How Does The Gospel Guide Social Entrepreneurs?

For generations, socially minded entrepreneurs have developed innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing problems. How does the Bible make the case for social entrepreneurship? What role have Christians played in the social entrepreneurship movement? And how does the gospel shape our ultimate motives and objectives? A seasoned panel of Christian social entrepreneurs share their experience.

Monday, June 24, 2013
6:30 pm doors open (mix/mingle/eat/drink)
7–9 pm interactive panel discussion and small group breakouts

Location: Cause DC PhilanthroPub (first floor)
1926 9th St, NW, Washington, DC 20001 (2 blocks from U Street Metro, exit 10th Street) (map)
Space is limited so please RSVP today.

Questions? Contact Nancy Chan.

Cost: Free (buying food and drink is encouraged to meet our minimum; all profits go to charity!)

PANELISTS:

Jonathan Ng (moderator) currently serves as general counsel of Ashoka, the world’s largest association of leading social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka has been a leader of the modern social entrepreneurship movement by identifying and selecting close to 3,000 Ashoka Fellows across 73 countries. Prior to Ashoka, Jonathan was at White & Case LLP in New York in its energy, infrastructure and project finance practice group. While in New York, Jonathan participated in Redeemer Presbyterian Church’s Gotham Fellowship, a program designed for young professionals serious about integrating their faith and work.

Tonio DeSorrento is general counsel of Pave.com, a Manhattan-based startup on the forefront of many financial regulatory issues. Tonio joined the founding team at Pave from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. At Orrick Tonio represented large banks and nonbank lenders in banking, capital markets, securities and finance matters. In addition Tonio developed and funded new private education finance, consumer finance and financial technology products with over a dozen international or startup clients.

Anbinh Phan Oh learned about the widespread sale of little children by their parents into brothels, during a research trip to Cambodia with Global Centurion. Anbinh is the Founder of Aloetree Kids, a line of organic and all-natural kids products (tees, onesies, bank, book) created to support nonprofit organizations that help kids in Cambodia live F.R.E.E. (Fair Rights, Rescue, Education, and Empowerment). The products showcase the “Seedlings” which are square animals that share positive messages or “seeds of inspiration.” Proceeds from the sale of each product help kids in Cambodia and plant a seed of hope and healing in their lives. Aloetree: Plant Seeds that Heal.

Nancy Chan observed entrepreneurship and innovation through her work in Silicon Valley, and then moved to DC to seek to harness these forces for social change. Currently she works in policy research, helping regions develop strategies for technology-based economic development. She recently started the Idea Catalyst, a volunteer-based advisory community for Christians with early stage ideas for social enterprises who need counsel and encouragement to bring their ideas to life. (Want to learn more about the Idea Catalyst? Please email nhchan@gmail.com)

Brittany Noetzel worked with AmaniDC from 2008 to 2013. A local branch of Amani ya Juu, a women’s economic empowerment and peace-building organization based in East Africa, AmaniDC has a boutique in Mount Pleasant that sells handbags, home & kitchen décor, jewelry, and children’s products made by marginalized women in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Liberia. Product sales enable each woman to earn consistent income.