tag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:/newsIrish Impact | News2016-01-20T11:00:00-05:00tag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/638652016-01-20T11:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00A different kind of lawyer<p class="image-right"><img alt="Galilee program" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/185792/galilee_program_200x150.jpg" title="Galilee program" /></p>
<p>Galilee Program offers students an inside look at public-interest and public-service lawyering.</p><p class="image-right"><img alt="Galilee program" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/185792/galilee_program_200x150.jpg" title="Galilee program"></p>
<p>Galilee Program offers students an inside look at public-interest and public-service lawyering.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://law.nd.edu/news/63373-galilee-program-shapes-students-views-on-being-a-different-kind-of-lawyer/">http://law.nd.edu/news/63373-galilee-program-shapes-students-views-on-being-a-different-kind-of-lawyer/</a>.</p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by Notre Dame News at <a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/63560-a-different-kind-of-lawyer/">news.nd.edu</a> on January 06, 2016.</p>Notre Dame Newstag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/630402015-12-07T11:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Architect proposes sustainable, short-term housing for European refugees<p class="image-right"><img alt="Refugee housing floor plan" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/183380/200x/economakis_refugee_floor_plan.jpg" title="Refugee housing floor plan" /></p>
<p>Fleeing the wars of Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Somalia and other countries, refugees in staggering and unprecedented numbers are swarming into Europe, some 800,000 so far this year alone. This global and increasingly catastrophic movement is likely not only to continue but even to increase, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned “it is imperative that the situation be managed in such a way as to minimize the risks of new problems being created.”</p><p class="image-right"><a href="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/183380/original/economakis_refugee_floor_plan.jpg"><img alt="Refugee housing floor plan" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/183380/300x/economakis_refugee_floor_plan.jpg" title="Refugee housing floor plan"></a> Refugee housing floor plan<br>
(Click for larger image)</p>
<p>Fleeing the wars of Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Somalia and other countries, refugees in staggering and unprecedented numbers are swarming into Europe, some 800,000 so far this year alone. This global and increasingly catastrophic movement is likely not only to continue but even to increase, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned “it is imperative that the situation be managed in such a way as to minimize the risks of new problems being created.”</p>
<p>An innovative project to help manage the refugee crisis has recently been proposed by <a href="https://architecture.nd.edu/people/faculty-directory/richard-economakis/">Richard M. Economakis</a>, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the University of Notre Dame’s <a href="http://architecture.nd.edu/">School of Architecture</a>, and is now under consideration by officials of the United Nations, the European Union and the Greek government.</p>
<p>Economakis proposes the creation of temporary refugee villages on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Kos and other Mediterranean sites where refugees first arrive in Europe. The buildings would be constructed of sun-dried brick — or adobe — which is inexpensive, locally available and easily and quickly produced and assembled. A typical village, arranged in pinwheel fashion around a central square, would include 800 housing units, each accommodating up to 10 people, making for a total population of some 8,000, approximately equivalent to the number of refugees now arriving on Greek islands daily.</p>
<p class="image-left"><a href="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/183381/original/economakis_refugee_village.jpg"><img alt="Refugee village plan" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/183381/250x/economakis_refugee_village.jpg" title="Refugee village plan"></a> Refugee village plan<br>
(Click for larger image)</p>
<p>“I was motivated to make the proposal after becoming aware that refugees arriving in various Greek islands, often bringing small children and elderly family members with them, are left to sleep in the streets or in fields, unprotected from the elements and without basic services like sanitation, clinics, refectories and clothing dispensaries,” Economakis said. “Although most of the people arriving in Greece are keen to continue on to other countries in Europe, where jobs can be found more easily, most are required to wait two or more weeks while their asylum requests are processed. This has put huge strains on local communities, which are often vastly outnumbered by the refugees. Also, the first experience of refugees arriving in Europe is currently a bad one, as besides having to rough it in the open, most of them resort to begging for assistance.”</p>
<p>Economakis said that the project is intended to provide short-term relief for as long as the refugee crisis endures, but added that “it has been pitched in a way that can encourage investment, even from the private sector, which in cash-strapped Greece should be especially welcome, and to reassure worried locals that the complexes are not designed to be permanent settlements, even though they could be put to profitable use if they were eventually re-purposed.”</p>
<p>Among other advantages in his proposal, Economakis spoke of its environmental impact in comparison with that of the refugee housing now available. “IKEA, for instance, has produced a lightweight unit made of industrial materials with a three-year life span,” he said. “That will leave an enormous carbon footprint, and its eventual disposal will be greatly damaging to the environment. Adobe construction is a zero-impact approach which can also facilitate re-usability. It is my hope that, in rushing to deal with the crisis, European and other countries affected by it will be willing to consider ways to create humane urban settings with the most environmentally responsible techniques.”</p>
<p><em><strong>Contact</strong>: Richard Economakis, 574-631-7887 (office), 574-386-9266 (cell), <a href="mailto:economakis.1@nd.edu">economakis.1@nd.edu</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by Michael O. Garvey at <a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/62901-architect-proposes-sustainable-short-term-housing-for-european-refugees/">news.nd.edu</a> on December 01, 2015.</p>Michael O. Garveytag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/628742015-11-30T11:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00NDIGD partnership to improve development outcomes<p class="image-right"><img alt="NDIGD" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/183031/saparm_200x150.jpg" title="NDIGD" /></p>
<p>NDIGD is partnering with Results for Development on a USAID-funded project focused on implementing a rapid feedback system.</p><p class="image-right"><img alt="NDIGD" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/183031/saparm_200x150.jpg" title="NDIGD"></p>
<p>NDIGD is partnering with Results for Development on a USAID-funded project focused on implementing a rapid feedback system.</p>
<p>Designing, evaluating, and replicating successful programs requires a nuanced understanding of the problem being addressed, viable ideas for solutions, and a familiarity with context. But above all else, it requires a commitment to <em>learning</em> so that lessons from past efforts can be applied quickly and result in adaptive programs whose potential for impact is always increasing.</p>
