Recently, the Morehouse STEEM (Social Transformation through Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility) program convened students and members of the West End community for a powerful gathering centered on one shared purpose: the pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams.
The event reflected the very heart of the STEEM program, which positions entrepreneurship as a vehicle for social transformation and economic mobility. Students and community members came together not simply to learn about entrepreneurship, but to experience it as a lived practice grounded in access, inclusion, and real-world application.
The gathering was enriched by the presence of Dr. Michael Morris, a world-renowned entrepreneurship scholar from the University of Notre Dame and founder of the Experiential X Classroom. Dr. Morris poured directly into both students and neighbors, modeling what meaningful entrepreneurship education can and should be: hands-on, community-centered, and designed to expand opportunity. His engagement underscored the importance of learning environments that bridge theory and practice while centering people and place.
The program also featured Mr. Warren Lee, guest entrepreneur speaker and owner of 44th & 3rd Bookseller, a cornerstone business in Atlanta’s historic West End. Mr. Lee shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey, offering wisdom rooted in lived experience and community investment. His presence reinforced the importance of supporting local enterprises that sustain culture, knowledge, and economic vitality. Attendees were encouraged to patronize his business and continue supporting Black-owned spaces that anchor the community.
At Morehouse, entrepreneurship is not simply taught. It is lived, shared, and multiplied across classrooms, neighborhoods, and partnerships that extend beyond campus walls. Members of the USASBE Longenecker Fellows and Professors of Entrepreneurship demonstrated their commitment to spreading entrepreneurial thinking wherever they go, proving that the work of cultivating innovation and opportunity does not stop at the classroom door.
Special thanks to the Urban Poverty Business Initiative (UPBI) at the University of Notre Dame for its partnership and continued investment in building pathways to economic mobility. Together, these collaborations affirm Morehouse College’s commitment to entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment, community engagement, and lasting social impact.