The Women's Bean Project in Denver, Colorado is a unique non-profit program that helps poor women who have few options in life a way to get important job skills and experience. Social entrepreneur Jossy Eyre founded the program 20 years ago in order to help unemployed women support themselves. Women in the program help make food packages of beans and other products that are sold in grocery stores. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports on bean project and the individual women who have graduated from the program and used their job skills to get permanent employment. Quotes "That was my last resort, because it's a place where women that can't find jobs and, when they hired me, you know, I did cry, because I felt good." - Rose Robinson, trainee "What we're trying to do is create an environment where we can teach basic job readiness skills, the idea that you have to come to work every day, and on time, and manage conflict in the workplace, and dress appropriately, and take direction." - Tamara Ryan, Executive Director "My long-term goal is to get off this ankle bracelet, get off parole, find me an awesome job." - Trainee Warm Up Questions 1. What is social entrepreneurship? 2. What happens to people who have trouble getting a job? Discussion Questions 1. A lot of the trainees say that they could not have gotten these skills without this program, why do you think that is? 2. This is a non-governmental project; do you think these projects are better and governmental or non-governmental projects? 3. This is an example of social entrepreneurship can you name other examples of a business that helps people or has a social benefit as a goal? Additional Resources Read the transcript Women's Bean Project