<p>To address the need for systematic approaches to learning and adaptation, the consortium led by R4D has partnered with USAID on a three-year, up to $17 million dollar project: Rapid Feedback Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL).</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://ndigd.nd.edu/news/62638-ndigd-partners-on-usaid-research-to-improve-development-outcomes-2/">http://ndigd.nd.edu/news/62638-ndigd-partners-on-usaid-research-to-improve-development-outcomes-2/</a></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by Joya Helmuth at <a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/62783-ndigd-partnership-to-improve-development-outcomes/">news.nd.edu</a> on November 23, 2015.</p>Joya Helmuthtag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/626392015-11-18T11:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Countries on the rebound making significant climate adaptation progress, ND-GAIN data show<p class="image-right"><a href="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/182514/original/movers_map_ndgain_2015_release_1_.jpg"><img alt="ND-GAIN 2015 Movers Map" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/182513/original/movers_map_ndgain_2015_release_800x450.jpg" title="ND-GAIN 2015 Movers Map" /></a></p>
<p>In the lead-up to 21st meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 21), 10 countries have come from behind to make marked progress in their ability to withstand the shocks and stresses of climate change, while five are distinctly less resilient, according to data released Tuesday (Nov. 17) by the University of Notre Dame <a href="http://gain.org/">Global Adaptation Index</a> (ND-GAIN).</p>
<p>Over the last five years, the 10 countries that have made the biggest jump on the <a href="http://index.gain.org/">ND-GAIN Country Index</a> to become better climate adapters are Cote d’Ivoire, Laos, Georgia, The Philippines, Russia, Poland, Rwanda, Mongolia, Guinea and the Solomon Islands.</p><p class="image-right"><a href="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/182514/original/movers_map_ndgain_2015_release_1_.jpg"><img alt="ND-GAIN 2015 Movers Map" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/182493/movers_map_gain_2015_release_300.jpg" title="ND-GAIN 2015 Movers Map"></a> Click for larger image</p>
<p>In the lead-up to 21st meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 21), 10 countries have come from behind to make marked progress in their ability to withstand the shocks and stresses of climate change, while five are distinctly less resilient, according to data released Tuesday (Nov. 17) by the University of Notre Dame <a href="http://gain.org/">Global Adaptation Index</a> (ND-GAIN).</p>
<p>Over the last five years, the 10 countries that have made the biggest jump on the <a href="http://index.gain.org/">ND-GAIN Country Index</a> to become better climate adapters are Cote d’Ivoire, Laos, Georgia, The Philippines, Russia, Poland, Rwanda, Mongolia, Guinea and the Solomon Islands.</p>
<p>These countries share improvement in common factors that have contributed to the upward movement: primarily their improving economies and improving adaptive capacities, such as increased access to reliable drinking water, improved sanitation, increased agricultural capacity and decreased slum populations and child malnutrition.</p>
<p>On the flip side, a set of countries is heading in the wrong direction. The countries that have deteriorated the most in their ND-GAIN score during the past five years are Libya, Syria, Cuba, Saint Kitts and Yemen.</p>
<p>The contributing factors to these countries’ falling scores are primarily increases in corruption, political instability, violence and poor rule of law.</p>
<p>“Interestingly, several countries with the biggest losses on ND-GAIN Country Index are also very fragile, suggesting a connection between climate and conflict,” notes ND-GAIN scientific adviser <a href="http://gain.org/our-team/dr-ian-noble">Ian Noble</a>. Comparing ND-GAIN to the Fund for Peace’s <a href="http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/">Fragile States Index</a>, Libya, Syria and Yemen are some of the poorest performers over the past five years on both of these indices. On the other hand, Ukraine is also doing poorly on FSI, but not on ND-GAIN, possibly because the conflict there arose from pressures outside its borders.</p>
<p class="image-left"><a href="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/182497/original/ndgain_infographic_2015.jpg"><img alt="ND-GAIN 2015 infographic" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/182497/300x/ndgain_infographic_2015.jpg" title="ND-GAIN 2015 infographic"></a> Click for larger image</p>
<p>The examination of biggest gainers and biggest losers on the ND-GAIN Country Index suggests that investments to increase climate adaptation may pay dividends for a country’s stability and development, and vice versa.</p>
<p>The ND-GAIN analysis both reinforces messages in the Pope’s recent encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, and confirms the interrelationship of climate adaptation with many of the United Nations’ <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300">Sustainable Development Goals</a>, highlighting the collateral benefits climate action can have on key elements of well-being.</p>
<p>“To save lives and improve livelihoods, we must not only prevent the avoidable, but also prepare for the unavoidable changes in climate,” <a href="http://gain.org/our-team/ms-joyce-coffee">Joyce Coffee</a>, managing director of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, said. “In the lead-up to the Paris Conference of the Parties next month, the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index identifies the world’s hotspots so that leaders can prioritize investments that help countries to be more adaptive to global changes.”</p>
<p>“The aim behind ND-GAIN’s data delivery is to provide information for the common good,” said <a href="http://gain.org/our-team/dr-nitesh-chawla">Nitesh Chawla</a>, index director of the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index. “Free and open source, the ND-GAIN Country Index also has extensive online tools that allow index users to compare asset risks and opportunities.”</p>
<p>The ND-GAIN Country Index aims to unlock global adaptation solutions that save lives and improve livelihoods while strengthening market positions in the private sector and policy decisions in the public sector. Measuring not only vulnerability but also the readiness to take on investment, it informs strategic, operational and reputational decisions regarding supply chains, capital projects and community engagements. The index includes 20 years of data across 46 indicators for 180 countries. ND-GAIN is housed in the <a href="http://environmentalchange.nd.edu/">Environmental Change Initiative</a> of the University of Notre Dame.</p>
<p>A recording of the press event webinar will be available on Wednesday (Nov. 18) at <a href="http://nd-gain.org">nd-gain.org</a>.</p>
<p><em><strong>Contact</strong>: Joyce Coffee, managing director, Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, 312-894-9028, <a href="mailto:jcoffee@nd.edu">jcoffee@nd.edu</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by Joyce Coffee at <a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/62599-countries-on-the-rebound-making-significant-cimate-adaptation-progress-nd-gain-data-show/">news.nd.edu</a> on November 17, 2015.</p>Joyce Coffeetag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/624042015-11-11T11:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00NDIGD, PAD Project win USAID Development Innovation Ventures award<p class="image-right"><img alt="This paper test card is inexpensive way to distinguish substitutes or diluted drugs from real medicines used to treat common bacterial infections and tuberculosis" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/105062/200x/pad_3_300.jpg" title="This paper test card is inexpensive way to distinguish substitutes or diluted drugs from real medicines used to treat common bacterial infections and tuberculosis" /></p>
