The Sixth Annual Microenterprise Conference, sponsored by the Program for Economic Self-Reliance at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School, will be held 13-15 March 2003. The conference — the largest of its kind — gathers microfinance institutions, non-governmental organizations, educators, students and volunteers for discussions and workshops on microenterprise innovations.
The theme of this year’s conference is "Sustainable Strategies for Building Economic Self-Reliance." Attendees new to or well-acquainted with the concept of microenterprise are invited to learn how microfinance institutions are helping poor families and individuals find opportunities to develop self-employment enterprises.
"This is my favorite microenterprise conference of the year," says John Hatch, founder of the Foundation for International Community Assistance, an anti-poverty organization with operations on five continents. "It’s a great way to catch up with colleagues and friends, learn about new innovations, network with strategic philanthropists and recruit new research interns."
The conference will begin Thursday 13 March at 6:30 p.m. with a reception and opening session in room 3228 of the Wilkinson Student Center. Hour-long panel discussions and breakout sessions will be held every hour from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday 14-15 March. A conference schedule can be found online at microenterprise.byu.edu.
"More than 800 people attended the conference in 2002," says Todd Manwaring, executive director of BYU’s Program for Economic Self-Reliance. "This is a unique opportunity for many of the top researchers, practitioners and organizations involved in microenterprise to network and share what they are learning from their research and work."
All sessions of the conference, which is free to the public, will be held in the Wilkinson Student Center at BYU. Those planning to attend should pre-register online at microenterprise.byu.edu. For more information visit the website or call (801) 422-9009.
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
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Writer: Burke Olsen