international volunteerism • education • public health •

social entrepreneurship • community development •

environment • cross-cultural exchange • microfinance

Global
Engagement
Summit
applied global education. sustainable global change.
April 8-12, 2009
contents
what is GES? ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
welcome from the directors ................................................................................................................................................................................4
welcome from the center for global engagement ...................................................................................................................................5
thank you..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
delegate projects..........................................................................................................................................................................................................7
five ways to maximize your GES experience..............................................................................................................................................8
schedule............................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
workshops......................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
spotlight on: OpenShutter......................................................................................................................................................................................18
outcome opportunities...........................................................................................................................................................................................20
CareerConnect............................................................................................................................................................................................................21
delegates.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................22
organizational representatives.............................................................................................................................................................................26
GES staff..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................37
stay connected.............................................................................................................................................................................................................39
2 • GES 2009
 what is
GES?
a group of young
people involved
in international
volunteerism and social
entrepreneurship,
creating effective global
change

The mission of the Global Engagement Summit is to build the

capacity of the next generation of global change leaders to
cross borders and partner with new communities to produce
responsible, sustainable solutions to shared global problems.
GES 2009 • 3
dear GESers,
Welcome to Northwestern University for our fourth
annual conference on international development and
social entrepreneurship – the 2009 Global Engagement
Summit. We are thrilled to have you here! We hope
that this weekend challenges and inspires you, and that
the Summit further propels you to engage with the
social issues in our world today.

GES has grown substantially in its fourth year – in

numbers, but also in scope. This year, our goal has
been to provide a more individualized experience
for delegates, and to create forums for continued
investment in young people as drivers of change. The
GES staff has worked diligently throughout the year not
only to improve upon the work of past years, but to
innovate and greatly expand our impact.

Designed for young people with projects in development and social justice, GES provides the new generation of change
agents with the tools and resources to “do good well.” Our Summit curriculum helps delegates bridge the gap between
awareness and action and encourages them to reflect upon their own motivations for making change. We believe that
the Summit lends itself to productive collaboration in the global change space we are all working to cultivate.

Yet the scope of GES extends beyond the span of the five-day Summit. Through our many programs and forums,
Summit participants are able to connect before, during and after the Summit.The GES website, particularly the Summit
Center, acts as a hub for furthering responsible engagement and strengthening the meaningful friendships made at the
Summit.

GES has been a collaborative effort. We are fortunate to work with an incredibly talented and dedicated team of
Northwestern students, to receive the support of the Northwestern University administration, and to have Brian Hanson
at BCICS, Helen Wood at CSI, and Nathaniel Whittemore and Ryan Pederson at CGE as our trusted advisors.

This week is designed to be a forum for the sharing and creation of knowledge. We encourage you to use the
skills, knowledge, and resources available at GES
and through the people you will meet to better
your own work. Further, we hope GES helps you
recognize your individual assets to make change,
and to think critically about your role in this
world.

We look forward to working with you throughout

this week and in the future to improve our
individual and collective abilities to create positive
global change.

To furthering passionate engagement,

Rajni Chandrasekhar and Emily Eisenhart
Co-Directors, Global Engagement Summit 2009
4 • GES 2009
“ Once awakened,
”
.
a sense of justice is something not easily contained.
-Adam Hochschild
“Bury the Chains: The British Struggle to Abolish Slavery”

I
f the GES weekend provides its delegates with opportunities to think critically about global engagement,
acquire resources to implement their social change projects, and connect with like-minded individuals, the
Center for Global Engagement provides an institutional home that supports and nurtures those ideas, projects,
and connections long after the workshops have ended and last hugs have seen new friends part ways.

Run by the founder and a former director of the Global Engagement Summit, the CGE helps undergraduates
of all majors learn from global communities experiencing the problems of poverty and injustice they seek to
address, provides financial and consultative support for their entrepreneurial projects, and creates contexts for
sustained interaction and supportive community. Its newest program, the Global Engagement Summer Institute,
will train about fifty students to work on international community development projects in Argentina, India, and
Uganda this summer.

