There's a social media platform out there helping transform lives and strengthen communities. But it's not Facebook or Twitter (arguably, those can help too); I'm talking about MicroMentor, the world's largest online business mentoring program. It's run by Portland-based non-profit Mercy Corps. 

On this episode of the podcast we chat with Mikaila Belk about the work her organization is doing to connect entrepreneurs​ and business mentors around the globe.

By facilitating genuine connections among small business owners, previously-successful entrepreneurs, and hard-working hopefuls, MicroMentor helps people grow their businesses and improve the economic status of their communities, all through the power of mentorship.

Did you know mentored entrepreneurs create twice as many new jobs as those who go solo?

Mentorship can lead to the productive exchange of advice, help us think through our own ideas, broaden our networks and create positive connections where they didn't exist before.

Check out MicroMentor's website to learn more about their work and scroll down to their blog (Mikaila's favorite) to have a look at a few recent success stories.
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​Enjoy--

Keywords: security, crime detection, police training, visual search, nonverbal cues, forensic psychology.
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Our Guest:
"Dr. Meehan led the JDLR Project research team while he was a Social Scientist at the United States Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Adversarial Modeling Exploitation Office. At the NRL, he also successfully managed a variety of short- and long-term projects for the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security on topics ranging from crime analysis to the development of web-based research platforms for visual search. He earned his Ph.D. at the School of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York Albany.  Dr. Meehan is also a Certified Law Enforcement Analyst and worked as the Lead Crime and Intelligence Analyst.  As an analyst, he also assisted on an FBI Operation Safe Streets (OSS) Taskforce targeting violent gang members."


​Read Second Sight's COVID-19 Guide for Law Enforcement and Security Personnel. 

Keywords: public administration, technology, innovation, coproduction, crowdsourcing, community governance, equitable provision of services.

Ben Clark is an Associate Professor in the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon.