Students + U.S. Microfinance = Three Reasons to Blog
I have three reasons to blog today, and all three relate to college students and U.S. microfinance.
1. Microfinance USA conference (MFUSA)
The conference takes place in San Francisco from May 20-21, and includes keynote speakers Maria Shriver and Gavin Newsom. “A Living History: U.S. Microfinance Past, Present and Future” and “Leveraging Partnerships to Reach Millions” are two of the panels to which I am most looking forward. I also can’t wait to meet some of the 200 students that will be in attendance at the conference. I’ll be moderating a panel on student-led microfinance to talk with various stakeholders in microfinance initiatives on campuses across the U.S. and discuss their strengths, challenges, and impact. I hope to see you there!
2. A video about a lemonade stand
Recently ACCION USA ran a “Twitition” (A competition on Twitter) in which three student groups competed to win two trips to the Microfinance USA conference. In addition to tweeting in support of ACCION USA, the students held events on their campus to raise awareness about U.S. microfinance. I’d like to congratulate Global Youth Connection from the College of Wooster (Ohio), which won the Twitition and will be attending the conference next week. Because most students are more familiar with international microfinance, Global Youth Connection became an important voice for U.S. microfinance. Check out the video about their lemonade stand!
3. Tonight’s meeting with the Microfinance Council (MFC)
ACCION USA has a core group of volunteers called the Microfinance Council that is nearly 300 members strong. Tonight I will be meeting with them to discuss ACCION USA’s initiatives with campus microfinance clubs. The MFC will be heading up a project to manage partnerships between ACCION USA and student groups that are interested building awareness, fundraising, and bringing access to microloans in their communities. The MFC is essential in spearheading research into new products and partnerships at ACCION USA. We look forward to sharing with you the fruits of our work!
Working with students over the past few months, I have learned a great deal about their creativity and dedication to a cause. ACCION USA plans to continue expanding our connection with campus microfinance clubs. In the meantime, I am looking forward to learning about “Leveraging Partnerships to Reach Millions” at MFUSA and seeing how students can play a role in strengthening their communities.
Tags: accion usa, accionusa, lemonade stand, microfinance, microfinance usa, microfinance USA conference, student microfinance, us microfinance, Youth Microfinance Series
Sneak Peek: Small Business Green Loan Program
With the Green Loan Program launching on April 22nd (just 16 days away!) we thought we would let the cat out of the bag a little early. But only for our most ardent online supporters, of course! Join us on April 13th for a lunch time webinar that will tell you all you need to know about ACCION USA’s Green Loan Program pilot in Massachusetts and New York. It’s an interactive experience that will allow you to provide feedback and ask questions. Feel free to spread the word to anyone you think would be interested in helping small businesses go green!
Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Registration
This webinar is designed for bankers, small business consultants, and anyone else that works with small businesses. It will show you how to help small business get the money they need to go green with an ACCION USA Green Loan for Small Businesses.
Green loan products include:
- Energy Efficiency Loans: Saving energy = saving money and increasing profits
- Grow Your Green Business: Loans for small businesses that provide green products or services
If you know a small business that is struggling to find ways to cut costs and access new, green-conscious consumers, sign up for this “partners only” webinar today. Space is limited!
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. “See” you on the 13th!
Tags: green small business, greenm small business loans, partners, training, weatherization, webinars
A Friendly ACCIONista, Coming to a Town Near You
With an online small business loan application and direct lending offices in Boston, Atlanta, New York and Miami, ACCION USA makes microloans available nationwide. However, unless you live near one of these four metro areas, you can’t just drive down the street to visit your friendly neighborhood ACCIONista.
However, ACCION USA loan consultant Rachel Hynes will soon be on the road in Philadelphia and Washington, DC—two markets that we have set in our sights to grow our presence and serve more microentrepreneurs— meeting and greeting clients, potential borrowers, and community partners.
As a member of ACCION USA’s internet lending team, Rachel specializes in working with clients and partners nationwide to bring microloan services to small business owners who need them. Usually this means working with people over the phone, but for three weeks Rachel will be on the road to meet with YOU in person. She loves shaking the hand of the entrepreneurs she helps, and meeting in person with community referral partners.
Make Rachel’s Day
We know that bankers want to help their clients, but it’s not always possible to offer every entrepreneur a small business loan. You can talk with Rachel about how we can build a referral relationship with your bank to mutually benefit our companies and our clients. And we don’t only partner with banks. If you are part of an organization with a mission to help small business owners thrive then Rachel wants to meet you, too! She will speak with you about your organization’s work and how ACCION USA can offer important value add-ins for your clients. Find out why companies from Bank of America to the Small Business Administration to the Hispanic Business Exchange work with us, and why you should as well.
