How For-Profit Companies Can (And Should) Catalyze Social Change | Nathan Atkinson | TEDxWakeForestU
Nathan Atkinson delves into the difficult topics of food insecurity and how businesses in his community can and should play a role in addressing this social issue. His expertise on both the nonprofit sector and the business sector enable him to identify the cross-section between these sectors. Nathan serves as Director of Business Development for Village Juice Company, a local food and beverage company expanding its restaurant locations across the country and onto university campuses. Prior to co-founding Village Juice Company, for nearly two decades Nathan litigated mass environmental and ecological torts, including those resulting from exposure to air, groundwater and contaminants within the environment. His litigation practice took him to nearly every state in the country, but in 2018 he saw an opportunity to pursue the growth of the family business and semi-retired from the practice of law to devote his full time efforts to growing Village Juice Company. Since that time, Village Juice Company has expanded to five locations (including university campuses) and is committed to curating innovative dining experiences. He is the president of H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing local food insecurity and eradicating childhood hunger. He has served for 16 years on the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection Board of Directors, as well as other nonprofit organizations focused on community health and sustainable food production. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Nathan Atkinson delves into the difficult topics of food insecurity and how businesses in his community can and should play a role in addressing this social issue. His expertise on both the nonprofit sector and the business sector enable him to identify the cross-section between these sectors. Nathan serves as Director of Business Development for Village Juice Company, a local food and beverage company expanding its restaurant locations across the country and onto university campuses. Prior to co-founding Village Juice Company, for nearly two decades Nathan litigated mass environmental and ecological torts, including those resulting from exposure to air, groundwater and contaminants within the environment. His litigation practice took him to nearly every state in the country, but in 2018 he saw an opportunity to pursue the growth of the family business and semi-retired from the practice of law to devote his full time efforts to growing Village Juice Company. Since that time, Village Juice Company has expanded to five locations (including university campuses) and is committed to curating innovative dining experiences. He is the president of H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing local food insecurity and eradicating childhood hunger. He has served for 16 years on the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection Board of Directors, as well as other nonprofit organizations focused on community health and sustainable food production. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx