First International Conference April 24-26, 2008 Adelphi University, Garden
City, New York (right outside of Manhattan, near JFK Airport)

The unique and pressing challenges facing both the economic and social
situations of the 21st century are calling for fundamentally new
initiatives.

The burgeoning arena of social entrepreneurship is one such example of how
public and private organizations are forging alliances aiming at addressing
these challenges. As of yet, though, there's no recognizably useful
theoretical underpinning of the systemic dimension of social
entrepreneurship.

Recent advances in the sciences of complex systems, however, hold great
promise for a more thorough understanding and grounding of social
entrepreneurship activities. The need for a complexity-based perspective
going beyond current linear and equilibrium-based models is even noted in
the most recent guidelines for applications for funding in the area of
social entrepreneurship programs.

At this conference we will bring together leading thinkers in complexity
theory, social entrepreneurship, systems thinking, social innovation, and
leadership research to explore questions surrounding social
entrepreneurship.

Attendees of the conference will gain a better understanding of the state of
knowledge in these vital areas and will leave more energized and engaged in
furthering the goals of social entrepreneurship. The goal of this conference
is not only to provide a unique opportunity to further understanding but
also to make a real difference in our world.