Posted by:
Steve Dubb
Early registration deadline: March 15th
Following the 2009 statewide “Microfinance, CA” conference, Microfinance USA will continue to mobilize those involved in and curious about domestic micro-finance to help expand the scale and scope of financial services available to disadvantaged families across America. The two-day event, which will take place in San Francisco on May 20-21 will highlight on a national level how micro-finance produces jobs, increases incomes, and creates opportunities to build stable and sustainable communities. Registration costs $225 for those who register on or before March 15; $275 thereafter. Student registrations are available for $50.
Microfinance USA aims to bring together 800 - 1,000 investors, policymakers, social enterprise leaders, community development financial institution (CDFI) practitioners, small business owners, and curious individuals to engage with micro-finance strategies and practices unique to the United States as well practical applications of international micro-finance. A list of conference speakers is available here.
Among the featured speakers are:
Bill Abrams, President of Trickle Up
Janie Barrera, CEO of Acción Texas
Martin Eakes, CEO and Steve Zuckerman, Managing Director, California Branch of Self-Help
Elaine Edgecomb, Director of the Aspen Institute microenterprise Fund for Innovation, Effectiveness, Learning and Dissemination (FIELD)
Grace Fricks, President and CEO of Appalachian Community Enterprises
James Gutierrez, President of Progreso Financiero
Gina Harman, President of Acción USA
Paul Leonard, Director of Operations, California, Center for Responsible Lending
Jonathan C. Lewis, Founder of MicroCredit Enterprises
Andrea Levere, President of CFED (formerly Corporation for Enterprise Development)
Ben Mangan, President of San Francisco-based EARN
Lisa Mensah, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Initiative on Financial Security
Premal Shah, President of Kiva
Rick Parras, Founder of Apoyo Financiero
Chuck Slaughter, CEO of Living Goods
Jennifer Tescher, Director of the Center for Financial Services Innovation
Eric Weaver, CEO of the Opportunity Fund
Anne Haines Yatskowitz, Co-Founder, Acción New Mexico/Arizona/Colorado
Conference themes will include:
History and Current State of Microlending in the U.S.
Microfinance and Poverty Reduction
Savings and Asset Building
Leveraging Partnerships to Reach Scale
Determining what are “fair” interest rates for U.S. micro-lending
Innovations in Serving the Unbanked (including a case study focused on a micro-branch of CDFI leader Self-Help).
The Role of Government and Job Creation in U.S. Microfinance
Improving Underwriting Efficiency and Response Time
The Rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending in the U.S.
Also included in the conference are tours of micro-enterprise Tours of in the San Francisco Bay Area and film screenings,