Telelearning Session 13: Microfinance in a Canadian Context

The provision of financial services to low-income clients is an under-examined facet of the economic system. Proponents of microfinance believe that meeting the financial needs of such community members can be a sustainable answer to solving the problems associated with poverty in our society. Join us as we explore some of the issues surrounding microfinance in Canada, including:

• What is the significance of microfinance programs in the Canadian context?
• What is the need for microfinance programs?
• Under what conditions do microfinance programs thrive in Canada?
• What are the challenges faced by Canadian microfinance programs?

Sign up today to participate in this engaging telelearning session, featuring Susan Henry (Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Alterna Savings) and Anahi Rivadeneira (Microfinance Program Officer at Vancity), with facilitation by Seth Asimakos of the Saint John Community Loan Fund.

Spaces are free, but limited - Register today!

Call Logistics:

* Session Date: Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
* Call begins at 9:00 am PST, 10:00 am MST, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm EST, 1:00 pm AST, and 1:30 pm NST
* Call in information will be given upon registration
* Register before March 8th to obtain dial-in information and background papers
* This session is in English

Session Format: 1 Hour
Welcome: 5 minutes
Presentation: 10 minutes from each speaker
Discussion: 35 minutes

Registration: By Email or by Phone
Register by e-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work or volunteer position. We will provide instructions on how to access the telelearning forum. Unfortunately, the session is only open to those residing in Canada. To register by phone call 1-250-472-4976.

Telelearning Session 12: International Microfinance

In recent years, donors and international aid organizations have been turning to microfinance as a way of providing their self-employed clients with financial services to support their businesses and households. These services have expanded to include not only loans and savings, but also insurance, money transfers and electronic banking as well. Join us as we explore some of the issues surrounding international microfinance, including:

• What is the difference between international and domestic microfinance?
• Under what conditions do international microfinance programs thrive?
• What are the challenges faced by international microfinance programs?

Sign up today to participate in this engaging telelearning session, featuring Nanci Lee (Writer, Microfinance Consultant, and Educator) and Dr. Julie Drolet (Writer and Assistant Professor at Thompson Rivers University), with facilitation by Annie McKitrick of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships.

Spaces are free, but limited - Register today!

Call Logistics:

* Session Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
* Call begins at 9:00 am PST, 10:00 am MST, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm EST, 1:00 pm AST, and 1:30 pm NST
* Call in information will be given upon registration
* Register before March 1st to obtain dial-in information and background papers
* This session is in English

Session Format: 1 Hour
Welcome: 5 minutes
Presentation: 10 minutes from each speaker
Discussion: 35 minutes

Registration: By Email or by Phone
Register by e-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work or volunteer position. We will provide instructions on how to access the telelearning forum. Unfortunately, the session is only open to those residing in Canada. To register by phone call 1-250-472-4976.

PEER LEARNING NETWORK TELECONFERENCE:

Thursday, February 19, 2008

@ 9:30 - 11:00 PST, 11:30 - 1:00 CST, 12:30 - 2:00 EST, 1:30 - 3:00 ATL

TOPIC

Youth Mentorship-Reproducing models that work

Speakers: Kayla Hrynewich, Program Coordinator & Addictions Counsellor with Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op in Saskatoon and Somkhuun Thongdee, Executive Director, Alberta SengSan Association with the Multicultural Youth Leaders Co-op in Edmonton.

Each speaker will give a brief presentation describing their model of youth mentorship. They will then each answer the question:

If I were to move to another community and wanted to reproduce our model of youth mentorship, these are the 5 key things that would be needed.

Our discussion will provide an opportunity to discuss these models in more detail and for others to share their experiences.

Additional information will be emailed to you closer to the event with the teleconference phone number and code.

Please RSVP to Paul Chamberlain by replying to this email or calling 416.760.2574. Please specify if you are comfortable participating in the tele-learning session in French, English or both languages so we can accommodate everyone.

We will also be asking that you complete a short survey after the session so that we can evaluate and improve the sessions.

Achieving sustainability requires a multi-disciplinary approach and a broad social commitment. It also requires the energy and passion of youth.

That's why The Co-operators has launched an unprecedented partnership of business, academia and non-government organisations to bring together students from all fields of study from across Canada to develop and implement real sustainability solutions for their current lives and their future careers.

All conference related expenses will be covered for selected participants. Their contribution is time and commitment.

• September 24-27th, 2009 at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario
• 180 university & college students from across Canada
• Explore tangible multi-industry and sector sustainability solutions with national business and academic leaders
• Build networks and develop skills to lead sustainability initiatives long after the conference
• Excited, empowered & equipped for change

To learn more visit www.impactyouthsustainability.ca or e-mail impact@cooperators.ca.

