1. SOCIAL
ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
(SEPA)
Presented by
Dr. Susan B. Thomas, PhD
Executive Director
Texoma Council of Governments

2. SEPA PARTNERS
Texoma Council of Governments
Austin College
US Government Grants (USGG)
MISSION
To increase youth leadership creating social change in
underserved areas, particularly in rural America, by harnessing
the spirit of social entrepreneurism.

3. Two-day Grant Writing workshop taught by
Beverly Santicola, CEO of U.S. Government
Grants & Executive Director of CROPS (Center
for Rural Outreach & Public Service)

4. AUSTIN COLLEGE STUDENT &
TEXOMA NONPROFIT
PARTNERSHIP

5. SEPA TIMELINE
 Year 1(2012)
Seven students, seven nonprofits
 Year II (2013)
Eight students, eight nonprofits
 Year III (Targeted in 2014)
Twenty students, twenty nonprofits

6. EVALUATE
Student &
Nonprofit
Feedback, S
urveys and
Reporting
EVALUATION & ASSESSMENT

7. “As a representative of both Austin College and the City of Sherman, I can tell you
that TCOG’s SEPA Project is transforming our region’s social service agencies while
helping inform the next generation of community leaders. Our students gain
knowledge of difficult issues and the confidence to help solve them, and that is a
significant investment in a brighter future. ”
CAROLYN S. WACKER
MAYOR, CITY OF SHERMAN
SR. ASSOC. VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT, AUSTIN COLLEGE
“The SEPA program affirms the catalyzing effect of partnerships between a college
and its community. Combining the resources of Austin College, including our
outstanding faculty and students, with the impressive array of non-profit
organizations in the community generates outcomes that would not be possible if we
worked in isolation.”
DR. MARJORIE HASS
AUSTIN COLLEGE PRESIDENT
“The SEPA program offers our students a unique opportunity to gain practical skills in
grant writing and non-profit management and to make a significant contribution to
community development through their work with local agencies.”
DR. DONALD RODGERS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, AUSTIN COLLEGE
“SEPA not only works to prevent the mass exit of young people out of our smaller
communities, but also serves as a platform to empower students and nonprofit
leaders to work together to produce positive change.”
BEVERLY SANTICOLA
PRESIDENT, US GOVERNMENT GRANTS
CO-FOUNDER, CENTER FOR RURAL OUTREACH & PUBLIC SERVICES, INC.