Despite running other programs around the world, the annual Global Engagement Summit remains the bedrock of
the CGE community. It is a crossroads for the emergent movement of innovative, youth-supported, community-
focused global change that is tearing down boundaries and helping unleash the full capacities of individuals and
communities to shape and remake the world in a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable fashion. If it sometimes
shares the classic overreach of all inspired idealists, it is remarkable for the depth of intellectual commitment and
self-reflectivity that pushes its participants to fortify their good intentions with strategy and humility.

As you move forward past GES, the CGE will remain a resource to each and every one of you. CGE is itself in
the midst of transition—we are hiring new leadership to run the Center—but this transition marks a huge step
in the long run support it can provide GES.

Whether its connections to funders, someone to pick you up from the airport in Kampala, or just a recommendation
for a book to reawaken your sense of justice, we encourage you all to stay in touch.
Visit us at www.mycge.org and enjoy the Summit!
Nathaniel Whittemore and Ryan Pederson
Northwestern Center for Global Engagement

GES 2009 • 5
 thank you
Office of the President • Office of the
Provost • Weinberg College of Arts and
Sciences • Buffet Center of International
and Comparative Studies • Office of
Student Affairs • International Studies
Department • International Program
Development Office • Study Abroad Office
• Center for Global Engagement • Center
for Student Involvement • Norris Center
Events Planning

Caroline M. Peer • David A. Freedman • Lois C. Wolf Ph.D. • Doris Goldstein • Lisa
and Ronald J. Fenech • William Jacobs • Michel and Tula Thompson • Katherine Sierra
and Donal O'Connell • Donald and Dolores Malin • James and Anne Stokely • Karin
M. Carleton • Jeff and Laura Urish • Nancy Bernstein and Terry Seelinger • Michael
Morrow and Katherine MacKinnon • Phyllis Greenberg • Leticia Sierra • Ike and Josie
Eisenhart • Andrew Blair Austin, Jr. • Ken and Laurie Freeman • Richard and Norene
Ruden • Professor Mark Sheetz • Jon Vandenheuvel • Catherine Walker and David
Fuqua • Carl Mankowitz and Lisa Rubin • Mary Boddy and Rita Peters • Duncan
and Patricia Sparrell • Christopher and Mary Johnson • Steven and Angela Goby •
Timothy and Barbara Swanson • Barbara J. Malin
GES 2009

GES stats:
representing 17 countries
80 delegates { and 40 universities
with projects in 43 countries
42 non-profits/organizations represented
five ways to maximize
your GES experience
1 Attend all small group sessions- they are valuable!
These sessions allow time for you to connect with others with a common desire to
engage in global change and facilitate the development of close relationships within the
larger Summit framework. They provide a time and space for reflection on the skills,
knowledge, approaches and connections you’ve developed in GES workshops, keynotes,
breakout sessions and mentorship time.

2 Learn how to utilize opportunities and resources.

One effective way to minimize unintended consequences in project planning is to utilize
already existing opportunities and assets.

3 Understand challenges and individual potential.

To enact change, there must be a recognition of the potential for you to mobilize your
passions and personal strengths to be a part of responsible, effective and sustainable
global change. We argue that the most successful change-makers are those who
understand their own passions and interests, enable those passions by developing critical
knowledge and skills, and are able to present themselves authentically to others for
effective partnership.

4 Meet as many people, from as many places, as you can, and keep in touch!
As a GES delegate, you’ll be surrounded by a dynamic group of people from around
the globe. Often the most rewarding aspects of the summit is the networking and
connection-building between individuals and groups. Bounce ideas off of professional
change-makers. Take the time to learn what you can from your fellow delegates and
facilitators and in turn, share your passions and ideas. Finally, stay in touch. Some of the
best GES collaborations have come several years after the initial meeting.