<p>The <a href="http://ndigd.nd.edu" title="NDIGD">Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development</a> and <a href="http://news.nd.edu/for-the-media/nd-experts/faculty/marya-lieberman/">Marya Lieberman</a> have won a <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/div"><span class="caps">USAID</span> Development Innovation Ventures</a> award to improve global health. Lieberman, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, will expand her Paper Analytical Device research in Kenya.</p>
<p>Many pharmaceuticals, particularly those purchased in the developing world, are of poor quality or fake. The <a href="http://padproject.nd.edu/" title="PAD">Paper Analytical Device project</a>, supported by the <a href="http://science.nd.edu">College of Science</a> and the <a href="https://globalhealth.nd.edu/">Eck Institute for Global Health</a>, allows users to quickly determine whether a drug tablet contains the correct medicines.</p><p class="image-right"><img alt="This paper test card is inexpensive way to distinguish substitutes or diluted drugs from real medicines used to treat common bacterial infections and tuberculosis" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/105062/pad_3_300.jpg" title="This paper test card is inexpensive way to distinguish substitutes or diluted drugs from real medicines used to treat common bacterial infections and tuberculosis"></p>
<p>The <a href="http://ndigd.nd.edu" title="NDIGD">Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development</a> and <a href="http://news.nd.edu/for-the-media/nd-experts/faculty/marya-lieberman/">Marya Lieberman</a> have won a <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/div"><span class="caps">USAID</span> Development Innovation Ventures</a> award to improve global health. Lieberman, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, will expand her Paper Analytical Device research in Kenya.</p>
<p>Many pharmaceuticals, particularly those purchased in the developing world, are of poor quality or fake. The <a href="http://padproject.nd.edu/">Paper Analytical Device project</a> (<span class="caps">PAD</span>), supported by the <a href="http://science.nd.edu">College of Science</a> and the <a href="https://globalhealth.nd.edu/">Eck Institute for Global Health</a>, allows users to quickly determine whether a drug tablet contains the correct medicines. The <span class="caps">PAD</span> innovations could have a significant impact on the many countries that <span class="caps">USAID</span> serves, including Kenya. PADs are cheap, easy to use and do not require power, chemicals, solvents or any expensive instruments. These factors make them easy to implement in developing countries.</p>
<p>This newest award from <span class="caps">USAID</span> will allow Lieberman and the Purdue University <a href="https://ampath.pharmacy.purdue.edu/">College of Pharmacy <span class="caps">AMPATH</span> program</a> to expand the <span class="caps">PAD</span> Project in Kenya. Over a 12-month period, Lieberman will develop a manufacturing process to scale up making the PADs, and test a cellphone-based image analysis system to make them easier to use. More than a thousand PADs will be used as part of a large-scale post-market surveillance of pharmaceuticals in western Kenya. The surveillance of drug quality will also be integrated into the pharmacovigilance program and the drug purchasing process at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, which is a large purchaser of pharmaceuticals in Kenya. Screening large numbers of medications at different points in the pharmaceutical supply-chain will help the team to uncover falsified products that harm people in Kenya and neighboring countries.</p>
<p><span class="caps">USAID</span> Development Innovation Ventures is an open competition supporting breakthrough solutions to the world’s most intractable development challenges — interventions that could change millions of lives at a fraction of the usual cost.</p>
<p>An integral part of the University of Notre Dame’s <a href="http://keough.nd.edu">Keough School of Global Affairs</a>, <span class="caps">NDIGD</span> works to promote human dignity through global partnerships and applied research, assessment, monitoring, evaluation and training. The Keough School, scheduled to open in August 2017, will prepare students for effective and ethically grounded professional leadership in government, the private sector and global civil society, engaging them in worldwide effort to address the greatest challenges of our century.</p>
<p><em><strong>Contact</strong>: Joya Helmuth, <span class="caps">NDIGD</span>, 574-631-9753, <a href="mailto:jhelmuth@nd.edu">jhelmuth@nd.edu</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Meg McDermott</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/62364-ndigd-pad-project-win-usaid-development-innovation-ventures-award/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">November 10, 2015</span>.</p>Meg McDermotttag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/619972015-10-25T15:20:00-04:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Irish Impact 2015: Social entrepreneurship and the power of impact investing<p class="image-right"><img alt="Ship in the Mendoza College of Business courtyard" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/180177/200x/mendoza_ship_300.jpg" title="Ship in the Mendoza College of Business courtyard" /></p>
<p>In 2013, Andi Phillips helped to lead an innovative project aimed at expanding access to early childhood education for at-risk children in Utah.</p>
<p>Phillips isn’t a school administrator, or even a member of the teaching community. She is a vice president in the Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs.</p><p class="image-right"><img alt="headshotandiphillips" src="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/167457/headshotandiphillips.jpg" title="headshotandiphillips"></p>
<p>In 2013, Andi Phillips helped to lead an innovative project aimed at expanding access to early childhood education for at-risk children in Utah.</p>
<p>Phillips isn’t a school administrator, or even a member of the teaching community. She is a vice president in the Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs. And the project didn’t involve building new school facilities or changing education policies; instead, it took a financial approach called impact investing — a new way of funding efforts to address social problems while providing a competitive rate of return for investors. In this case, the initiative offered the one of the nation’s first social impact bonds.</p>
<p>Phillips will serve as the keynote speaker for the <a href="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/conference/">Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference</a> at the University of Notre Dame’s <a href="http://mendoza.nd.edu">Mendoza College of Business</a>. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in Mendoza’s Jordan Auditorium. <a href="http://mendoza.nd.edu/research-and-faculty/directory/roger-huang/">Roger Huang</a>, Martin J. Gillen Dean of the Mendoza College, will provide opening remarks.</p>
<p>Irish Impact is an annual two-day conference that gathers students, alumni, social entrepreneurs and social investors from across the globe to discuss current issues and trends in social entrepreneurship. The conference is co-sponsored by the <a href="http://gigot.nd.edu/">Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship</a> at Mendoza College and the <a href="http://www.ndfish.org/about.php">Fellow Irish Social Hub</a> (<span class="caps">FISH</span>), an independent, nonprofit incubator for social entrepreneurs.</p>
<p>The 2015 conference will focus especially on finance-first and impact-first investing, as well as due diligence and discovering better ways to measure social impact.</p>
<p>Phillips leads the Goldman Sachs Social Impact Fund and manages teams with a focus on social impact bonds and economic development financing. She also developed the Access to Capital program as part of the 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative.</p>
