Giving Compass' Take:

• Chris Newton from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation discusses the legacy of America's entrepreneurial spirit in Benjamin Franklin and how we can use his example to inspire a new generation of social change-makers.

• Building strong communities, experimenting without bounds and having an awareness for blind spots are just some of the lessons learned here that can apply to professionals across all sectors.

• Here's more on how we can encourage more young entrepreneurs to tackle our toughest problems.

As the haze of fireworks cleared in cities across America, I found myself thinking of the circumstances that led to our nation's founding, and in particular how one man — Benjamin Franklin — helped shape this great experiment we call America. In reflecting on his life, as well as those of countless other Americans who have strove to improve themselves, as well as a lot of their fellow humans, I have to ask myself: How can we do more to live up the opportunity we've been given by those who came before us?

Ben Franklin established an unbelievable volume of civic engagement in Philadelphia. He chartered library systems and hospitals, co-founded the first volunteer firefighting company, and, as deputy postmaster-general of British North America, directed the infamous postal system reform, which led to the delivery of weekly mail — just to name a few. Today, community building at this level seems hard to imagine; we live in different times. However, the lesson is the same — no matter which community belong to, are you involved in making the community better?

In our work at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, I see individuals rising to this challenge in so many ways, from grantees to Great Schools Visits participants to commenters on the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook.

 

Read the full article about taking entrepreneurial inspiration from Benjamin Franklin by Chris Newton at kauffman.org.