5 Propel your ideas into action.

In order to realize project goals, there needs to be an enabling mechanism. GES should
be thought of as a capacity building organization with the potential to transform, refine,
and channel the potential that exists all around us in the next generation of global
change-makers. Whether it be local or global, be a part of the change.
8 • GES 2009
schedule
wednesday time
april 16 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
begins at 7:00 pm
9:00 pm
thursday 9:00 am - 9:50 am
april 17 10:00 am - 1:15 pm
{
10:00 am - 10:40 am
10:50 am - 11:30 am
11:40 am - 12:20 pm
12:30 pm - 1:10 pm
*NOTE: Four workshops will be run per 40-minute time session.
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
2:15 pm - 3:30 pm
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
9:00 pm - 10:30 pm
description
registration
norris center, wildcat room 101
opening banquet
keynote: Nathaniel Whittemore,
The Center for Global Engagement
registration continues at Banquet
GES group social activity
the 1800 club • evanston
breakfast
norris center 2nd floor
workshop block 1: core curriculum
norris center
Asset Based Community Development
Grant Writing Primer
Impact Assessment and Metrics
Mission and Vision Development
lunch and outcomes consultations
norris center, lake room 203
workshop 2: communication
norris center
• healthy working groups
• working with youth
• interfaith collaboration
• community consulting
• gender and development
• NGO/government relations
small group discussions
free time, dinner
evanston
OpenShutter exhibit opening
norris center 2nd floor
arch, rock and armadillo rooms
GES group social activity
unicorn cafe • evanston
friday 8:30 am - 9:30 am facilitator mentorship breakfast
the homestead

april 18 9:00 am - 10:00 am delegate breakfast

norris center 2nd floor

10:00 am - 1:15 pm mentorship program

norris center, louis room
10:00 am - 10:30 am mentorship set I
10:45 am - 11:15 am mentorhsip set II

11:30 am - 12:45 am workshop block 3:

challenges in grassroots development
norris center
• disaster mediation
• resolving tensions in aid and development
• from idealism to cynicism? keeping a
positive and pragmatic outlook during
difficult times
• a conversation on conceptions of poverty
• cultural literacy
• public health in the developing world

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm lunch: regional breakouts

norris center, louis room
2:15 pm - 3:30 pm workshop block 4:
innovations in social change
norris center, louis room
• sustainable energy from the bottom up
• social entrepreneurship and developing a
socially conscious business model
• microfinance and microcredit: an in-depth
look
• ICT: Information Communication Technology
• fair trade and income generating projects
• education and social change: incorporating
civic education into global projects

3:45 pm - 4:30 pm small groups: case studies of current events

(facilitators set up for CareerConnect)
norris center

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm CareerConnect

norris center, louis room
CareerConnect is a closed career fair and access to a database of GES Delegates and
Alumni - an incredibly talented pool of undergraduates and recent graduates. Participation
includes access to information on delegates, other organizations, and GES staff members
through the GES Connection Finder, powered by AssetMap.org. Participation also
integrates you into a community that brings together the next generation of youth social
entrepreneurs on a yearly basis.

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm free time, dinner

evanston
10 • GES 2009
9:00 pm - GES block party
simpson st, evanston
 9:00 am - 10:00 am breakfast
saturday norris center

april 19
10:00 am - 11:15 am workshop block 5: social change toolbox
norris center
• working the web (beginner): using the
internet to your advantage
• working with the web (advanced): blogging
for social change
• crafting the perfect pitch: marketing 101
• social media marketing
• fundraising 101

11:30 am - 12:45 pm workshop block 6: down to business

norris center
• utilizing university resources
• socially conscious media
• business of sustainability: getting funding and
keeping it.
• from idea to functional organization:
developing a realistic business plan
• hybrid non-profit and for-profit models:
blended value for social change
• the nonprofit’s guide to the economic
downturn

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm lunch

norris center, louis room

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm small groups: peer review

norris center
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm outcomes lecture and announcements
norris center, louis room
4:00 pm closing keynote: Premal Shah, Kiva.org
norris center, louis room

