Debi Keyes had never started a business before she created the
Midland Community Diaper Bank in early September of 2010. Now she's committing to the Great Lakes Bay Region in a big way.
"I had been looking for a way to give back and meet an unmet need, but I had no idea it would be diapers," she says. Now Keyes is at the helm of a successful non-profit, delivering an imperative social need to her community.
Keyes isn't alone. Darcy McMahon of
Meta4 and Caryn Shick of
Incuba8 have also chosen the role of social entrepreneur, committing to their communities in a way that can't always be found in the corporate world. By making these social investments in Mid Michigan communities, they're in a position to make a longstanding impact on their region, encouraging others to follow suit.
With their passion, it's not impossible to see the region as a potential hub for social entrepreneurship in the Midwest, drawing young and career-minded professionals alike to the area, all while helping those in need.
Here's a look at three social entrepreneurs to watch in Mid Michigan.
Darcy McMahon – Meta4
McMahon, 42, founded Meta4 -- an education program developer -- in 2009 with Kristiina Pilnik, Denyse Clayton and Christine Brillhart. "All four of our founders are passionate about active education," and helping students find their passion, explains McMahon.
The four founders began their working relationship at the education department of the Midland Center for the Arts. It didn't take long before they discovered a mutual passion for education and "really clicked."
Then the economy crashed in 2008 and all four were downsized by early 2009. But their passion remained just as strong as before.
"We all still felt strongly about the work we had started there and the impact it would have on kids and the community," she says.
So as a team, the women used their combined 30 years of teaching and administration experience, and over 40 years of theatre programming to form Meta4 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit company to continue their work in the community.
Meta4 researches, designs and provides educational programs to communities, classrooms and teachers that engage learners in a way that makes them thirst for more.
One such program is the Flying Pig Theatre Academy with acting classes for preschoolers to high school students. Four shows featuring the young thespians are currently running.
Meta4 also offers several programs directed toward teachers, including Instructional Coaching, Project Management and Teach Professional Development. Currently in development is a new individualized tutoring program they are comparing to "academic coaching."
McMahon describes Meta4's mission with, "Meta4 strives for student success." She adds, "There are so many students today who do not feel that they are successful, who do not know how to become successful."
McMahon and her team see potential in these students and work with them to create a positive learning experience. "We know that success builds success."
Debi Keyes – Midland Community Diaper Bank
Keyes was stepping out of her comfort zone when she launched the Midland Community Diaper Bank in 2010. She had never worked for a non-profit, volunteered or started her own business. But that didn't stop her from filling a social need that's rarely thought of -- providing diapers, wipes and incontinence supplies for financially vulnerable families with children or adults who have disabilities.
"We made our first delivery in September of 2010, hoping to support one or two partner agencies," recalls Keyes, who at first ran the bank out of her own home in Midland. "We now provide diapers to 24 agencies who in turn give the diapers to their clients who are in financial distress."
Prior to her launch, the state of Michigan only had one operating diaper bank, and there were no government programs that help pay for or provide diapers.
With no staff, Keyes herself had been delivering the diapers to the various partnering agencies, averaging 8,000 diapers per month. But after two years, she finally has a new home for the bank. "We have just joined with the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network and SAMS Food Pantry, and we now have an office at 503 S. Saginaw Road," boasts Keyes. "Now my partner agencies are able to pick up the diapers they order and I no longer have to deliver."
Keyes regrets not having many opportunities to engage with recipients of the diapers, but one story comes to mind when recalling a family emotionally impacted by the service.
In October of 2010, Keyes received a call from an agency that had not yet signed up with her. A family had stopped in whose elderly mother would be in a bed for the rest of her life.
"When I got there with diapers and bed pads, the daughter broke into tears," she recalls. "She said that I had no idea what they have been dealing with for six months," caring for her mother with no money or supplies.
"I provided diapers for that family for over a year, until the mother passed away. They sent a beautiful thank you note, but I feel thankful to them for allowing me to help them. That is what the Diaper Bank is all about," Keyes says.
Caryn Shick – Incuba8
Caryn Shick, founder of Incuba8, took a different approach when entering the world of social entrepreneurship. Instead of creating a non-profit with a specific niche, she launched an idea incubator and startup accelerator to help others discover how they can "uniquely enrich the world by using their passion and knowledge."
Shick, 26, created Incuba8 in 2009 to answer her own questions of entrepreneurship. "I saw myself spending a lot of time finding where I could get the expert insight I needed to make sure [my idea] could work," says Shick. "I discovered that my design process was unique as it allowed me to create something specifically tailored to my skills and passions."
Sharing her design process and giving people access to experts became the basis of Incuba8. "I've always loved helping people do what they love," she says.
While Shick has helped for-profit businesses get off the ground, she's also found success in assisting local startups like
Grow Social, which works with non-profits in creating a sustainable and affordable social media presence.
"Caryn helped Grow Social develop our big idea," says owner Bryson Hotopp, furthering his passion to support his community. "With her help, we turned our core focus into a specific driving statement that has directly led our growth."
Ultimately, Shick sees Incuba8 as a catalyst to making a positive impact on the Midland community. She recalls a group of young people who sat on her basement couch to talk about what they'd like to see happen in Midland. The result was the first Midland Community Canvas festival, which saw approximately 800 attendees.
"In the process of organizing something successfully, Midland became ours," boasts Shick. "That conversation revealed an active knowledge that our efforts will bring together the creative minds from the community to actively shape each other and one another's ideas."
Joe Baur is a freelance writer and filmmaker based in Cleveland. He's also the Sections Editor of hiVelocity. You can contact him at joebaur.com.