The Social Innovation Prize challenges prevailing perceptions by acknowledging social innovators over the age of 60 and presenting a financial prize of $5,000 to one winning application and the winner will also choose the organization of his or her choice to receive an additional $5,000.
The Prize is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated uncommon vision, determination and entrepreneurialism in addressing community, state, and national problems. The Social Innovation Prize will tell the story of this person as well as other nominated innovators in the second half of life.
Rather than a lifetime achievement award, however, we view The Social Innovation Prize as a down payment on what this 60-plus innovator will do next.
2011 Social Innovation Prize in Wisconsin Winner
Will Allen, Founder and CEO of Growing Power, Inc.
Milwaukee, October 3, 2011 - On Tuesday, November 1, The Social Innovation Prize in Wisconsin will be awarded to Will Allen for his innovative and inspirational project – Growing Capacity for the Green Economy Initiative (GCCE). This project addresses social problems in the inner city of Milwaukee and aims to be a model for other urban areas throughout our state and our country by growing food, growing minds, and growing community.
The Prize includes a $5,000 investment in an exceptional individual over the age of 50 who is defying expectations by channeling his creativity and talent to address critical social problems at the local, regional, or national level. This award also allows the winner to designate an organization of his choice to receive an additional $5,000.
Dr. John E. Mielke is recognized as a 2011 Social Innovation Prize Fellow – as a retired physician, John is passionate about education's role in improving community health. He helped organize a pilot daily physical education/academic health program for several area schools. The pilot was followed by a formal research study and the positive results were shared nationally.
In 1995, John and his wife, Sally, started a tutoring program for Appleton first-graders - the United for Reading Success Program. It currently operates in 15 elementary schools with more than 300 volunteer tutors. John helped found Appleton Education Foundation, which works to creatively enhance education. He has been an integral force in connecting renowned UW researchers with the Foundation, which spotlights ways parents, teachers, and child and health care professionals can improve children's chances for success in school and life.
Additionally, John organizes a multi-generational community trip to the Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. Local students and adults travel together by bus. While the conference subject is important, of greater significance to John is the opportunities the trip itself provides for building inter-generational relationships and strengthening social bonds.