Rachel’s schedule is the following:
November 23-25: Washington, DC
November 30-December 4: Philadelphia
December 7-8: TBA (Philadelphia or Washington, DC)
December 9-10: Washington, DC
Leave a comment or email rhynes@accionusa.org to schedule a meeting with Rachel, and help increase microloan services in your community!
Top Four Reasons Why I’m Going To SOCAP 09
I can think of over a hundred reasons to attend the SOCAP conference in San Francisco September 1-3, 2009.
What is SOCAP 09?
SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) “brings together a unique mix of the world’s top social innovators, investors, donors, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders, today’s leading catalysts of change from across the globe. [to] celebrate the renewed will and determination of these pioneers investing for social impact.”
The top four reasons why I’m attending…
- YOLA.com ACCION USA is partnering with Yola.com, a company that provides free web building and hosting tools. We are excited to bring technology and marketing tools to the microentrepreneurs that we serve. SOCAP is a chance to discuss this exciting new partnership.
- KIVA.org ACCION USA is in its third month of its pioneering partnership with Kiva.org, which speaks to the innovation that ACCION USA is bringing to the domestic microfinance industry. As the former Kiva fellow and current Kiva coordinator at ACCION USA, I am excited to hear Premal Shah speak about the future of social innovation on the web and Chelsa Bocci discuss Kiva’s community outreach initiatives.
- Sonal Shah from the White House’s office on Social Innovation is the keynote speaker and will be addressing the government’s new socially minded strategy to “effectively streamline government towards investing in what works.” This one speaks for itself.
- Day 3 Keynote: “An aspirational look at the future of our economy and society at large. Focusing on lessons learned outside of western society and the holistic nature of blended value ventures.” Bringing blended values to socially minded business sounds like a song to me and is a perspective that deserves considerable discussion.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to engage and learn from the list of over 100 speakers on panel discussions ranging from “Social Media That Moves People to Action” to “Alternative Financial Services for the Unbanked.” Check out the complete list. I look forward to my return to NYC after the conference as ACCION USA continues to expand and grow, generating innovative ideas and continuing to provide fresh products and services to our clients.
Tags: accion usa, chelsa bocci, erica dorn, kiva, premal shah, SOCAP 09
AUSA Financial Education Programs Get Webinar Techonology Boost
Today, small business owners are thirsting for a leg-up in the down economy. ACCION USA’s small business loans can provide the much-needed capital for today’s entrepreneurs to maintain, strengthen and grow their small businesses. We could stop there, but that’s just not our style.
As a leading microlender, AUSA has always focused on complementing loans with financial education, which gives businesses an even bigger boost towards long term success. Now, ACCION USA has taken financial education to a whole new level by launching an online workshop, or Webinar, series. We’re bringing live credit and business education to business owners where it’s most convenient for them—in their homes, at their businesses, or on-the-go.
This innovative strategy is helping us to streamline our financial education efforts—ACCION USA staff spends less time in transit, setting up workshop locations, and waiting for workshop participants to arrive—meaning we can reach more people with less effort and budget.
Webinars are gaining ground in the world of financial education, and ACCION USA is leading the pack. You can help ACCION USA reach even more small business owners with financial education by spreading the word about our Webinars. Our first batch, focused on business survival, take place twice a month in English and Spanish. Visit our workshop calendar for our upcoming online and in-person workshop schedule.
Meet Microfinance Borrowers at 7/27 Event
I’ve always said that the best tellers of the ACCION USA story and the impact of microfinance in the United States are actual ACCION USA borrowers—the women and men who are putting their loan capital to work towards positive change.
That’s why, if you’re located in New York or fancy a trip here soon, I highly recommend popping into the next ACCION USA Microfinance Council event – a lively panel discussion on the challenges surrounding the domestic microfinance industry and the small business community in New York.
You’ll hear testimonial from an ACCION USA borrower whose family used their loan to realize their dream of owning their own Italian restaurant, Desy’s Clam Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I can guarantee that their success story is as inspiring as their cannolis are delicious (I ate nearly two at a recent visit, and haven’t stopped thinking about them since.)
The event will also include insights from top ACCION USA staff, including president and CEO Gina Harman and microfinance industry experts.
When? Monday July 27, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Where? The New School, 66 West 12th Street, 5th Floor, Wollman Hall, New York, NY
RSVP? Yes please, to rsvp.any@gmail.com
See you there!