“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” – Mother Teresa

I believe the wisdom from Mother Teresa’s quote is most strongly felt within our hearts. When we begin careers or get involved in service it is likely that we believe, doing our best is good enough. Unfortunately, in many cases shortly after our initial enthusiasm, we come face to face with the needs of the community that are beyond our ability. This realization can be both a blessing and a curse. I would contend that the difference in its impact comes from within our own mindset and attitude.

Realizing that the needs of the communities we serve are beyond our abilities can be a curse if we do not develop sufficient faith in ourselves. The realization can be a curse if we feel we have already failed. It can be a curse if it causes us to doubt our efforts and become immobilized.  However, realizing the community we serve needs more than we can offer can also be seen as a blessing.

Realizing the needs of the community are beyond our current ability is a blessing because it calls us to look beyond ourselves. This process helps us to maintain perspective and learn humility. This process reminds us that our efforts are less about being everything to everyone and more about becoming something to someone.  Progress and innovation are the result of the need to develop beyond current capacity. Teamwork and community involvement build relationships that may otherwise fail to develop.

The San Diego Microfinance Alliance and its partners are a wonderful example of this reality. One can imagine that the small group of people that came together to form the alliance realized that they needed more help to serve more people. We can all see the progress, innovation, teamwork, and community involvement that the alliance has created within the San Diego community. The alliance currently has 13 partners committed to perpetuating and sharing the benefits of microfinance. May our work together continue to challenge us to reach new levels of service, education and community development!

Until next time, take care!

Written by Daniel Valcazar II, USD student

The Alternative Gift Fair is an event that supports local vendors and artisans. The event has been on campus for over 10 years. As a result, many people around campus look forward to this event and plan to buy gifts for the most difficult people on their list. The particularly exciting aspect of this year’s Alternative Gift Fair was the presence of such a large number of microfinance clients.

This year’s Alternative Gift Fair was the largest in history and included 25 separate vendors. However, the most exciting part of the story was that 11 of the 25 were involved in microfinance! The breakdown for microfinance participants was roughly five vendors from the Foundation for Women, three vendors from the International Rescue Committee, and three vendors from La Maestra.

When asked about his perspective on the event, USD Senior Lovel Tokic, said that he, “felt good about putting his money toward a good cause.” Lovel spent about $40 on various gifts for the women in his life. “It was a very good atmosphere. The people were friendly and committed to their crafts.” This sentiment seems to be consistent with the goals of the event.

Fortunately, I had a chance to check in with some of the vendors after the fair. Their responses were positive and seemed to reflect the success of their sales. There were multiple women I’d checked with that made over $200 during the event and at least one woman made over $800! Needless to say, many of them hope to return next year.

If you’re still in need of some creative and unique gifts for the holidays, many of the vendors that participated in the Alternative Gift Fair also showcase their goods at other local events. Whether you’re looking specifically for holidays or just considering future gift ideas, check out the local events section of our website. There you can find various opportunities to see the crafts and jewelry you may have missed this past week, and many more from vendors that were not able to attend.

Until next time, take care!

Written by USD student, Daniel Valcazar II

San Diego is home to one of the International Rescue Committee’s 22 United States resettlement offices, which together have helped 20,000 newly arrived refugees resettle upon arrival and then navigate their new environment and incorporate into the culture. The goal is to help refugees survive and thrive in the U.S.

Since 2000, IRC San Diego’s Microenterprise Program has helped to start or expand more than 150 refugee-owned small businesses through one-on-one business consulting, technical assistance and business loans up to $15,000.  Currently, the program is assisting many Iraqi refugee entrepreneurs living in El Cajon, a community that has seen more than 8,000 new refugee arrivals over the past three years – for obvious reasons.

IRC’s Microenterprise Program is housed within its Center for Financial Opportunity, a one-stop shop helping refugees with all their small business, financial and employment-related needs.

Newly arrived refugees also get help with housing, health care, nutritious food, English language classes, education for their children, social services, community support, job and computer skills, and legal services toward residency and citizenship.

In order to help refugees thrive, the staff and volunteers seek creative ways to empower those they serve as they embark along the long road of cultural acclimation.

New Roots Community Farm in University Heights is just one example of a creative solution to empower those they serve.  The brainchild of the refugees themselves, the farm provides access to healthy, organic food for the families AND the ability to produce a surplus, which can be sold for income.

The melting pot of more than 80 refugee farmers tend their gardens and their souls as they grow food and grow relationships with other refugee farmers from at least nine different countries. At the farm, they are able to share not only food from their home countries, but similar experiences and feelings, which helps with the isolation that refugees often feel.

You can learn more about IRC’s services and the many ways you can help at their San Diego website: http://www.theirc.org/us-program/us-san-diego-ca. You can also jump right in and get to know the folks who commit themselves to IRC’s goodness by meeting them on September 30. Share in the HOPE, an annual benefit for the International Rescue Committee in San Diego, will be held on Thursday September 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Fairbanks Ranch Clubhouse, 17651 Circa del Norte, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.
The evening will include wine and beer tasting, international foods, music, and a reverse auction in a beautiful lakeside setting. A reverse auction is an opportunity for guests to support specific IRC programs or activities through a bidding process. Last year, they asked guests to bid on the cost of used guitars for their youth music program. Tickets are $100 per person. For more information about this event, contact Sharon Darrough by phone at 619-641-7510 x249 or by email at Sharon.Darrough@theIRC.org or visit the event website.

