MEDIA ALERT - Take action and improve lives in UN's 500 DAYS of ACTION. The place to start is Toronto International Microfinance Summit, Oct 4

TORONTO, Oct 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Toronto International Microfinance Summit announced today that it will encourage attendees to act boldly to accelerate progress toward achieving the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Adopted by world leaders in 2000, the deadline is September 2015.

"Action now will save lives, build a solid foundation for sustainable development far beyond 2015 and help lay the groundwork for lasting peace and human dignity," said Ban Ki-Moon at New York UN Headquarters on August 18, 2014. (source: un.org)

"The eight goals aim to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empowerment of women and reduce child mortality," explained Javed Sakhawat, Vice- Chair of the Summit and international microfinance consultant.  "They aim to improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and establish a global development partnership.  Microfinance is not a cure all, but as part of a holistic approach it could have great impact."

Microfinance for Social Justice
How Can Microfinance Lead the Way?
DATE: Saturday, October 4, 2014
TIME: 8:00 am Registration & micromarketplace open;
 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Program; Reception follows
PLACE: Allstream Centre, 105 Princes' Blvd (Exhibition Place, Toronto)
TICKETS: $125 Regular; $100 Student (while they last)
MEDIA AVAILABILITY:  CALL or TEXT 905 334 3660 or email: [email protected]

Canada's Premier Microfinance Event will look at social justice through a microfinance lens this year. The 2014 Summit is sponsored by Oikocredit Canada-Central, JVL Global Corp and Alterna Savings, with The MasterCard Foundation providing financial assistance for 100 students to attend.  Keynotes by global trailblazers frame the day. Breakout panels drill deep into issues and topics including:

• Financial Inclusion and Social Justice: Microfinance as a Means to Human Development;
• Using your Investment Dollars to Support Microfinance and Poverty Reduction;
• Urban Projects: Scarborough and Detroit;
• Mining, Partnerships, Financial Literacy and Gender Justice;
• BRAC's Holistic Development Model Explained; and
• Sustainable Development: Microfinance and Indigenous Peoples.

There's Q&A and many knowledgeable speakers.

SUMMIT CO-CHAIRS:
Carol Golench, PhD, President and James Louttit, Vice President
Toronto International Microfinance Summit

OPENING KEYNOTE: "Microfinance Multiplied"
 Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG, Founder and Chairman of BRAC

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE: "The Partnership of Economic Development and Social Justice."
Marilyn A. Fitzgerald, PhD, Author, If I Had A Water Buffalo (Forward by Muhammad Yunus, PhD)

AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: "Creating Brighter Futures: Improving Lives Through Social Enterprise" 
Syed Asad Mahmood, Vice President, Social Enterprise and Financial Innovation, FINCA International 

BREAKOUTS: 
Jannalee Anderson, Opportunity International Canada;  Susan Davis, BRAC USA;  Chief Isadore Day, Serpent River First Nation; Chafika Eddine, Hudbay Minerals;  Jessie Greene, Développement international Desjardins (DID);  Emita Latif, formerly BRAC, Rotman MBA Candidate;  Richard Librock, Oikocredit International;  Kerry Max, MEDA; Michael McCullough, LaunchDETROIT; Todd Minerson, White Ribbon Campaign; Todd Ross, Toronto & York Region Métis Council and Casey House;  Michael Scotland, ACCESS Community Capital Fund; Galina Tikhonovsky, Scarborough Rotary Club and Investors Group; Lawrence Wright, LaunchDETROIT.

MODERATORS, INTRODUCTIONS and THANK YOUs
Bonnie Lyn de Bartok, MacCormick IMC; Heather Broughton, My Oral Village;  Bonnie Devine, Indigenous Visual Culture Program, OCAD University; Mike Green, ObjectSharp and FINCA Canada; Thomas Haubenreisser, PhD, SolarShare;  Susan Henry, Alterna Savings;  Peter Scott, Masters Candidate, OCAD University;  Brian Thompson, Rotary District 7070.

RECEPTION: "Community and the Power of Co"
Brian Crombie, President, Crombie Capital Partners; Founder and Co-Chair, The Mississauga Summit and The Western GTA Summit

Everyone is welcome.  Join microfinance, development and business leaders, social innovators, government officials, politicians, entrepreneurs, academics, students, the media and anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship, social and economic innovation, sustainable development, poverty reduction and social justice.

Follow the Summit @microfinanceTO. Join the conversation at #tims14. Visit the micromarketplace. Watch the microwalk video and post to microbookclub blog www.torontomicrofinancebookclub.com

For TICKETS: www.microfinanceconference.ca or www.bit.ly/1opvsBx 

Our thanks to CNW Group for sponsoring this announcement.

Boilerplate                                                                                                       
Toronto International Microfinance Summit is Canada's premier event focusing on domestic and international microfinance. Founded in 2009 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2011, the organization was inspired by the Rotarian Action Group for Microfinance and Community Development (RAGM) and Rotary District 7070 Microfinance Committee. The Summit's signature Conference (Gala and Course) are run entirely by volunteers of diverse backgrounds and ages. Our vision is a world without poverty through microfinance. Our mission is to hold an annual event that: educates our community on microfinance as a poverty reduction tool; brings diverse people together for dialogue and action; and raises profile and/or funds for those making an impact.  The 2014 theme is Microfinance for Social Justice.  www.microfinanceconference.ca

SOURCE: Toronto International Microfinance Summit

and press passes, contact: Wendy Bodnoff, Marketing, Media & Public Relations, 905 334 3660, [email protected]