Engaged Community Offshoots, Inc.
Engaged Community Offshoots, Inc. (ECO) is a nonprofit social enterprise that develops and supports the environmentally sound and socially equitable community-based business spin-offs of the University of Maryland Engaged University’s (EU) work, and engages in educational and other related activities in support of those enterprises. Granted501-c-3 status in January 2009, ECO works as a bridge between the academic and social activities of the Engaged University and the entrepreneurial businesses that spring from those activities.
Mission
ECO’s mission is to involve people from all walks oflife in healthy and sustainable living activities. Our methods areadvocacy, education and new enterprise development. ECO creates theconditions for sustainable community-based enterprises that work insynergy with one another to bring about community wellness and helpdevelop a green economy that encourages the elimination of waste,pollution and environmental destruction. Our vision is to beinstrumental in rebuilding communities to conditions wherein thenatural environment is protected, and all people are safe, healthy andgainfully employed in enterprises that work in synergy to supporttransitions toward a sustainable green economy.
Still in its infancy, but benefitting from EU’s seven years of experience working in the County on community and youthdevelopment, ECO currently supports four emerging businesses, and works with community and campus green entrepreneurs to conceive and build additional businesses that address the holistic needs of thecommunity. ECO’s emerging businesses are the Master Peace CommunityFarm, the Renaissance Youth Bike Shop, Green Guild Bio-Diesel Co-op,and the Free Minds Collective Art Workshops. In October, 2009 ECO held itsfirst stakeholders’ advisory meeting and has begun a process to buildaccountability to residents and to create a community-based Board ofDirectors.