Marriott School To Host Fifth Microenterprise Conference 15-16 March

PROVO, Utah — Mar 08, 2002 — BYU's Marriott School of Management will host the Fifth Annual Microenterprise Conference "Practical Approaches to Ending Poverty" 15-16 March 2002. Grounded in a belief that access to resources is the greatest barrier to ending poverty, speakers at this year's conference will examine the best practices of the past, critique today's organizations and take a pragmatic look at the future of the microenterprise movement.

"Microenterprise is an exciting new way for individuals, families and communities to get involved in the fight against poverty," said Donald Adolphson, chairman of the conference's planning committee and Marriott School professor of public management. "Many people are beginning to realize they can help alleviate suffering in the world without leaving home."

This year's conference speakers include Chieko Okazaki, former counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jeffrey Ashe, visiting scholar at Brandeis University's Institute for Sustainable International Development and founder of Working Capital; Alex Counts, founder of the Grameen Foundation, and Chad Evans and Red Allen, directors of The Church of Jesus Christ's Perpetual Education Fund.

In addition to attending keynote lectures, conference participants can attend breakout sessions focusing on domestic, international, innovation and humanitarian issues in microenterprise.

The conference, believed to be the largest of its kind, will be held in BYU's Wilkinson Student Center from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. 15-16 March and is free to the public. Conference organizers will also host a symposium 14 March entitled "The Role of Commercial Banking in Microfinance." To register and for more information on speakers and schedules, visit the conference web site at microenterprise.byu.edu or call (801) 378-6690.

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally and internationally ranked programs in accountancy, business management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The mission of the Marriott School focuses on education, research, outreach and friendship to train men and women to become outstanding leaders in a global environment. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.