Social Innovation

Social Innovation is a way of thinking about the connections we have to the corporate and business community who support our programs. Our partners provide generous financial and in-kind contributions that enable us to do important work that help a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic population of participants break the cycle of poverty and thrive in the community we share. We can think of no better way to say “thank you” to our partners than to form a reciprocal relationship that gives back to those who support us most through the Corporate and Business Roundtables.

The Corporate and Business Roundtables, created by Neighborhood House, are specifically designed to offer corporations and small businesses the unique benefits of partnering with a non-profit. The partnership provides something that will help businesses thrive in one way or another. A healthy business community is important to Neighborhood House because, ultimately, local businesses hire our participants, helping break the cycle of poverty.

Partnering with Neighborhood House includes the opportunity to join us for events that create strategic value, both social and financial, through a relationship with our organization in the non-profit sector.

Success Story

English Language Learners Learn New Interview Skills: Neighborhood House Partners with Nash Finch for Mock Interview Sessions

Inspired by the mission of Neighborhood House after renting out event space at the Wellstone Center for the Nash Finch Company retreat, Brian Numainville, Senior Director of Research & Public Relations for Nash Finch, wanted to do more for the organization. Working conjointly with Susan Rostkoski, Director of Development for Neighborhood House, he established an idea that would benefit both organizations: mock interviews. They set forth meeting with the English Language Learning (ELL) staff to lay the foundation for what was to become a new model for partnership in the future.

“We formed a reciprocal relationship,” explained Rostkoski, “which is what social partnership is all about.” This concept is similar to the Business Roundtable Group and the Corporate Roundtable Group, relatively new programs created by Neighborhood House in partnership with corporate and local business leaders and specifically designed to offer businesses/corporations unique benefits of partnership with non-profits. The mock interviews showcased Rostkoski’s belief that, “We here at Neighborhood House can provide something that will help businesses thrive in one way or another.”

Nash Finch is a food distribution company and owns several Latino grocery stores. Mock interviews with English Language Learners at Neighborhood House are mutually beneficial for the two organizations. In an effort like this one, a corporate partner gains insight into the process that a non-native English speaker experiences during a job interview while helping corporate leaders understand what their managers encounter when hiring.

The English Language Learners, on the other hand, are learning more than just language skills; they are also learning an entirely new set of social skills. The students prepared for the mock interviews as part of their English class. They were asked to go online and do research on the company, compile questions to ask the interviewer, prepare a resume and practice answers to questions they might be asked during the interview. According to James Bernard, Adult Education Instructor and ELL lead on this partnership, “It helped build students’ confidence. They had to rely on their language skills to verbalize their job skills in a setting that was set up like a real interview.”

Contact Information

Please contact Susan Rostkoski at srostkoski@neighb.org or 651-789-2521 for information about how your company can develop a partnership with Neighborhood House and join the Corporate and Business Roundtables.