Article by Lara Ward, University of San Diego Alumni

The documentary was recently shown at the 2010 San Diego Microfinance Summit at the University of San Diego.

To view more of Kaley’s work you can visit her website at http://yourplatform.wordpress.com/about/

Collaborative Capital from Kaley Hearnsberger on Vimeo.

2010 San Diego Microfinance Summit

April 28th, 2010

8:30am-4:30pm

Sign Up Now

The San Diego Microfinance Summit will bring together students, business owners, members of the community, microlenders, bankers, and many others to learn, network, and become more involved in microfinance.  The summit will highlight both international microfinance issues as well as teach about the local micro-lending climate.  Participants will get to hear from both microfinance professionals and clients in addition to enjoying lunch and a marketplace that is provided by local clients, all financed by local microfinance organizations. The afternoon mixer will provide an opportunity for to network with students, microfinance professionals, microfinance clients and more.

The Keynote address will be given by Yeardley Smith, Emmy award-winning actor, novelist and playwright who is best known as the voice of Lisa Simpson on the Emmy award winning television series The Simpsons.  She is passionate about microfinance.  As a donor and volunteer, she is  partnering with Grameen Foundation on a special initiative geared toward expanding microcredit and related services to those living on less than a dollar a day.  Yeardley will share her perspectives and experiences visiting with women in Haiti, both pre- and post-earthquake and address the impact of microfinance.

Attendees will also spend the latter part of the morning hearing from a panel of professionals that work in international microfinance organizations. Afternoon break-out sessions will provide the opportunity to learn about various aspects of microfinance in a bit more depth.  Two different hour-long sessions will allow for attendees to choose from the following break-out sessions.

1. Students In Microfinance – Learn about opportunities to become more involved in microfinance from students and alumni of San Diego Univervisities.  Learn about potential internships, job opportunities, and University Microfinance Clubs.

2. Microfinance In Academia - The Microfinance in Academia session seeks to provide an overview of the developments in microfinance as it pertains to research, curriculum, and community outreach endeavors in academia.  Panelists from four major academic institutions in the San Diego region (Point Loma Nazarene University; San Diego State University; University of California, San Diego; and University of San Diego) will provide their perspectives and will outline the activities taking place in their respective institutions with respect to microfinance and allied areas. The objective of this session is to stimulate conversations and to forge partnerships among institutions, practitioners, and the community.

3. Group Lending In San Diego – While many are familiar with Grameen Bank’s village banking model, rarely has it been successfully replicated in the United States.  Chris Nayve, Associate Director of The Center For Community Learning at the University of San Diego will team up with Elena Cruz of La Maestra to talk about the partnerhsip they have established and how providing $250 loans are changing the lives of women in San Diego.  Hear from several borrowers as they share their personal story and tell first-hand how the business training and microloan from La Maestra has empowered them in their communities.

4. San Diego Microlenders - Panelists from four local Microfinance Organizations will share about the work they are doing in San Diego, how they collaborate to work together, and some strategic partnerships they have formed.  Two clients that have been served by these organizations will present about their businesses, how they utilized funding from several programs, and how the local network of MF Organizations helped them to grow their business. This session will be an interactive panel with plenty of time for Q&A and discussion with the clients.

5. Investing In Microfinance: Pro-Poor or Pro-Profit? - As microfinance continues to evolve and mature as a financial industry, more public and private dollars are becoming available to microfinance institutions (MFI’s).  Some invest  in order to help reduce poverty, others simply for a return on investment.  Persons and institutions interested in ensuring that microcredit continues to serve the poor need to be careful about where they place their investments and financial support.  In this break-out session, Terry Provance, Executive Director of Oikocredit, USA will examine current trends in microfinance, social impact and responsible investing.

A final networking hour will give all attendees a chance to enjoy drinks, light appetizers, and interact with other students, business owners, microlenders, and members of the community.

CLICK HERE

to reserve your ticket today.

For questions and comments please email info@sdmicrofinance.org

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To see press coverage from the last year’s summit, click here.

TheIRC is hosting a Culture Clash event from now until March 7th.

Culture Clash in AmeriCCa – February 18 to March 7

The IRC Microenterprise is partnering with the San Diego Repertory Theatre’s feature play Culture Clash in AmeriCCa. The play will run from February 18 to March 7 at the Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza. As part of the collaboration, IRC will get a portion of the ticket proceeds; however, the buyer must mention IRC during the purchase over the phone or in person (not online). To purchase tickets, call 619 544-1000.

Culture Clash in AmeriCCa explores changes in America through characters based on interviews with new Americans throughout the country.  For more information about the play including the schedule and prices, please visit the website at: http://www.sdrep.org/event4.aspx

A Taste of New American Cuisine – Saturday, February 27  1 pm

On Saturday, February 27th, the IRC Microenterprise Program will provide a Taste of New American Cuisine to attendees of the 2 pm matinee of Culture Clash in AmeriCCa.  As part of your ticket purchase, you have the opportunity to taste food from refugee caterers from Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq, and Burma. Be sure to arrive early to enjoy the great food and learn about IRC programs.

For more information about the Taste of New American Cuisine, please contact Lina Shalabli at lina.shalabi@theIRC.org or 619 641-7510 x262.