The Marriott School at Brigham Young University anticipates hundredsof participants at its fourth annual Microenterprise Conference 5-7 April 2001. The free conference, believed to be the largest of its kind, is open to BYU students, faculty, staff and the public. Microenterprise is amovement that uses small loans and business education to help the poor become self-reliant. This year’s theme, “Practical Approaches to Ending Poverty,” will bring together educators, investors and non-governmental organizations from around the world.
“Microenterprise development is one of the most innovative economic strategies of the past century,” said Warner Woodworth, professor of organizational leadership and strategy at BYU’s Marriott School and one of the conference’s organizers. “Microenterprise’s strength lies in empowering the poor so they can help themselves and thereby become fully self-reliant.”
Addressing this year’s theme are speakers Khalid Shams, assistant director of Grameen Bank; Terri Ludwig, president of ACCION New York: Syed Hashimi, poverty specialist at Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest; John Hatch, executive director of FINCA International; Chieko Okazaki, former counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Steve Young, former Superbowl MVP and founder of the Forever Young Foundation. Other organizations participating in the conference include Catholic Relief Services and USAID.
In addition, the conference will have breakout sessions designed to help both experienced volunteers and interested newcomers get involved in various aspects of microenterprise. The breakout sessions will address microenterprise’s frontiers and strategic and domestic issues as well as faith-based organizations in microfinance.
“This is the largest conference of its kind — where high quality presentations by some of the best practitioners of microenterprise share their successes,” Woodworth said.
The conference will be held on the BYU campus in room 3224 of the Wilkinson Student Center. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is encouraged. For conference information and pre-registration, visit the webat www.microenterprise.byu.edu or call (801) 378-6690.
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally ranked programs in accounting, business management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The mission of the Marriott School is to educate men and women of faith, character and professional ability who will become outstanding managers and leaders throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
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Writer: Carrie Beckstead (801) 378-1512