Conference partners: The Co-operators, Research Network for Business
Sustainability, David Suzuki Foundation, The Natural Step, the University
of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier University, AIESEC, Coopsco, the University of
Saskatchewan's Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and the Richard Ivey
School of Business.

Impact! Conférence jeunesse Co-operators de leadership en développement durable www.impactyouthsustainability.ca

Afin de relever les défis du développement durable, il nous faut adopter une approche multidisciplinaire et un engagement social de grande envergure. Et pour ce faire, l'énergie et la passion de la jeunesse sont aussi requises.

C'est pour ces raisons que Co-operators a mis sur pied une association sans précédent, d'organismes du milieu des affaires, académiques et non-gouvernementaux afin de rassembler des étudiants de tous les domaines d'étude provenant de partout au Canada pour qu'ils puissent développer et mettre en œuvre des solutions concrètes en développement durable dans le cadre de leurs vies actuelles et leurs futures carrières.

Toutes les dépenses reliées à la conférence seront payées pour les participants choisis. Ils auront qu'à contribuer temps et engagement.

• Du 24-27 septembre 2009 à l'Université de Guelph, Ontario
• 180 étudiants d'universités et collèges provenant de partout au Canada
• Développeront des solutions concrètes multi-industrielles et multisectorielles en développement durable avec des leaders d'entreprises et du monde académique
• Créeront des réseaux permanents et développeront la capacité de diriger des initiatives en développement durable bien après la conférence
• Seront inspirés, motivés, habilités et orientés au changement Partagez ce message ou l'URL avec votre réseau, surtout avec étudiants.

Pour en savoir plus visitez www.impactyouthsustainability.ca ou écrivez à impact@cooperators.ca

Partenaires : Co-operators, Research Network for Business Sustainability,
Fondation David Suzuki, The Natural Step, l'Université de Guelph,
l'Université Wilfrid Laurier University, AIESEC, Coopsco, l'Université de
la Saskatchewan - Centre for the Study of Co-operatives et le Richard Ivey
School of Business.

Concepts and Tools for Collaborative Inquiry and Social Engagement

This three day workshop focuses on the practice of collaborative inquiry and social engagement, drawing on the tools and concepts of SAS2 (www.sas2.net). The workshop is designed to strengthen skills in problem solving, stakeholder analysis, and assessing options for future actions, using innovative tools that are both rigorous and adaptable to a variety of contexts. Participants will learn by doing, applying the tools to questions grounded in their own individual or team projects and workplans.

The workshop is for people in the voluntary, academic, private and government sectors who are involved in:

• Multistakeholder facilitation
• Project evaluation
• Community-based research
• Workplace training and organizational learning
• Problem solving and strategic planning

• Mobilize people and knowledge from diverse sources;
• Ground thinking in real settings, leading to strategic actions and multistakeholder decisions appropriate to peoples’ goals and available resources;
• Choose the right tools, combine them with other methods and technologies, and design an inquiry that fits the needs of the people involved;
• Scale plans to fit the kind and depth of evidence, planning and participation needed to achieve the expected results;
• Make sense of complexity through the art of data gathering, analysis and story telling that inspires and persuades.

The U.S. Solidarity Economy Network invites you to the first national

Forum on the Solidarity Economy: Building Another World

March 19-22, 2009 w Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst

Co-convened with Universidad de los Andes (Venezuela) & RIPESS-NA (Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy - N. America)

An Historic Opening
The current economic crisis and the possible death throes of neoliberalism (corporate-led globalization), offers us an historic opening to advance a new framework for economic development. We have an opportunity to push for a fundamental transformation in our economic and social system, one that puts people and planet before private profits and power.

This four day conference will include an inspiring range of solidarity economy tours, workshops, plenaries and cultural events. We invite solidarity economy practitioners and resource organizations, social movement activists, workers, academics, students, researchers, cultural workers, journalists and other fellow travelers, to come and be part of the growing global movement to build the solidarity economy.

What is the solidarity economy?
The Solidarity Economy (SE) is an alternative framework for economic development that is grounded in principles of solidarity, equity in all dimensions, participatory democracy, sustainability and pluralism. The solidarity economy framework seeks transformation rather than band-aid solutions, yet rejects one-size-fits-all blueprints. It isn't abstract theory nor pie-in-the-sky utopianism. Rather, it pulls together and builds upon the many elements of the solidarity economy that already exist. Some are new innovations, some are old. Other elements have yet to be realized or even imagined, and the journey of creation is ongoing.

Join us!
The time to advance real solutions, built on real experiences and successes is now. Another world is possible and necessary. Join the movement and together, we can build upon the foundation that already exists to make that ‘other world' a reality!

For more details and background please visit our website: http://www.ussen.org

Or contact: Emily Kawano, Coordinator, U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, 413-545-0743, emily@populareconomics.org