A Lax Conference poster session displayed social entrepreneurship projects conceived by students.

On March 27, more than 200 alumni, students, and friends attended Swarthmore’s 12th annual Jonathan R. Lax ’71 Conference on Entrepreneurship. This year’s theme was “Social Entrepreneurship: The Business of Transforming the World,” and the conference drew speakers from a diverse array of fields. Edgar Cahn ’56, creator of Time Dollars and founder of TimeBanks USA, was the keynote speaker. Two panels followed: “Initiative, Creativity, and Investment in Social Entrepreneurship” included Tralance Addy ’69, founder and chairman, Plebys International (see January Bulletin); Ted Chan ’02, founder and CEO, Upward Mobility; and Jenny Hourihan Bailin ’80, chief financial officer, Pro Mujer. Panelists on “Starting, Growing, and Sustaining a Social Venture” were Michael Caplin ’73, chief executive, Turtle Island Group; Ann Starrs ’84, co-founder and president, Family Care International; and David Zipper ’00, director of business development and strategy, Office of the Mayor, Washington, D.C.

The conference also included roundtable discussions and a student poster session organized by the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, in which students shared their own social entrepreneurship projects.