<p>The Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship was founded in 1998 for the purpose of fostering innovation and infusing aspiring entrepreneurs with a sense of the possible. Through rigorous coursework, business plan competitions, extensive networking and mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences, the center provides students with the knowledge and skills vital to entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>For more information about the Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference, visit <a href="http://irishimpact.nd.edu/">irishimpact.nd.edu</a>.</p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Carol Elliott</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/61992-irish-impact-2015-social-entrepreneurship-and-the-power-of-impact-investing/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">October 23, 2015</span>.</p>Carol Elliotttag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/529322014-10-03T16:00:00-04:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Handout to hand-up: Social Entrepreneur Kassalow recounts personal journey to founding eye-care startup<p><em>Reposted from Mendoza College of Business News</em>:<em> http://ntrda.me/1vDFGEI</em></p> <p>You might say the way the third annual Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference kicked off was eye opening: It began Wednesday evening with keynote speaker Dr. Jordan Kassalow, O.D., M.P.H., who…</p><p><em>Reposted from Mendoza College of Business News</em>:<em> http://ntrda.me/1vDFGEI</em></p>
<p>You might say the way the third annual Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference kicked off was eye opening: It began Wednesday evening with keynote speaker Dr. Jordan Kassalow, O.D., M.P.H., who has dedicated his life to providing eye care to the world’s poor.</p>
<p>Conference attendees, Notre Dame students, faculty and staff filled the Jordan Auditorium at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business to hear Kassalow discuss the path that led him to found <a href="http://visionspring.org/">VisionSpring</a>, a not-for-profit social business that ensures access to affordable eye wear to anyone who needs it.</p>
<p>The 2014 Irish Impact conference, which takes place Sept. 17-19, gathers social entrepreneurs from around the globe to network and learn from some of the top thought leaders. The event is organized by the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Fellow Irish Social Hub (FISH), an independent, nonprofit organization that invites Notre Dame students, faculty, alumni and local community members to help develop socially innovative ideas into for-purpose enterprises.</p>
<p>Kassalow began his talk by telling the story of his personal journey that eventually led to the founding of VisionSpring—a journey that began more than 20 years ago, when Kassalow, then 23, was traveling across the Alaskan wilderness with two friends.</p>
<p>“Midway through the trip, we found ourselves deep in the Brooks Mountain Range pummeled by horizontal rains that drove us into our tent,” Kassalow remembers.</p>
<p>After two days of being stuck inside the tent, he’d had enough and decided to venture out by himself. He hiked for three hours to get to the top of one of the myriad of formidable mountains nearby. The summit was well above the tree line, and he found himself alone on the mountaintop, confronted with high winds and driving rains. He was awed and humbled by the enormity of the universe.</p>
<p>“It was in this moment that I had that pivotal experience many have when it becomes painfully obvious just how small and insignificant we are in this world,” he says. “But at 23, I was not ready to resign myself to a life of insignificance—I wanted to matter.”</p>
<p>That moment stayed with him, and as pursued he optometric studies, Kassalow continued to grapple with this idea of how to lead a life that mattered. That’s when he learned of a trip to Mexico to participate in a medical mission, and jumped at the opportunity.</p>
<p>“On the first day of the trip, we arrived at our site to find 2,000 people in line waiting to have their eyes checked,” Kassalow remembers. “One of those in line was a 7-year-old boy who was carrying a braille book.”</p>
<p>The boy’s family explained that he was blind, but as Kassalow started to examine his eyes, he realized the boy was just extremely myopic. His prescription was a -20.00D and, incredibly, the medical team was able to fit him with a pair of donated glasses with a -19 prescription.</p>
<p>“As I placed the glasses on the boy’s nose, I watched as the blank stare of a blind person transformed into an expression of unadulterated joy. I was witnessing someone seeing the world for the first time,” Kassalow says. “This was a defining experience in my life. I gave this boy his vision, and, in a remarkable way, he gave me mine. I decided then and there that if I could replicate that moment 1,000 times over I would have led a meaningful life.”</p>
<p>Ten years into the business, VisionSpring has a salesforce that is 20,000 strong, and they are closing in on their 2 millionth customer—500,000 of whom were reached in 2013 alone.</p>
<p>In addition to VisionSpring, Kassalow founded Scojo New York and the Global Health Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to his position at the Council, he served as director of the River Blindness Division at Helen Keller International.</p>
<p>Kassalow is a Draper Richards Kaplan, Skoll and Ashoka Fellow, as well as a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Recently, he was named one of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurs and made the list of<em>Forbes</em> magazine’s Impact 30. He is the inaugural winner of the John P. McNulty Prize, the 2006 winner of BYU’s Innovator Award and received Duke University’s Social Innovation Award on behalf of VisionSpring. VisionSpring is also a three-time winner of Fast-Company’s Social Capitalist Award.</p>
<p>The 2014 Irish Impact Conference continues through Friday, Sept. 19, and is open to students, staff and faculty. The conference features a number of practitioners speaking on topics including:</p>
<p>· Human-centered Design and Design Thinking</p>
<p>· The Intersection of Big Data with Social Enterprise</p>
<p>· The Social Entrepreneurial Ecosystem</p>
<p>· How to Bridge the Funding Gap</p>
<p>The conference concludes on Friday morning with the Zielsdorf Family Pitch Competition. Social enterprise practitioners will pitch their ideas to a panel of potential investors, providing a glimpse into the world of social venture finance. Winners of the combined prizing of $10,000 will be announced at the conclusion of the Zielsdorf Family Pitch Competition.</p>
<p>FISH offers incubation services to social entrepreneurs ready to launch their ventures. In partnership with <a href="http://innovationparknd.com/">Innovation Park at Notre Dame</a>, FISH provides world-class facilities and critical occupational services, as well as valuable research and development tools. Its nine-month business incubator program is designed to prepare each client to launch a social enterprise and to maximize its social impact.</p>
<p>The Gigot Center was founded in 1998 for the purpose of fostering innovation. Through rigorous coursework, the center’s business plan competitions, extensive networking and mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences provide students with the knowledge and skills vital to traditional and social entrepreneurship.</p>Angela Sienkotag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/443832013-11-15T11:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Notre Dame MBA and Coca-Cola announce winner of virtual case competition<p>
In the wake of catastrophic natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the Tōhoku earthquake in Japan and the typhoon striking the Philippines, survivors quickly face a very urgent need: safe drinking water.</p>
<p>
