The Irish Institute at Boston College is pleased to have hosted the 2006 Fermanagh Trust Social Enterprise Program, which took place February 12 – 18, 2006.  The program brought thirteen participants from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to Boston to learn about innovative social enterprises and the challenges faced by nonprofits in the United States.  The group learned how U.S. nonprofits are addressing funding diversification, leadership effectiveness, financial constraints, social enterprise management, and strategic and fiscal management.

In addition to academic seminars at Boston College, the group had the opportunity to meet with leading nonprofit executives in the Boston area, including Kathe McKenna, Founder and CEO, Haley House; Didi Emmons, Chief Chef, Haley House Bakery Café; Molly Baldwin, CEO, ROCA, Inc.; Susan Rodgerson, Artists for Humanity; Pat Grey, CEO, The Food Project; Jodi Rosenbaum, Founder and CEO Teen LEEP; Bill Walczak, CEO Codman Square Health Center; Suzanne Kenney, Executive Director, Project Place; David Waters, Executive Director, Community Servings; Andrew Wolk, Boston University and InnerCity Entrepreneurs; and Carter Romansky, Program Manager, New Sector Alliance, among others.