Diving Deeper into CEEP
Our unique approach combines theory with action, ensuring our students don’t just learn about entrepreneurship but also live it. Through experiential learning, guided projects, and hands-on involvement with local businesses, students get a holistic experience that transcends textbooks. Our ultimate aim? To foster a generation that understands, values, and uplifts their local business ecosystems.
Meet Shane Snipes, PhD, the creator of the Citizen Entrepreneur Explorer Program (CEEP), a groundbreaking initiative that redefines how students connect with their communities. Recognizing that traditional community research often overlooks the human element, treating individuals as mere subjects, Dr. Snipes pioneered CEEP to foster a more profound and meaningful engagement.
CEEP distinguishes itself by encouraging students to embark on a journey of genuine exploration and questioning within their neighborhoods, rather than being driven by the immediate pressure to identify and solve a specific problem. This unique approach empowers students to engage deeply with their local ecosystems, fostering a sense of curiosity and allowing for discoveries that might otherwise be missed.
Introducing Fatema Baldiwala, our California CEEP liaison, a dedicated and versatile educator with a decade of experience fostering student success at the community college level within both the English and Workforce Development Divisions. Fatema brings a wealth of expertise to the classroom, demonstrating a strong track record in teaching a diverse range of subjects, including composition, reading, critical thinking, and debate.
Notably, Fatema is highly skilled in integrating entrepreneurial concepts within a liberal arts curriculum, equipping students with valuable skills for innovation and real-world application.
As CEEP Fellows, they will play a vital role in championing experiential learning, guiding students through the six steps of the CEEP process: Discover Community, Define a Question, Decide Methodology, Collect Information, Analyze Data, and ReportBack™. Their involvement supports the CEEP objective of offering a streamlined entry into experiential learning that evolves into exploration and impactful innovation.
The 2023-2024 CEEP NACCE Pilot engaged a dedicated group of educators who explored and implemented the Citizen Entrepreneur Explorer Program (CEEP). These participants included Glen Earl from Elgin Community College, Jim Craig from Pima Community College, Sueann Graham from Ivy Tech Community College, Trenton Hightower from Santa Fe College, and Marcy from Pima Foundation.
Our Broadened Mission
Starting from a singular class in 2019, CEEP, anchored at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY), has evolved into an expansive venture touching numerous lives. Each semester, we are furthering our mission of intertwining academic learning with real-world entrepreneurial challenges.
Through a blend of research-as-education methodologies and project-based learning, we aim to hone students’ business acumen while kindling their passion for community development. It’s not just about creating business owners; it’s about molding responsible, community-focused leaders.
Echoing Our Champions
Echoing the sentiment, BMCC Provost Erwin Wong emphasizes, “The decline in entrepreneurship in recent years is a concern for all of us, impacting our city’s economic growth and productivity. This project is a critical undertaking by the Business Management department in improving our understanding of this trend while also providing our students with invaluable research opportunities.”
Unwavering Values That Shape Us
Become a Part of the CEEP Revolution as we reinvent and reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit, marrying academics with action, and students with their communities!
Real Stories. Real Change.
See the tangible impact our students and educators are having in their communities through our Social Impact stories
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