Often, the sources of clean water are destroyed, along with the technology, energy and transportation systems needed to bring in fresh supplies. How do responders deploy water purification technology anywhere in the world within days or even hours of a disaster?</p>
<p>
<em>Reposted from Notre Dame News: http://bit.ly/1fGSeBS</em></p>
<p class="image-right">
<img alt="ND MBA Mini Deep Dive Challenge" src="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/118279/deep_dive_2013_400.jpg" title="ND MBA Mini Deep Dive Challenge" /></p>
<p>
In the wake of catastrophic natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the Tōhoku earthquake in Japan and the typhoon striking the Philippines, survivors quickly face a very urgent need: safe drinking water.</p>
<p>
Often, the sources of clean water are destroyed, along with the technology, energy and transportation systems needed to bring in fresh supplies. How do responders deploy water purification technology anywhere in the world within days or even hours of a disaster?</p>
<p>
This was the business problem posed by the <a href="http://business.nd.edu/mba/" target="_blank">University of Notre Dame MBA</a> at the <a href="http://business.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Mendoza College of Business</a> and The Coca-Cola Company as part of a virtual case competition called the <a href="http://mba.nd.edu/deepdive/home/" target="_blank">Notre Dame MBA Mini Deep-Dive Challenge</a>. Launched in September, the annual contest recently awarded prizes to the top three proposals submitted by 665 registrants.</p>
<p>
Jonathan Lee of Mishawaka, Ind., submitted the winning proposal, and earned a trip to work with Coca-Cola’s sustainability team on a water purification project in a developing country. Lee also wins a $25,000 fellowship if he successfully matriculates into the Notre Dame MBAprogram.</p>
<p>
“I am extremely excited and sincerely grateful to work with The Coca-Cola Company on this project,” said Lee, who earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial design and preprofessional studies from Notre Dame in 2010. “The thing I’m most excited about is the ability to experience a world beyond the one I live in. Everyone dreams about changing the world, but very few actually get to experience it. This experience will give me a better understanding of what we can do to truly make the world better.”</p>
<p>
“The Notre Dame MBA Deep-Dive is always a great contest because it gives those who are interested in our MBA program a glimpse of the kind of innovative case work we do,” said <a href="http://business.nd.edu/Faculty_Directory/marygoss/" target="_blank">Mary Goss</a>, Notre Dame MBA senior director. “We appreciate Coca-Cola’s enthusiasm and willingness to take the contest to the next level by offering the opportunity to actually work on a project in the field with their team. That could be a life-changing experience for our winner.”</p>
<p>
The online contest specifically asked entrants to submit a one-page proposal for helping Coca-Cola implement <a href="http://www.coca-colacompany.com/ekocenter" target="_blank">Ekocenter</a> in disaster relief situations. Ekocenter is an off-the-grid, modularly designed kiosk that delivers safe drinking water, wireless communication, power and other functionality to jump-start community development. Coca-Cola is partnering with governments, other businesses and members of the civil sector to deliver Ekocenter to rural communities in underserved, hard-to-reach parts of the world.</p>
<p>
Ekocenter uses the Slingshot purification system, a technology developed by DEKA Research and Development Corp. Slingshots use vapor compression distillation technology to turn any source of dirty water into safe drinking water. Each machine delivers about 200 gallons of safe drinking water per day at the electricity cost of less than a hair dryer (1kWh). Coca-Cola is currently deploying systems in Africa and Latin America with plans to accelerate and expand global placements. When fully scaled, the project aims to deliver more than 500 million liters of safe drinking water to 500,000 people globally.</p>
<p>
“Like the Mendoza College of Business, we believe business can help address human and societal concerns to advance the common good,” said Derk Hendriksen, general manager of Slingshot/Ekocenter at The Coca-Cola Company. “As a company, we see the future through three lenses — people, communities and the environment — and with the Deep-Dive Challenge we were able to hear fresh, unique ideas on how to make a positive difference in all three. The quality of questions and dialogue leading up to the MBA submission was testimony to the tremendous pool of people and talent Notre Dame brings to the fore.”</p>
<p>
The Coca-Cola judges noted that Lee’s plan showed an “excellent combination of understanding the problem, thinking creatively and building a concrete, doable plan including a timeline. It is a very well-presented plan that does an outstanding job of creating a concrete summary that is visually appealing, and packs a great deal of content.”</p>
<p>
Coca-Cola will work with Lee in deciding the location and timing of his trip to work on a global sustainability project with the team.</p>
<p>
Second place was awarded to Michael Windle of Washington, D.C., while third place went to Kevin Kearney of Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>
The Notre Dame MBA Mini Deep-Dive Challenge was inspired by <a href="http://business.nd.edu/mba/academics/interterm_intensive/" target="_blank">Interterm Intensive</a>, a signature component of the Notre Dame MBA curriculum. Each spring and fall, MBA students participate in intense four-day sessions involving real-world presentations and case competitions from some of the top Fortune 100 companies, including Whirlpool, GE, adidas and McDonald’s. Previous Deep-Dive Challenges have included cases sponsored by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Microsoft and Sprint.</p>
<p>
The Notre Dame MBA at the Mendoza College of Business enrolls approximately 340 students annually in its one- and two-year programs. The program is designed to sharpen students’ analytical and problem-solving skills, enhance their leadership ability and increase emphasis on ethical decision-making. The Notre Dame MBA is ranked <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings" target="_blank">20th among U.S. business schools</a> by Bloomberg Businessweek.</p>
<p>
<em><strong>Contact</strong>: Carol Elliott, Mendoza College of Business, 574-631-2627, <a href="mailto:Elliott.37@nd.edu">Elliott.37@nd.edu</a></em></p>
Carol Elliotttag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/441542013-11-06T16:00:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Rev. Tim Scully, founder of Notre Dame’s ACE program, received Manhattan Institute’s William E. Simon Prize<p>
<a href="http://ace.nd.edu/directory/fr-tim-scully-csc">Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C.</a>, Hackett Family Director of the <a href="http://iei.nd.edu/">Institute for Educational Initiatives</a> and professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, will be awarded the $100,000 William E. Simon Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Social Entrepreneurship by the <a href="http://www.manhattan-institute.org/">Manhattan Institute</a> for founding and leading the <a href="http://ace.nd.edu/">Alliance for Catholic Education</a> (ACE).</p>
<p>
Notre Dame's own Rev. Tim Scully received the William E. Simon Prize for LIfetime Achievement on November 5 in New York at the Manhattan Institute. Father Scully donated the $100,000 prize to the Congregation of the Holy Cross to support global education.</p>
<p>
<em>Reposted from Notre Dame News: http://bit.ly/1dOnyy6</em></p>
<p class="image-right">
<img alt="Tim Scully ACE" src="https://irishimpact.nd.edu/assets/117620/fullsize/scully_ace_200.jpg" title="Tim Scully ACE" /></p>
<p>
by Michael O. Garvey</p>
<p>
