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Did you ever wonder how to invest your 401(k) money in micro-enterprises in Africa, Asia and Latin America for a stable and decent return? While we may not yet be at that stage, these questions represent the future of microfinance as today’s innovators seek to “link the middle-class with the bottom billion.” Please join the Microfinance Club of New York in welcoming MICROPLACE and KIVA –the leading retail investment platforms for microfinance– to the Open Society Institute in New York. These two social businesses follow different models, but both have innovatively used technology to bridge the gap between micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries and socially motivated retail investors like you. We will also be joined by the CALVERT FOUNDATION who will explain their role as intermediary. COME JOIN US!

Panelists

Tracey Turner, Founder, Microplace – Tracey is a well known social entrepreneur committed to finding market-based solutions to global poverty. She is a seasoned business executive who has been involved in international development, social investing and philanthropy for more than 15 years. Prior to founding MicroPlace, Tracey was CFO of KickStart, an organization that designs and sells products focused on poverty alleviation. In 1998, she started her first company, 4charity, a web-based marketplace for charitable giving, and served as its CEO. Earlier in her career, Tracey held a variety of positions with socially responsible firms including the Grameen Bank, Calvert Ventures and the World Bank.

Adam Grenier, Fellow, Kiva – Adam was selected as a Fellow with Kiva.org, a leading online microfinance community whose mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. He worked with Salone Microfinance Trust (SMT) in Sierra Leone, a non-governmental organization that serves the needs of 5,400+ economically active poor. After obtaining a B.S. in Consumer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Adam joined Fidelity Investments where he worked directly on regulatory and compliance issues for the firm for five years. In 2008, he earned a Masters in Financial Planning from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Shari Berenbach, Executive Director, Calvert Foundation – Shari joined Calvert Foundation as Executive Director in 1997. With over 20 years of experience ranging from microcredit to international business, Shari brings leadership and knowledge to the field of social investment. At Calvert Foundation, Shari has developed innovative financial instruments and partnerships critical to creating a level of transparency and discipline that engender consistent performance, investor confidence and broad market participation in the community investment marketplace.

Moderated by Mary Rose Brusewitz, Attorney, Strasburger & Prince LLP – Mary Rose Brusewitz concentrates her practice on Latin American transactions. Ms. Brusewitz represents major Latin American companies as well as U.S., European, and Asian entities doing business in Latin America and elsewhere. Because of her years of experience in the Latin American region, she has developed invaluable expertise in issues such as evaluating convertibility tax regimes, legal and regulatory systems and economic and cultural elements relevant to transactions.

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