MICROFINANCE EVENT: The First San Diego Microfinance Summit May 7, 2009

The San Diego Microfinance Summit

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Cost: $25 for general public and $10 for students; includes lunch

Summary of Event: The conference will highlight the local and international work of San Diego’s microfinance organizations. Lunch, catered by local microfinance clients, will follow the sessions. There will also be marketplace where microfinance clients will sell their wares and services, including artisans, musicians and bakers.

Background on Organizer: The San Diego Microfinance Alliance is consortium of local microfinance practitioners, donors, students and educators committed to collaborating and raising the profile of microfinance in the San Diego region.

Background on Other Organizations Involved: Partnering organizations include ACCION San Diego (provides small business loans and support services in San Diego County), CDC Small Business Finance (serving the financing needs of small business in California, Arizona and Nevada), Foundation for Women (funds and creates microcredit programs for women locally and globally), Grameen Foundation (with a global network of 58 microfinance institutions Grameen has reached more than 45 million individuals in 23 countries), International Rescue Committee (resettling refugees in America and providing humanitarian relief around the world), Project Concern International (an humanitarian aid organization), Point Loma Nazarene University, School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at University of California, and the Ahlers Center for International Business at University of San Diego.

Event Themes and Discussion Topics: The goal of the summit is to promote the effectiveness of San Diego’s microfinance organizations and to promote collaboration across the area’s microfinance community. The three sessions will include panelists from a number of organizations and the opportunity for Q&A from the audience. The first session will involve a panel of San Diego based microfinance organizations. This will be followed by a session with international microfinance organizations. The third session will be a panel of local microfinance clients.

Who Is Invited to Attend: The event is open to the public

About the Presenters: The Keynote address will be made by Lynn McMullen, Executive Director of The Peace Alliance, with 20 years of experience within the microfinance field.

Online Registration Address: www.sdmicrofinancesummit.org

For additional information, please contact:

Contact Names: Deana Gullo or Rashawana Chapman

Email: dgullo@ucsd.edu or rchapman100@pointloma.edu

Submit Your Event: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Event Type: Conference

Event Starts: 8.30am Thursday May 7th, 2009

Event Ends: 2pm Thursday May 7th, 2009

Location: University of San Diego, the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

Street: 5998 Alcalá Park

City/Town: San Diego, California

Website: http://peace.sandiego.edu/about/directions.html (for directions and parking information)