<a href="http://ace.nd.edu/directory/fr-tim-scully-csc" target="_blank">Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C.</a>, Hackett Family Director of the <a href="http://iei.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Institute for Educational Initiatives</a> and professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, will be awarded the $100,000 William E. Simon Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Social Entrepreneurship by the <a href="http://www.manhattan-institute.org/" target="_blank">Manhattan Institute</a> for founding and leading the <a href="http://ace.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Alliance for Catholic Education</a> (ACE).</p>
<p>
“On behalf of the entire University, I want to congratulate Father Scully for this recognition and for his leadership in supporting Catholic schools and the essential service they provide in delivering spiritually enriching, morally grounded, quality education to many of the nation’s poorest children,” said Notre Dame President <a href="http://president.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.</a></p>
<p>
Father Scully will receive the award during ceremonies Nov. 5 (Tuesday) in New York. The monetary prize will be given to the <a href="http://www.holycrossusa.org/" target="_blank">Congregation of Holy Cross</a> to support its worldwide education mission.</p>
<p>
ACE, founded by Father Scully in 1993, is a component of Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives. The program trains hundreds of Catholic school teachers and leaders annually to serve predominantly under-resourced schools, provides an array of research-based professional services and builds broad networks of support for schools in more than 75 dioceses across the United States. ACE’s long-term goal is to help transform the Catholic school system to ensure every child has the chance to enjoy the lifelong benefits of attaining a high-quality education.</p>
<p>
To mark ACE’s <a href="http://ace.nd.edu/20/" target="_blank">20 years of service</a>, Notre Dame has launched the <a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/43146/" target="_blank">Fighting for Our Children’s Future National Bus Tour</a>, a cross-country effort to raise awareness of the profound impact that K-12 schools have on the future of the nation’s children and to celebrate the unique role that Catholic schools play as agents of human formation and social transformation.</p>
<p>
Visiting nearly 50 cities during the 2013-14 academic year, the tour began earlier this month in Dallas and will continue through the Midwest and East Coast in the fall, and the South, Southwest and West Coast in the spring. The bus will be in New York when Father Scully receives the award.</p>
<p>
<em><strong>Contact</strong>: Bill Schmitt, Alliance for Catholic Education, 574-631-3893, <a href="mailto:wschmitt@nd.edu">wschmitt@nd.edu</a></em></p>
Michael O. Garveytag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/441522013-11-06T15:35:00-05:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Jacqueline Novogratz receives Notre Dame Award for International Human Development and Solidarity<p>
Social entrepreneur <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/faculty/news/novogratz.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; ">Jacqueline Novogratz</a> will receive this year’s <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/ford/newsevents/award.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; ">Notre Dame Award for International Human Development and Solidarity</a> in recognition of her pioneering work to combine best practices from the worlds of business, aid, and charity in the service of human development.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 21px; ">
On October 31, Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, recieved the Notre Dame Award for Human Development and Solidarity. The award ceremony took place at the Kellogg Institute for International Affairs, and later that evening, Novogratz spoke at the Mendoza School of Business for the Berges Lecture Series.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 21px; ">
<em style="font-family: inherit; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">Reposted from Notre Dame International: http://bit.ly/1f3L36B</em></p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
by Farooq Tirmizi and Elizabeth Rankin</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
Social entrepreneur <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/faculty/news/novogratz.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Jacqueline Novogratz</a> will receive this year’s <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/ford/newsevents/award.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Notre Dame Award for International Human Development and Solidarity</a> in recognition of her pioneering work to combine best practices from the worlds of business, aid, and charity in the service of human development.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC, will present the award in a campus ceremony at 4 pm on Thursday, October 31 as part of this year’s <a href="http://forum2013.nd.edu/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Notre Dame Forum</a> on “Women in Leadership.” The ceremony, with remarks by Novogratz, will be held in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies Auditorium and is open to the public with limited seating. Live streaming will be available <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/faculty/news/nda2013v.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
<a href="http://irishimpact.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/novogratz3.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; "><img alt="novogratz3" class="size-full wp-image-250 alignleft" src="http://irishimpact.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/novogratz3.jpg?w=470" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; float: left; margin: 5px 15px 1.75em 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " /></a>“Jacqueline Novogratz has consistently endeavored to understand and illuminate the true causes of poverty and has sought the most effective ways to unleash human creativity and potential,” Jenkins said. “Her work and achievements in the service of others resonate deeply with the values that are at the heart of the mission of the University of Notre Dame.”</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
The founder and CEO of <a href="http://acumen.org/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Acumen</a>, a nonprofit global venture fund, Novogratz has brought together free markets and philanthropy, investing charitable donations in businesses that provide essential services to the world’s poor while creating thousands of jobs. Acumen takes pride in being mindful of both financial and social returns on its investments.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
Novogratz views people living in poverty not as passive victims in need of charity but as individuals with inherent dignity and the right to make choices for themselves.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
“Novogratz’s focus on empowering the people she serves and on practical problem-solving that combines elements from diverse fields reflects the kind of innovative approach towards human development that is at the core of our work,” said Paolo Carozza, director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, whose Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity presents the annual Notre Dame Award.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
Acumen tackles poverty by investing philanthropic capital—in the form of equity or loans, not grants—in ventures that yield both financial and social returns. Since its founding in 2001, the fund has invested over $80 million in Africa and South Asia in companies focused on delivering affordable healthcare, water, housing, and energy to the poor. These companies have created over 58,000 jobs and provided services to approximately 100 million people.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
