Diving Deeper into CEEP

Diving Deeper into CEEP

The Citizen Entrepreneur Explorer Program (CEEP) is not just another program; it’s a revolutionary movement. We believe that students’ potential goes beyond traditional classrooms. Through CEEP, we equip young minds to embark on an entrepreneurial journey that’s deeply rooted in their local communities.

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.

Fatema Baldiwala

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.

Introducing the 2024-2025 CEEP Partners & Fellows, a dedicated cohort of organizations like the US Association of Small Business Entrepreneurship, educators from across the country and community leaders committed to advancing the mission of the Citizen Entrepreneur Explorer Program (CEEP). These individuals – Kristin Burton, Robert Vera, Monica Amadio, Trenton Hightower, Fatema Baldiwala, Kyle Scott, Jai Joon Lee, Samira Abdalla, and Kathryn Grigg – embody a shared passion for fostering socially conscious entrepreneurship and deeply engaging students with their communities.
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

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 Our Champions

Sameeksha Desai of The Kauffman Foundation says, “We’re excited to learn from the research collaborations that are investigating this nexus, as well as to a more inclusive research pipeline that will continue to push us forward. As we all struggle with the very serious effects of COVID-19, we need research that informs our way forward, not to go back to how things were, but to achieve a more resilient and inclusive economic system that serves all of us in the future.”

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

Unwavering Values That Shape Us

Research at CEEP is a beacon of change. The decline in entrepreneurship isn’t just an economic concern; it’s a societal challenge that affects community growth and individual aspirations. Our dedication extends to nurturing an ecosystem where entrepreneurship thrives, not in isolation but woven seamlessly into the broader economy. By removing socio-economic barriers and facilitating platforms for budding entrepreneurs, we’re not just sparking business ventures, but igniting change!

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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