5:00 pm - 6:00 hour d’oeuvres

norris center, louis room
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm free time
evanston
7:45 pm - dinner
ethiopian diamond

sunday 10:00 - 10:30 am breakfast

norris center

april 20 10:30 am - 12:00 pm open space discussion

norris center
small group discussion: peer review
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
norris center
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm closing banquet
norris center, louis room
2:00 pm delegates to airport GES 2009 • 11
 workshops
day one • april 9
block one: core curriculum
Asset Based Community Development
Jody Kretzmann and Paul Arntson
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) helps communities
better locate and utilize their internal assets to create sustainable
change. Challenging the traditional approach to solving urban and
rural problems, which focuses on the needs and deficiencies of
neighborhoods, ABCD philosophy demonstrates that community
assets are key building blocks in community revitalization efforts.
This workshop will focus on how individual outsiders can
contribute to asset-based development by identifying the skills
and resources they have to make positive change.
Grant Writing Primer
Katrice Grayson, Michael Kelley, and Noah Jenkins
Where can one find the elusive grant in the funding jungle?
How can one capture it? This workshop will cover how to find
ideal grant prospects, how to tell the project story effectively,
the importance of the “rules,” and quick tips for effective grant
writing. For context, this workshop will also touch on the role of
grants in a comprehensive fundraising plan, and how to maintain
and make the most of your grants.
thursday 10:00 am - 1:15 pm
norris
Mission and Vision Development
Regina Connell and Molly Day
How will you change the world? A good answer goes a
long way. While designing innovative projects to address
developmental challenges, organizations must effectively develop
and communicate their objectives and theory of change. This
workshop will help delegates refine their mission and vision
in both verbal and written form, enabling delegates to develop
meaningful partners and recruit financiers.
Impact Assessment and Metrics
Allison Johnson and John Sotsky
Operating under increasing pressures for accountability, working
with savvy donors, and frustrated by the insignificance of existing
reports, many organizations struggle with how to measure
their impact. By clearly defining what the organization is trying
to accomplish (outcomes) and developing effective metrics,
organizations can use performance data to make better decisions
and to communicate their accomplishments more effectively.
This workshop focuses on examples of non-profit clients who
have struggled with the question: “How do we measure what
matters?”