A graduate of Stanford Business School, Novogratz left a budding career on Wall Street to promote microfinance for poor women in the developing world. Her bestselling memoir, <a href="http://www.rodaleinc.com/products/books/blue-sweater-bridging-gap-between-rich-and-poor-interconnected-world-0" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between the Rich and the Poor in an Interconnected World</em></a>, tells the story of the journey that inspired her to found Acumen.</p>
<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">
Presented by the Kellogg Institute’s <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/ford/index.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Ford Program</a>, the Notre Dame Award for Human Development and Solidarity recognizes substantial contributions to international human development through research, practice, public service, or philanthropy. Recipients are honored for standing in solidarity with those in deepest need, supporting them to become agents of their own change. Previous recipients include<a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/ford/newsevents/award2011.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Amartya Sen</a> and <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu/ford/newsevents/award2010.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Partners In Health</a>.</p>
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While on campus, Novogratz will speak on “Human Capital and Human-Centered Development in an Interconnected World,” at a public discussion cosponsored by the <a href="http://msps.nd.edu/programs/building-bridges/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Building Bridges Mentoring Program</a> of the Office of Multicultural Students and Services; the Kellogg Institute for International Studies; and the <a href="http://business.nd.edu/news_and_events/speaker_series/berges.aspx" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; " target="_blank">Burgess Lecture series</a> of the Mendoza College of Business. Open to the public, the event will take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 31 in Mendoza’s Jordan Auditorium.</p>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">Contact</em>: Steve Reifenberg, Kellogg Institute Executive Director (574) 631-0517 or <a href="mailto:sreifenb@nd.edu" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(13, 164, 211); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.18s ease-out; ">sreifenb@nd.edu</a></p>
Farooq Tirmizi and Elizabeth Rankintag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/432062013-10-02T06:00:00-04:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00Second annual Irish Impact Conference to gather social entrepreneurs from around the world<p class="image-right">
<img alt="Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/113719/irishimpact2013_200.jpg" title="Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference" /></p>
<p>
The <a href="http://business.nd.edu/gigot_center/">Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship</a> at the University of Notre Dame and the Fellow Irish Social Hub will bring together some of the foremost social innovators during the second annual <a href="http://business.nd.edu/irishimpact/">Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference</a>, to be held Wednesday-Friday (Oct. 2-4) in the <a href="http://business.nd.edu/">Mendoza College of Business</a>. The conference is open to students, faculty and staff of the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College communities.</p>
<p class="image-right">
<img alt="Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference" src="http://news.nd.edu/assets/113723/irishimpact2013_new_300.jpg" title="Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference" /></p>
<p>
The <a href="http://business.nd.edu/gigot_center/" target="_blank">Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship</a> at the University of Notre Dame and the Fellow Irish Social Hub will bring together some of the foremost social innovators during the second annual <a href="http://business.nd.edu/irishimpact/" target="_blank">Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference</a>, to be held Wednesday-Friday (Oct. 2-4) in the <a href="http://business.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Mendoza College of Business</a>. The conference is open to students, faculty and staff of the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College communities.</p>
<p>
The public is invited to attend the keynote talk at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 3) by <a href="http://business.nd.edu/irishimpact/Keynote_Speaker/" target="_blank">David Bornstein</a>, titled, “Getting Smarter About Change: Social Entrepreneurship’s Age of Enlightenment.” The talk will take place in the Mendoza College’s Jordan Auditorium.</p>
<p>
Bornstein, a journalist and author who focuses on social innovation, co-authors the “Fixes” column in The New York Times Opinionator section, which explores and analyzes potential solutions to major social problems. He is the co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network, which supports journalists who report on constructive responses to social problems. His books include “How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas,” “The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank” and “Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know.” He is currently completing a book on social innovation in the U.S. and Canada.</p>
<p>
“The energy and networking generated by last year’s inaugural conference was a tremendous testimony to the increasing interest in social entrepreneurship as a way of addressing issues of access for vulnerable populations, whether in the public health arena, education, energy or economic development,” said <a href="http://business.nd.edu/MelissaPaulsen/" target="_blank">Melissa Paulsen</a>, conference organizer and assistant director of the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship. “The Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference seeks to unite social innovators who are developing new business models — whether for-profit, nonprofit or hybrid enterprises — in diverse industries with like-minded students who are searching for concrete examples and avenues to address societal needs.”</p>
<p>
The conference will include sessions designed to facilitate networking among social entrepreneurs and the Notre Dame community, to improve the understanding of what “rate of return” means for social ventures, and to introduce strategies for seeking funding sources.</p>
<p>
The three-day event will also include the Zielsdorf Family Investment Pitch session, where judges will hear live funding pitches from a select group of seasoned social entrepreneurs; the Irish Impact Opportunity Fair, where more than 50 social entrepreneurs will set up displays and be on hand to discuss their ventures; and the Irish Impact Awards, which recognize organizations and individuals who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and significant social impact.</p>
<p>
Conference participants include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
Alexandra LaForge of Investors’ Circle, which represents a network of more than 200 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations, family offices and others who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy.</li>
<li>
John Tyler, general counsel of the Kauffman Foundation, a Notre Dame alumnus (both undergrad and law school) and a nationally known authority on emerging forms of business for social ventures and related legal issues.</li>
<li>
Greg Van Kirk, co-founder of The New Development Solutions Group and the Schwab Foundation’s 2012 Social Entrepreneur of the Year (Latin America).</li>
<li>
Paula Cardenau, co-founder and director of Njambre, the first Impact Innovation Enterprises Builder and Accelerator in the Southern Cone, and social enterprise adviser to Ashoka.</li>
<li>
Stephen Keppel, director of empowerment initiatives at Univision News overseeing the expansion and development of Univision’s social campaigns, including launching a $20 million health initiative and implementing/executing a $500,000 Ford Foundation grant to enhance Univision’s reporting on immigration, financial inclusion and education issues.</li>
