Amy McKenna Luz, president and CEO of AEO, opened the AEO 2007 Annual Conference by welcoming the membership and attendees to the "final conference of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity," going on to explain the plans to revamp AEO's brand and have a new name by the 2008 conference. In her address, Amy casts a vision of microenterprise becoming a household term, known from within the halls of Congress to corporate boardrooms, university classrooms and beyond. The keynote includes a special satellite address by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, where he discusses the need in the United States for microenterprise.

To learn more about Amy McKenna Luz and her vision for AEO and the microenterprise development industry, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=279

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Dr.Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, made a surprise appearance at AEO's 2007 Annual Conference. Dr. Yunus was introduced by outgoing AEO Board Chair, Greg Walker-Wilson, who recalled his initial meeting with the economist from Bangladesh many years ago, and the lasting impact of that meeting on Walker-Wilson’s life and career. As he answered questions from the audience, Dr. Yunus spoke passionately and eloquently about the need and opportunity to to expand microenterprise in the U.S.
To learn more about Dr. Yunus' speech, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=2184

To listen to this podcast, click here.

On the last day of AEO's 2007 Annual Conference, an innovative roundtable was held, titled Predictions for the Movement. Mark Pinsky of Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), Robert Egger of DC Central Kitchen, Kevin Kelly of AEO, and various audience members joined the discussion, moderated by AEO's CEO and President, Amy McKenna Luz. The discussion included assessments of the political environment for the microenterprise development industry specifically, and the nonprofit sector in general, along with ideas on how the field can expand its reach and gain increased visibility.

To learn more about Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), go to http://www.opportunityfinance.net/

To learn more about DC Central Kitchen, go to http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/

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Robert Egger, Founder and President of DC Central Kitchen, speaking at the AEO 2007 Annual Conference, introduced by AEO's CEO, Amy McKenna Luz. Mr. Egger discusses some of the components of microenterprise in the US, along with the challenges faced by the nonprofit sector on a whole.

To learn more about DC Central Kitchen, go to http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/

To listen to this podcast, click here.

Treats for Troops is a web-based business founded in early 2003 by Denver business woman Deborah Crane, whose mission is to provide a safe, easy way to support America’s soldiers all over the world. Since the business was launched, more than 20 tons of treats have been shipped to soldiers all over the world and last year the business grossed $1.4 million. This million dollar business was launched with the help of AEO member, Micro Business Development (MBD) in Denver, which provided Deborah with a loan after she was turned down by banks.

To learn more about Deborah and the AEO Entrepreneur of the Year awards, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=2169

To listen to the podcast interview with Deborah, click here.

At the 2007 AEO Annual Conference, Saul and Carmen Manriquez, owners of Carniceria La Especial in Albuquerque, NM, were given the AEO Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Best Community Business. Using $200 of their savings, the couple started Carniceria La Especial as a small business selling specialty Mexican goods at a flea market in 1996. Since receiving five microloans from AEO member, ACCION New Mexico, the Manriquez’ business has grown into a grocery and meat market and is an important fixture in Albuquerque’s Mexican and Mexican-American communities. The couple came to the United States from Mexico in 1996 looking for a better life for their two daughters. The interviewer is Welthy Soni-Myers of AEO, and the comments and questions are translated by Marisa Barrera of ACCION New Mexico, a member of AEO’s board of directors.

To learn more about Saul and Carmen's story and the AEO Entrepreneur of the Year awards, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=2169

To listen to the podcast interview with Saul and Carmen, click here.

Since 2002, AEO has honored leading innovators in the microenterprise development field with its Innovator Awards. This year, AEO recognized its Denver, CO member, Micro Business Development (MBD) for initiating a program that provides their clients access to affordable health care. With lack of health insurance identified as a major challenge for many Denver-based entrepreneurs, MBD partnered with Kaiser Permeanente to provide state-standard coverage to low-income MBD clients. Here, Caitlin Hedberg of MBD talks about her innovation, and how the openness of MBD leadership to new ideas allowed her to share the concept and move forward with it. MBD Executive Director Kersten Hostetter shares some of her thoughts as well. They are interviewed by Mike Skinner of AEO.

To learn more about MBD's efforts and the AEO Innovator of the Year award, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=2169

To listen to the podcast interview with Caitlin, click here.

A conversation with Bob Friedman, founding chair of AEO, CFED Board Chair and Secretary of the Friedman Family Foundation. Bob discusses the start and overall history of AEO specifically, and U.S. microenterprise in general. He also discusses some of the integral aspects of the microenterprise movement, including thoughts on Dr. Muhammad Yunus' description of the talent, vision and energy of the poor.

To learn more about CFED, go to http://www.cfed.org/
To learn more about the Friedman Family Foundation, go to http://www.friedmanfamilyfoundation.org/

To listen to this podcast, click here.

On AEO's May Policy Call, Jon Bailey, Director, Rural Research and Analysis Program of the Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska discussed their efforts to include funding for a new rural microenterprise development program in the Rural Development portion of the Farm Bill. He described the contents of the legislation, its current status and how listeners can follow up with their Senators and Representatives to push for passage of this important piece of legislation. The call includes some questions from listeners.

To learn more about AEO's policy priorities, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=59

To learn more about the Center for Rural Affairs, go to http://www.cfra.org/

To listen to this podcast, click here.