block two: communication
Healthy Working Groups
Elizabeth Simpson
This workshop will explore strategies to ensure healthy
communication and collaboration within groups in the nonprofit
and social entrepreneurship sectors. It will focus on maximizing
the potential of groups by exploring effective strategies for
leadership, management, and role definition.
Targeting Age Groups
Blake Walker and Chris Warren
Development and nonprofit programming is increasingly targeted
towards youth development. This workshop will allow delegates
to explore the burgeoning field of youth development in the
community-based setting.Through careful analysis and examination
of case studies, delegates will discuss various challenges and
opportunities related to working with young people. Delegates
will discuss navigating generational gaps and developing culturally
sensitive programming to help empower young people. Delegates
will learn how to pragmatically tailor their project’s focus and
communication methods to the needs and interests of youth in
the community.
Gender and Development
Amy Maglio
Whether projects are gender-based or merely taking place in
communities with distinct gender norms, gender relations play
a key role in international development. It is essential for global
change leaders to examine gender and how it influences project
planning and problem solving. In this workshop, delegates will
discuss the challenges that gender-focused projects may face and
explore how to incorporate a successful gender equality and
human rights agenda into their work abroad.
thursday 2:15 pm - 3:30 pm
norris
Interfaith Collaboration
Hannah McConnaughay
Interaction between diverse religious traditions is a common
catalyst of both global problems and global solutions. Volunteers
and organizations are constantly faced with the challenges of
fostering interfaith collaboration and limiting interfaith conflict.
In this workshop, delegates will examine strategies and best
practices for stimulating productive interfaith dialogue in relevant
projects. Further, delegates will engage in discussion on the
intersection of secular and faith-based development strategies.
Community Consulting
Paul Arntson
As an outsider, it can often be difficult to produce positive
social change in a foreign community. This workshop will
help prepare delegates by exploring strategies for effective
partnership with new communities and diverse actors.
Delegates will examine factors that can facilitate or impede an
effective and balanced working community partnership.
NGO/Government Relations
Mercedes Stickler
Nongovernmental organizations and governments have long
been at odds, designing opposing methods that target similar
goals. How can these separate entities work together effectively
and efficiently to achieve these common goals? This workshop
will discuss the struggles and limitations of an alliance between
the two institutions. Delegates will explore the challenges
encountered in compromise, transparent partnerships, legality,
and conflicts of interest. Finally, delegates will assess the role of
the international community in facilitating or influencing NGO/
government relations.
day two • april 10
block three: overcoming challenges
in grassroots development
Disaster Mediation
Chris Day
This workshop will explore the subject of disaster relief in two
ways. First, the workshop will examine the political underpinnings
of “complex humanitarian emergencies” around the world. Second,
it will consider the political anatomy of the international apparatus
that responds to these crises, such as the United Nations, non-
government organizations (NGOs), donor governments, academia,
and the media. In what ways has humanitarian aid produced
positive and negative repercussions? Delegates will discuss the
direct and indirect consequences of aid responses to disasters, and
the importance of a nuanced understanding of disaster mediation
in international development today.
Resolving Tensions in International Aid &
Development
Victor Tanner
Projects in international development often face an incredible
number of challenges, particularly in translating theory into action.
Immediate tensions between academic theories, local desires,
and organizational mandates continually arise. This workshop will
explore the primary tensions in aid and development and will
incorporate analysis of conflict mediation strategies and techniques
into the discussion. Further, this workshop will address how
inter-organization competition for resources, donor mandates,
and aid conditionality affects project goals and strategies for
implementation.
friday 11:15 am - 12:45 pm
norris
A Conversation on the Conceptions
of Poverty
Blair Miller and Aden Van Noppen
This workshop will inspire delegates to include a holistic and
multidimensional view of poverty into their work. Poverty is both
cause and consequence: it is the consequence of economic, social
and political conditions of populations, and it is perpetuated
by existing behaviors and traditions in communities that have
lived in hardship for generations. Poverty is defined in nuanced
ways and is reflective of culture, urban or rural landscapes, and
country-specific conditions. How can one relate structural causes
of poverty to behavioral patterns that often prevail in some
communities? This workshop will promote a multidimensional
view of poverty in order to inform collaborative and culturally
sensitive community reform projects.
Public Health in the Developing World
Caitlin Cohen and Mouhamadoun Niang
Public Health has received extraordinary attention as a key driver
of socioeconomic progress. Increasing amounts of resources have
been devoted to this effort. However, poverty, poor health, and
local environmental deficiencies tend to be major challenges
in addressing reform in a systemic way. Innovations in social
entrepreneurship and public health are a source of inspiration
for those working on improving the quality of healthcare at the
grassroots level. This workshop will focus on such innovations,
identifying practical and efficient ways to gain community support
and to implement widespread public health initiatives.
From Idealism to Cynicism? Keeping a
Positive and Pragmatic Outlook
Karl Rosenberg
How does one know when an idea or project fails? After difficult
times, how does one move forward? The most important aspect
of evaluating why projects or ideas do not work relies heavily on
impartial perspective, foresight, and a pragmatic commitment to
responsible progress. This workshop will help delegates properly
evaluate the causes and consequences of failed project ideas. This
workshop intends to promote interactive learning by observing
lessons of organizational failure, in order to provoke a deeper
understanding of ‘best practices.’
Cultural Literacy
Caitlin Cohen and Mouhamadoun Niang
This workshop will help delegates become mindful of their
“outsider” status while coming to terms with important differences
of both cultural norms and community expectations. Travelers,
volunteers, and project planners must be mindful of differences in
senses of time, community ethos, and custom. This workshop will
help participants review how perceptions often differ from realities,
discover opportunities for cross cultural exchange, and learn how
to maximize their ability to be responsibly engaged.
block four: innovations in social change friday 2:15 pm - 3:30 pm
norris
Sustainable Energy from the Bottom-Up
Jason Selwitz
With environmental issues at the forefront of international affairs, norris
establishing sustainable energy sources has become an increasingly
salient issue. However, due to several factors (international
dissent on how to best handle the situation, difficulty in conveying
to developing countries the need to grow in an environmentally
conscious way, and inconsistent government support), it is hard
to normalize sustainable energy priorities at the policy level.
This workshop will examine ways to support sustainable energy
concerns through community-based projects, focusing on bottom-
up reform that maximizes the use of local resources and reduces
dependency on unsustainable energy resources.

