Social Innovation Initiative
The Social Innovation Initiative convenes students, practitioners, and scholars working on social innovation to address the world’s most pressing problems.
Exploring novel solutions to complex social problems
The Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs’ Social Innovation Initiative convenes students, practitioners, and scholars working on social innovation to address the world’s most pressing problems.
We define social innovation as finding a novel solution to a complex social problem that is more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just than existing solutions, disrupts the status quo, and creates value on a societal rather than individual level.
Recent news
The widening path for women entrepreneurs in New Haven and beyond
The Social Innovation Initiative hosted two women entrepreneurs November 4 to discuss their experiences navigating the entrepreneurial space as women and barriers they faced while building a business from start to finish.
Impact & Innovation Podcast kicks off new season with “Food as Medicine”
Impact & Innovation, a podcast hosted by Professor Teresa Chahine, faculty director of the Social Innovation Initiative (SII), recently interviewed Josh Trautwein, founder of About Fresh.
Food justice advocate discusses people-centered agriculture
The Jackson School’s Social Innovation Initiative (SII) hosted a discussion on the global agricultural system featuring Tagan Engel, a New Haven-based food justice advocate and community organizer.
Upcoming events
This year's fall seminar series will explore the role of indigenous wisdom and practice in social innovation for community development. Please join us for the events below which share perspectives and practices from around the globe.
Education and Environmental Innovation in the Pequot Tribal Nations
The Social Innovation Iniative will host a discussion, "Education and Environmental Innovation in the Golden Hill Paugussett and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nations," with Clan Mother Shoran...
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Trust as a Health Intervention: Wellbeing through Indigenous Circle Practices
The Social Innovation Iniative will host a discussion, "Trust as a Health Intervention: Wellbeing through Indigenous Circle Practices," with Ivelyse Andino, CEO of Radical Health. Inspired by...
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Indigenous Entrepreneurs and Community Development in the Himalayas
The Social Innovation Iniative will host a discussion, "Indigenous Entrepreneurs and Community Development in the Himalayas," with Sonali Mehta Rao, CEO of Ahaana Ventures. After working in start-ups...
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