</ul>
<p>
A complete schedule can be found at <a href="http://business.nd.edu/irishimpact/" target="_blank">business.nd.edu/irishimpact</a>.</p>
<p>
Paulsen also invites social entrepreneurs to contribute a video to the “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnslJ6rRQHA&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLAmk8x_kbmShgFHJaYbvzcUG-MsztOF2z" target="_blank">What’s Your Irish Impact</a>” YouTube channel, which are short testimonials from individuals discussing their social ventures.</p>
<p>
The Fellow Irish Social Hub offers incubation services to social entrepreneurs ready to launch their ventures. In partnership with <a href="http://www.innovationparknd.com/" target="_blank">Innovation Park at Notre Dame</a>, <span class="caps">FISH</span> provides world-class facilities and critical occupational services, as well as valuable research and development tools. Its nine-month business incubator program is designed to prepare each client to launch a social enterprise and to maximize its social impact. For more information about <span class="caps">FISH</span>, visit <a href="http://www.ndfish.org/index.php" target="_blank">www.ndfish.org/index.php</a>.</p>
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The Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship was founded in 1998 for the purpose of fostering innovation and inspiring entrepreneurs. Through rigorous coursework, business plan competitions, extensive networking and mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences, the Gigot Center provides students with the knowledge and skills vital to traditional and social entrepreneurship.</p>
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The Irish Impact Social Entrepreneurship Conference is made possible with support from the Robert L. (Class of ’65) and Frances J. Zielsdorf Foundation. The Zielsdorf family provides support for health care, education and hardship and emergency grants to deserving individuals and families in Indian River County, Fla.; Shelby County, Ohio; and Cheboygan County, Mich. As longtime supporters of Notre Dame and Notre Dame’s <a href="http://socialconcerns.nd.edu" target="_blank">Center for Social Concerns</a>, the Zielsdorfs view the opportunity to help underwrite this conference as a way to support the growth of social entrepreneurship to help instill the idea that elements of capitalism can be harnessed as a force for good.</p>
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<em><strong>Contact</strong>: Melissa Paulsen, 574-631-3042, <a href="mailto:mpaulse1@nd.edu">mpaulse1@nd.edu</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">
Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Carol Elliott</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/43145-second-annual-irish-impact-conference-to-gather-social-entrepreneurs-from-around-the-world/" target="_blank">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">October 01, 2013</span>.</p>
Carol Elliotttag:irishimpact.nd.edu,2005:News/441532013-04-19T15:00:00-04:002018-11-29T13:13:52-05:00ND MBAs Win Social Entrepreneurship Case Contest Again<p>
<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; ">A team of four Notre Dame MBA students took first place in a social entrepreneurship case competition for the second consecutive year with an incentive-savvy plan to boost distribution of clean water in rural Ghana.</span></p>
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<em>Reposted from Mendoza College of Business: http://bit.ly/17cf0kX</em></p>
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By Ed Cohen</p>
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A team of four Notre Dame MBA students took first place in a social entrepreneurship case competition for the second consecutive year with an incentive-savvy plan to boost distribution of clean water in rural Ghana.</p>
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The team of Jessica Bonanno, Steve Lehmann, Daniel Portilla and Patrick Riley devised the winning proposal in the third-annual Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship Case Competition, held March 27-29 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The Notre Dame MBAs competed against their counterparts from BYU and the universities of Portland, Colorado and Utah.</p>
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The teams were challenged to solve a problem facing Safe Water Network, a nonprofit founded by the late actor Paul Newman and still affiliated with the Newman’s Own Foundation. The network’s goal is to develop innovative ways to provide safe, affordable water to those in need.</p>
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The <a href="http://cmsapp.business.nd.edu/gigot_center/" style="color: rgb(239, 85, 9); " target="_blank" title="Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship">Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship</a> at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business sponsored the Notre Dame team and helped the students prepare for the case. <a href="http://cmsapp.business.nd.edu/Faculty_Directory/VivaBartkus/" style="color: rgb(239, 85, 9); " target="_blank" title="Viva Bartkus">Viva Bartkus</a>, Notre Dame associate professor of management, served as faculty mentor and adviser. Lehmann is also president of Notre Dame’s chapter of Net Impact, a group that promotes the use of business skills to support social and environmental causes.</p>
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The competition was hosted by BYU’s Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance.</p>
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The teams focused on a Safe Water Network purification facility in the Ghanaian village of Dzemeni near Lake Volta. Ghana is a country in West Africa. The facility draws water from the lake and sells it, at low cost (about 1 to 2 percent of average monthly income) to the people of the village. Pipes carry the clean water out to other nearby villages, where it can be purchased at kiosks.</p>
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According to background information provided to the teams, Safe Water’s desire is to transfer ownership and operation of the facility to local owners, but after a few years the system was not yet profitable.</p>
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Drawing on Lehmann’s prior experience in engineering and international development, the Notre Dame team first recommended replacing the facility’s infrastructure with easier-to-maintain technology. They also devised an incentives-laden business plan relying on micro-franchises granted to entrepreneurs. Under their plan, the entrepreneurs would make no profit on water sold up to a certain volume, established by the community or system manager. But once sales exceeded that threshold the franchise owners would earn a 50-70 percent profit.</p>
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“This weeded out folks who wanted to be kiosk owners but wouldn’t really hustle,” said Lehmann,” Lehmann said. “Once you get past the threshold point, the incentive to sell one more marginal unit of water is very, very high, so … people were incentivized to sell a lot and motivated to educate the community about (the benefits of) clean water as well.”</p>
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Ryan Hebert, Safe Water Network program associate, said he thought all of the teams at the competition had insightful ideas, but he and his fellow judges agreed that the Notre Dame team’s recommendations were a cut above.</p>
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“Of all of the teams, they articulated the clearest understanding of the particular challenges Safe Water Network faces, and they demonstrated an ability to unite high-level strategic logic with real-world examples to arrive at well-reasoned conclusions,” he said.</p>
Ed Cohen