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Social entrepreneurs mix business, mission

The Dreambean candles that Chicago-based Bright Endeavors is cranking out this holiday season have more to them than meets the eye.

Made, packaged and sold by at-risk teens and young women who have dropped out of high school or are living in shelters, the environmentally friendly soy and palm wax candles provide an opportunity for much-needed job training, said co-founder Joan Pikas.

"The idea is for the young women to become personally and professionally self-sufficient," said Stephanie Wernet, co-founder of BrightEndeavors.org, who worked at the Cara Program, a non-profit providing job training.

The Dreambean candles’ early success sheds light on a trend toward social entrepreneurship, where ventures have a social mission.

By Ann Meyer | Special to the Tribune

Full Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-minding-innovative-dec15,0,7451973.story

(If you know of a mission-focused startup in the region, please send info about it as a comment to this article so more can know about it. Russ)

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