Many of the key trends moving forward have now changed into dynamic change forces for the State of Michigan. These changes forces will have a significant future impact on our cities, municipalities, communities, and neighborhoods. The reality is that available funding resources for services are beginning to dry up and there may be no available funding for some programs and activities moving forward. What will be the impact of this change, especially within our cities and municipalities in low income areas? How can our low income neighborhoods become more resilient and self-sufficient and the residents of the neighborhood become empowered as leaders in this sea change?
Today the opportunity for social entrepreneurship has never been greater. Some of our hardest hit low income areas in West Michigan are in need of a transformational sustainable neighborhood model that improves the overall quality of life for its local residents. Businesses have the opportunity to address root causes for these systemic sustainability issues such as poverty. NGO's and others are in need of improved collective sustainability impact metrics for their work and services. Social entrepreneurship enables both businesses and non-profit organizations to work together in partnership to help get at the root causes of these sustainability issues and provide innovative solutions for local neighborhoods that have a positive economic, environmental, and social impact

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)