Today’s lecture about social enterprises definitely widened my perspective about the business world. I never really thought about the significant impact companies can have in creating revolutionary social change, whether it be on the small scale or large scale.
I was reminded of a local social venture near my home in Surrey. Price Pro is a retail store in the Newton area that opened a few years ago in 2009. Its founder, John Volken, was the former CEO of the successful United Furniture Warehouse before becoming a social entrepreneur. Price Pro’s slogan is “Save Money, Change Lives” and that’s exactly what it’s dedicated to do. Men and women who struggle with addiction and find themselves in and out of jail are given the opportunity to work at Price Pro. By working at the retail store, Volken teaches these men and women skills they would otherwise not receive, and helps to rehabilitate them from their addictions.
One employee sums up his experience at Price Pro by saying:
Here, you don’t get fired if you lose your temper.
It’s inspiring to see the type of social change capable by social entrepreneurs. As I pursue my degree in business, social entrepreneurship is something I will be keeping in the back of my mind.
Article: Newton store strives to change lives
Mr Volken is a control-freak who has zero education or training in the incredibly complex field of addiction recovery. He has created the Welcome Home program to fulfill his own psychological need for control of others, in this case desparate young men who need food and a place to sleep. He literally prescribes and orders the minute details of their daily lives, telling them when to eat, what they can wear, when to sleep, etc. This is one seriously weird and creepy place.