benefit greatly from forging this partnership.”

Durham Ideas Den is an initiative spearheaded by the Community Innovation Lab, in partnership with Durham College, Indiegogo, Startup Storyboard, MentorCity, and Ashoka Canada. The initiative connects youth to like-minded peers and leading community mentors. Through a series of ideation, collaboration, and venture-building exercises, the program is designed to equip young people with the skills required to launch a bare-bones idea into a real-life social venture.

“This is an exciting partnership and pivotal moment for us at the Community Innovation Lab,” said Pramilla Ramdahani, co-founder and executive director of the Community Innovation Lab. “Trent’s pioneering leadership in sustainability programming will add tremendous value to the co-creation of a robust ecosystem of entrepreneurial supports for young social entrepreneurs in Durham Region.”

Speaking on the Durham Ideas Den, Ms. Ramdahani added: “The Durham Ideas Den represents a launch pad for young aspiring change makers with ideas for sustainable solutions to connect with the resources ("glocal" mentors, crowd funding, bootcamps, seed funding and networks) to design high impact social ventures and projects that benefit communities.This partnership provides an opportunity to better engage and support the entrepreneurial mindsets and ideas of Trent’s students in creating businesses for social impact”.

The partnership between Trent and the Durham Ideas Den was announced this evening at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s popular ‘Friday’s’ event where Trent’s president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Steven Franklin co-hosted the evening with UOIT’s president, Dr. Tim McTiernan, Mr. Don Lovisa, president of Durham College, and Oshawa Mayor John Henry. Themed, “Community Spirit,” the celebration marked the third anniversary of the ‘Fridays’ event series and featured the Innovation Lab/Durham Ideas Den, as well as performances by local singer-songwriters Poor Belly and Dan Brooks.

Posted on Monday, February 10, 2014.