What does Microfinance have to do with

Changing Global Poverty
Tom Coleman
Muhammad Yunus brought microfinance to the attention of
the world in 2006 when he received the Nobel Peace Prize
for his path breaking work in microfinance in Bangladesh. Many
claims have been made about microfinance as a powerful tool
to help end poverty. What do we mean by poverty and ending
poverty? Does microfinance serve all poor people? How does
microfinance help poor people? The last decade has seen the
development of microfinance financial standards and linkages
between microfinance and capital markets. What is the role of
capital markets in microfinance? More recently microfinance has
placed a new emphasis on social performance and better ways to
measure whether MFIs (microfinance institutions) are achieving
their social missions. What is the role of social performance
Social Entrepreneurship & Developing a
standards in microfinance? This workshop will seek to develop an Socially Conscious Business Model
active discussion with participants about microfinance and these Marina Kim and Nathaniel Whittemore
questions.
Not-for-profit organizations are not the only organizations that
aim to build themselves around a broad, global vision. Many for-
ICT: Information & Communication profit ventures also want to leverage their impact in socially-
Technology & Innovations conscious ways. Efforts in the sector of social entrepreneurship
Ken Banks have given rise to innovations in affordable housing, clean
technology, microfinance, fair trade, and other socially focused
This workshop will highlight innovations in information and
enterprises. This workshop will address the ways in which
communication technology when utilized to increase coordination
businesses, institutions, and organizations can incorporate for-
and communication in the developing world. Innovations in ICT
profit models to achieve socially conscious goals.
today have expanded the reach of development efforts to remote
areas of the globe. ICT innovations have helped ensure fair trade Education and Social Change:
and market access, connected patients with medical care and Incorporating Civic Education into Global
advice, and have revolutionized curriculum in classrooms around
the world. This workshop will present case studies and concrete Projects
advice on incorporating ICT into projects. Abby Falik
Fair Trade and Income Generating Projects Education is a powerful tool for social regeneration. This work-
shop will stimulate critical discussion of how countries aspire to
Jakob Elster develop themselves. How can non-profit and social entrepre-
This workshop will discuss innovations in fair trade, evaluating neurship projects contribute to education development not only
how to translate community assets into viable revenue- to increase access and quality, but also to incorporate aspects of
generating schemes that support local development. Delegates civic education into curriculum reform? This workshop will be a
will assess the ethics of trade, community-based production, critical conversation on the potential of non-profit and external
and the constraints and challenges of fair trade and income- community development projects to positively affect public and
generating ventures in the developing world. non-formal education systems globally.
day three • april 11
block five: navigating the social change space
Working the Web (Beginner): Secrets Behind
Webtools for Nonprofits
Tom Krieglstein
The 2009 presidential election demonstrated the power web tools
have on grassroots organization. This workshop will look behind
the scenes to see how nonprofits of any size can harness the web
to maximize their social impact. Social change agents can benefit
greatly with knowledge of the newest trends in networking and
fundraising, both of which gain exposure for their organizations.
This workshop will cover web tools for more effective organizing,
marketing, and recruiting.
Working the Web (Advanced): Blogging for
Social Change
Britt Bravo
For those individuals who already have a website or some internet
media experience, this workshop will not only evaluate the newest
trends in how people network, fundraise, and gain exposure for their
organizations, but will offer tips on how to attract ideal readers to
the site and to boost readership. This workshop will also address
aspects of creating and maintaining an effective blog, including how
to maximize your exposure in the larger blogosphere. The political
power of blogs will be highlighted, in addition to their potential to
leverage funds and mobilize political capital to significantly affect the
project’s progress.
16 • GES 2009
saturday 10:00 am - 11:15 am
norris
Social Media Marketing (Change Marketing)
Elliot Greenberger
Social Media marketing harnesses the power of peer-to-peer
media that can extend an organization’s name into the socially
connected world with unmatched speed. But with so many
organizations vying for attention, how can you distinguish your
organization from the rest? This workshop will explore marketing
strategies that will help “brand” your organization, connect it to
premiere change-focused media outlets, and improve exposure
and outreach to potential donors and supporters.
Fundraising 101
Scott Beale
Learning the basics of fundraising and acquiring funds is critical
to any project that seeks to make change. There is an increasing
number of opportunities for young social entrepreneurs to
acquire the resources necessary to enact their projects, including
grants, corporate sponsorships, fundraisers, and more. This
workshop will expose delegates to the basic principles of and
innovations in fundraising today.
Crafting the Perfect Pitch: Marketing 101
Alex Michel and Amy Benziger
Many organizations have compelling visions but are unsure how
to reach a greater audience for funding and support.The key to
such exposure and support often lies in effective and strategic
marketing. Such marketing entails pitching the organization’s
work – or your project – in a way that appeals to donors.
This workshop will discuss ways to pinpoint the specific
services, markets, models, and competitive advantages that an
organization holds. Additionally, delegates will explore ways to
tweak their project pitches to fit specific donor requirements,
ultimately assisting them toward securing funds and support.
day three • april 11
block six: down to business saturday 11:30 am - 12:45 pm
norris

