MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Opportunity Collaboration Summit, October 17-20, 2009 in Ixtapa, Mexico

Event Name: Opportunity Collaboration Summit

Event Date: October 17-20, 2009

Event Location: Ixtapa, Mexico

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

Cost:

All-inclusive fee for the event: USD 4750 (Includes registration and other associated event costs, lodging for 5 nights and meals) [2]

Summary of Event:

The Opportunity Collaboration is a four-day networking and problem solving event commencing on World Poverty Day (October 17, 2009). Through a series of working business meetings, the event will provide an opportunity for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, social financiers, grant-makers and agents of change to explore levels of collaboration, to identify opportunities for leveraging resources across organizations and to accelerate proven models for reducing poverty. The co-conveners for the event include Ashoka, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), Calvert Social Investment Foundation, Global Philanthropy Forum, Social Venture Network, Stanford Social Innovation Review (Stanford Center for Social Innovation), Women Donors Network, Worldways Social Marketing and Jonathan C. Lewis (CEO, MicroCredit Enterprises) [1].

Event Theme and Topics:

The five-day event starts with the arrival of delegates on October 16 which will be followed by a networking dinner and pre-registration events. The comprehensive list of delegates attending the event is available here. The event will be divided into two components, namely [1]:

Conversations for Change: In these type of events, delegates present projects, programs, social investments, case studies, social change ventures, successful pilot projects and partnering opportunities that have achieved ‘proof of concept’.
Colloquium for the Common Good: This is a participatory seminar on executive leadership and economic justice.

A brief agenda for the conference is as follows:

October 17 (Day One):

Networking and Coordinating Sessions with Leigh Hafrey of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Jonathan Lewis of Opportunity Collaboration and bloggers Mark Marosits of Worldways Social Marketing and Victor d’Allant of Skoll Social Edge; Colloquium for the Common Good – Topic: ‘Ways of looking at Poverty’;

Presentation of the Economic Opportunity Achievement Award – The Economic Opportunity Achievement Award is an international award presented to an individual or institution that has consistently demonstrated a commitment to collaboration, knowledge and resource sharing, and active cooperation in the service of ending poverty. The 2009 Award Honoree is Ms. Mary Houghton, President, ShoreBank Corporation. Followed by discussions with Robert Annibale, Global Director, Microfinance, Citigroup; Shari Berenbach, Executive Director, Calvert Social Investment Foundation; Robert E. Friedman, Chair, Board of Directors, Corporation for Enterprise Development; Jonathan C. Lewis, Moderator, Convening Coordinator, Opportunity Collaboration.

October 18 (Day Two):

Colloquium for the Common Good – Topic: ‘The Value of Values’; Networking and Collaboration – Topics include Asia Focus, Ashoka Fellows, Education and Schools, Food and Agriculture, IDEO Plans and Projects, Social Venture Network, Women’s Empowerment and Youth Empowerment; Authors discussion forum with distinguished book authors and magazine editors.

October 19 (Day Three):

Colloquium for the Common Good – Topic: ‘My Values, My Practice’; Networking and Collaboration – Topics include Eastern Europe Focus, Media and Poverty, MicroCredit Enterprises, Poverty in America, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Political and Human Rights, Women Donors Networks and Social Entrepreneurs; Tour of local micro-enterprises.

October 20 (Day Four):

Colloquium for the Common Good – Topic: ‘Poverty, Human Rights and the Global Society’; Networking and Collaboration – Topics include Beyond Profits Magazine, Microfinance Innovations, Peace and Conflict Resolution, South America Focus, Water Rights and Technologies, Religious and Faith Institutions, Technologies for Social Change.

October 21 (Day Five):

Collective assessment of outcomes of the event. Identification of patterns and trends from the event’s conversation, future projects, potential collaborations and shared opportunities. Please look up here for the complete agenda.

MicroCapital had previously reported on Opportunity Collaboration’s call for delegates and application criteria for delegates. For more information on that, please look up the March 2009 Microcapital story available here.

Background on Organizers:

Opportunity Collaboration is a diverse community of 250 non-profit leaders, grant-makers, social financiers, social entrepreneurs and agents of change focused on poverty alleviation. This community annually attends a strategic offsite on World Poverty Day to leverage resources, share innovations and to operate more effectively in the field of poverty alleviation. Its mission is to promote networking, foster collaboration and to leverage resources. Ultimately, the goal is to accelerate the work of global and domestic poverty alleviation [3]. The Collaboration convenes October 17th, World Poverty Day, through October 20th, 2009. Delegates will stay connected through the Collaborations’ year round e-community. Its founder/CEO is Jonathan C. Lewis who is also the founder of MicroCredit Enterprises [4].

Registration:

To apply, please complete the online registration form available here.

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

By Bharathi Ram, Research Assistant

Bibliography:

[1] Opportunity Collaboration, http://www.opportunitycollaboration.net

[2]: Opportunity Collaboration, Pre-Event Information, http://www.opportunitycollaboration.net/sites/default/files/Delegate%20Pre-Event%20Information.pdf

[3]: CRS Wire, Profile of Opportunity Collaboration, http://www.csrwire.com/members/profile/9034-Opportunity-Collaboration

[4] Social Edge, Opportunity Collaboration in Action, http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/opportunity-collaboration-in-action