Alumni Forum: Microfinance and Your Place In It 

Is micro credit a bold, successful strategy for eradicating poverty around the world, or is it the latest development fad?  Or worse, is it just another way for private banks to make money from poverty?

Should you donate your hard-earned money to people across the country or world so they can start small businesses?

We will explore these questions and also talk about careers in microfinance with three leading experts.

Panelists:

Matt Flannery founded Kiva in 2005 with his wife Jessica to connect people through online lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva has grown to provide millions of dollars in microloans.  

Kristin Houk, President of the NamasteDirect Foundation, manages staff in the US and Central America who service over 3500 loans and provide training and support to poor women.  

Jane Wales is President of the Global Philanthropy Forum and the World Affairs Council and has served on the National Security Council staff and was Special Assistant to the President.

Moderator: Dr. Patrick O’Heffernan, Nameste-Direct Board Member and Coro Director of Finance and Development

When:                         Wednesday, December 3, 2008, from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Where:                         Coro Center for Civic Leadership - Training Room
                                    601 Montgomery Street, Suite 800
                                    San Francisco, CA  94111

Please RSVP by 12:00 pm on December 1, 2008, by contacting Katie Koski at 415.986.0521 x103 or kkoski@coro.org.