Utilizing University Resources

Alex Merkovic and Charlie Harding
Undergraduate universities are increasingly recognizing that their
student body has incredible potential to generate innovative
programming. This workshop is designed to give students a
better idea of how to utilize these resources. It will focus on
understanding administrative priorities, planning relevant
presentations, and locating untapped sources of money. Any
students who have 1-3 years left in the university-setting with
big ideas but and limited knowledge on harnessing university
resources will find this workshop beneficial.

Socially Conscious Media

Daniel Yang and Harish Patel
How do images and other forms of media inspire people to act?
Media today often inundates audiences with images of poverty
and suffering more likely to incite “compassion fatigue” or
desensitization than to promote critical discussion and further
exploration of the world’s most pressing issues. In what ways
can media reflect the incredible number of positive contributions
by those who seek to prioritize social awareness and sustainable,
responsible development? This workshop will discuss best
practices and strategies for incorporating socially conscious
media into projects while highlighting current innovations in this
space.

Business of Sustainability: Getting Funding and

Keeping It (Advanced)
Kjerstin Erickson
A common problem new organizations face is how to stay afloat
financially after an initial year of start-up grants and funding. This
workshop will help delegates think about financial sustainability
and learn techniques and strategies for planning ahead in order
to avoid a funding void further down the road.
From Idea to Functional Organization:
Developing a Realistic Business Plan
Allana Jackson
In this workshop, delegates will learn how to write an effective
business plan – an important tool not only for the organizational
growth but also for obtaining funding in the long-run. This
workshop will focus on developing a business plan that integrates
mission, vision, objectives, needs, and long-term financial planning
and accountability to achieve project goals. In addition, a sample
business plan will be provided and analyzed. This workshop will
help delegates learn how to translate their ideas into functional
and successful operating projects.
Hybrid Non-Profit and For-Profit Models:
Blended Value for Social Change
Patrick O’Heffernan
Blended value organizations seek a fine balance between making
money and doing good. Today, there is a rising trend toward a
hybrid business model that blends both for-profit and not-for-profit
values. This workshop will explore the benefits and drawbacks of
both models and encourage delegates to think critically about
their project values, focusing especially on whether or not hybrid
trends are a viable option for the project underway.
Nonprofit’s Guide to Economic Downturn
Sharon Shneider
How does the current economic crisis affect the role and
effectiveness of non-profit organizations facilitating social change?
How can delegates streamline efforts to reduce internal costs and
focus on mission execution given current economic constraints?
This workshop will teach delegates techniques to make the most
of reduced funding pools and to craft poignant solutions for
external funding that will succeed in any economic climate.

GES 2009 • 17
 the
OpenShutter project:
conversations in motion

OpenShutter creates immersive media environments that move beyond simplistic narratives of people, problems and places. By
increasing awareness of the world around us, transcending barriers of language and endeavoring to create the idea of a global
community, we hope to inspire tangible action and positive social change.

