Cheryl Dorsey
Cheryl Dorsey
President
Echoing GreenThe method of social entrepreneurship—applying entrepreneurial principles to create social change—has improved the lives of millions. Cheryl Dorsey, a successful social entrepreneur herself, sees in this practice an “opportunity to work at a broader, more holistic, community level” rather than watching individuals create solutions one problem at a time. Well-versed in health care, worker rights, and numerous public policy issues, Cheryl has spent many years observing the fruits of her labor through social justice initiatives. To truly enact lasting social change on a national level, she believes it is necessary for social entrepreneurs to begin working together. This movement will allow social entrepreneurs to create a large network of social change leaders to improve political, social, and economic inequalities. Cheryl also sees the booming field as an opportunity to show everyday citizens their ability to make a difference. Her inclusive vision allows for what she describes as “a powerful and robust citizen sector where everyone is potentially a change agent.” Cheryl is targeting youth populations who want to make a difference but may not know how or where to start. She recently co-wrote a book for young adults, Be Bold, encouraging a new generation to pursue a life dedicated to social justice.
While a medical student at Harvard, Cheryl received a fellowship from Echoing Green, a program for visionary social entrepreneurs, that allowed her to create The Family Van, a mobile health unit providing care and outreach to urban communities in the city of Boston. Currently the organization’s president, she is the first Echoing Green fellow to lead the organization. Cheryl was previously selected as a White House fellow and assisted the US Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Cheryl has received numerous awards for her commitment to public service, including the Pfizer Roerig History of Medicine Award, the Robert Kennedy Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Manual C. Carballo Memorial Prize.
For more on Cheryl Dorsey:
Echoing Green Seeds Twenty New Organizations And Tops $25 Million Invested in Social Change Since 1987
August 8, 2007
Gearing Up for the 2007 Social Enterprise Conference
By Elana Berkowitz, Harbus
February 26, 2007
New Ways to Follow King
By Cheryl Dorsey, Baltimore Sun
January 15, 2007
Sisters Who Give Back to Move Us Forward
Essence
October 2005
