Posts Tagged ‘opening session’

Top Tweets from Friday’s Opening Session

posted: 2010-05-21 @ 11:12 am EDT

Are you following Microfinance USA 2010 on Twitter (@mfusa2010)? Here’s what conference tweeters had to say about the opening remarks from Gavin Newsom (@gavinnewsom) and  the plenary session on credit and savings:

@shivsiroya: “Savers are strivers” they have an entrepreneurial spirit too #mfusa2010

@RMMFI: #mfusa2010. San Fran has more payday lenders than McDonalds and Starbucks combined. Every piece of that statement is disgusting!

@AspenInstitute: brilliant proverb from Lisa Mensah “Money gathered in dark places brings light”. Think about it. #mfusa2010

@cfednews: I wake up everyday thinking this is our time #MFusa2010 #microfinance

@alanpruitt: #MFusa2010 @gavinnewsom This fall, every SF student will start school with education trust fund for college. Amazing!

@opportunityfund: @gavinnewsom Every child entering SF schools will b given college savings account- Kids w/ savings 7x more likely 2 go 2 college #MFusa2010

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Opening Session Highlights

posted: 2010-05-20 @ 12:31 pm EDT

Maria Shriver and Premal Shah discuss U.S. microfinance awareness at today's opening plenary

Microfinance USA got off to an inspiring start at the opening plenary with Maria Shriver, First Lady of California and Premal Shah, president of Kiva, followed by a keynote from Martin Eakes, founder and CEO of Self Help. With over 400 conference participants listening closely, the opening session featured the following highlights:


  • Testimonials from Opportunity Fund microloan recipients, who detailed their difficulty in obtaining bank loans. One business owner described microfinance as “portion control,” referring to her loan consultant’s work with her to find an appropriate loan size
  • Maria Shriver’s focus on expanding microfinance to “all 50 states” and her advice for doing so through marketing and awareness
  • Inspiring personal testimonial from Martin Eakes, who detailed the stories of Self Help clients who improves their lives thanks to access to financial services.

Photos from the opening session are now available – view them here.

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