Blog Archives

What YAO is reading: Portfolios of the Poor

Last night, at Noble Tree cafe in Lincoln Park, YAO-Chicago held a book discussion for Portfolios of the Poor: How the World’s Poor Live on $2 a Day. If you missed it, never fear. There will be more book discussions in YAO‘s future. In fact, we may have a followup to the discussion of Portfolios, a Read more…

Posted in Events, What We're Reading, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Opportunity LiveBlog: A Second Calling

When it comes to passion and purpose, Dale Hanson Bourke quite literally wrote the book. She has been called on to speak at multiple Opportunity events, so we knew we were in for a treat. Dale began, “we’ve talked about stories a lot. What I have learned as I look at my own life is Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, What We're Reading
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Opportunity LiveBlog: Roger Thurow’s Global Food for Thought

Roger Thurow’s job is to “outrage and inspire.” His recent book, co-authored with Scott Kilman, Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty, certainly does just that. He previously spoke at our Fall 2009 Conference, and Opportunity is delighted to host him again at our Spring 2010 Conference. The Opportunity audience sat enraptured as we listened Read more…

Posted in Events, What We're Reading
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Opportunity LiveBlog: Sharing Your Story

Daniel Taylor is a storytelling professional. He understands the importance of where to start a story, how to tell it, and what its conclusion should be. At Opportunity International’s fall Board of Governors Conference, each session he led was standing room only. We are delighted to have  him join us again for our Spring 2010 Confernece. Read more…

Posted in What We're Reading
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Celebrate International Women’s Day with “Half the Sky”

One way you can celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 is to begin reading the book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Late last year, Julie Hindmarsh, a leader in the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) of Opportunity International, suggested that WON host a “Half Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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Voices of the Poor – Parmila Das

The landmark Voices of the Poor study, published by the World Bank in 2000, sought the opinions and testimony of 60,000 of the world’s poor through information gathered in small discussion groups. Parmila Das was one participant profiled in the study. She lived in India and was a widow with two young children. She struggled Read more…

Posted in Our Mission and Vision, What We're Reading
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Help Create Opportunity for Women Worldwide

The following is a guest post from Women’s Opportunity Network Member, Susan Gillette: I have just finished reading “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof  and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn.  It’s a difficult but inspiring read about the oppression of women in the developing world Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Savings, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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Live from the Smithonian Institution: One Hen Awarded Best Book for Young Children

The Outreach Council of the African Studies Association annually salutes the authors and illustrators of outstanding books about Africa published or distributed in the United States for young children and older readers.  Today, Katie Smith Milway’s One Hen: How One Loan Made a Big Difference is commended for the life lessons it instills in youth, Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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Live from International Reading Association: One Hen sparks conversation among Educators

After a great morning with the students at Sidwell Friends School, I had the pleasure of joining Katie at the International Reading Association for an engaging panel discussion on Friday afternoon.  The evolution of One Hen and its transformation from text to technology has spawned a stimulating conversation amongst a panel of educators and their Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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Reaching a Younger Generation through Inspirational Children’s Book

You can never be too young to understand the power of microfinance.  Just ask Opportunity’s team of volunteers who bring lessons of microfinance to life in the classroom through One Hen, an award-winning children’s tale.  Championed by the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), the One Hen volunteer program seeks to connect Opportunity supporters with young children Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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