Our everyday lives are made up of millions of conversations. The effort to communicate—
to open dialogue with others different from us—transcends barriers of language
and place. Communication has the ability to complicate, widen, and beautify our individual
lives and stories.

This year, the OpenShutter Project highlights dozens of individual stories from
around the world. In some photographs, the call to communicate is easily visible.
Writing left on an abandoned wall; a call for change graffitied onto a symbol of oppression;
a young child’s delighted smile while demonstrating a new puppy. In others, the story
behind the photo as told by the photographer makes all the difference.

OpenShutter strives to promote active relationships between photographic subjects

and their photographers, but this year we also emphasize the relationship between
photographers and their audience. Through filmed interviews with the artists about
their work, short films from around the world, and designated areas for conversation
at the exhibit, we hope to provide you the space to engage with the material presented
in ways more nuanced and empowering. We invite you to come to our exhibit,
linger, and be motivated to create your own conversations about our media and the
content of GES as a whole.
 mentorships
One of the unique
benefits of GES is
the opportunity to
meet one-on-one
for a mentoring
session with one
of the workshop
facilitators.
Delegates are paired with a mentor based on similarity in topic or region. Each delegate will meet
with their mentor for a half hour Friday morning, and each mentor will work with two delegates.
Mentors will be familiar with the delegates’ proposals before the meeting so as to best advise the
project. Because this time is brief, it will be carefully structured. We have modified a framework
called Theory of Change for you to walk through with your mentor, which all delegates received
prior to the Summit. Make the most of this opportunity to meet one-on-one with someone that
can help you with higher-level thinking about your project!

small groups
All delegates are randomly split into small groups led by pairs of GES staff members. Delegates will
meet in small group 4 times throughout the Summit, once each day for approximately one hour.
These times are an opportunity to get to know other delegates better, but they also serve a functional
purpose. The sessions
will include a discussion
on motivations on
Thursday, a case
study exercise led by
a workshop facilitator
on Friday, a peer
review session of
project proposals
on Saturday and a
Summit debrief on
Sunday.
 outcome opportunities
The mission of GES Outcome Opportunities is to equip delegates
with the tools necessary to go out from the Summit and become the
change leaders they strive to be, to continue to develop and deepen
their knowledge and skills, to enable the success of their projects, and to
sustain a lasting, supported connection with the GES community.
project development
• ideas
• project proposals • fundraising
Pre-Summit • existing projects • consultation
• partnerships
• education
• mentorship personal development
Summit • connections • further education
• mentorships
• continued knowledge • jobs
• skill development
Post-Summit • project support
Outcomes • alumni community GES community
• alumni network
• continued GES
support
GES 2009 Outcomes
Global Giving Project Challenge: Pivot Non-Profit Consulting:
GES and GlobalGiving will be holding the Third Annual Project Pivot Nonprofit Consulting will offer in-depth project
Challenge competition for implementation-stage projects. For consultation for well-developed, implementation-stage
3 weeks projects compete to raise the most money on the projects. Project consultation can include: strategic planning,
website, and the highest fundraisers and those with the furthest management development, improving fundraising and earned
reach will earn a permanent spot on GlobalGiving.com.The top income techniques, building a volunteer base, ensuring effective
two winners receive an additional monetary award. operations, maximizing board performance, and measuring
social impact.
Fast Forward Fund:
GES will be a leading pipeline for projects to be considered by GES Consulting Team:
Fast Forward Fund, a youth driven, social venture fund, directing GES staff will analyze a few idea and planning stage projects,
philanthropic capital to youth-led initiatives for global change. leveraging their expertise and connections. They will become
This year GES will nominate a few social entrepreneurial consultants for the projects focusing on mission and vision
implementation stage projects in hopes that they can benefit creation, implementation strategy, network creation and
from this new social investment model. project metrics.

Mission Measurement Webinar: BeExtraordinary.org:

Mission Measurement will offer a follow-up session after the BeExtraordinary.org will host idea and planning stage projects
summit for additional guidance on planning and implementation on their website for easy online fundraising. Delegates will
of metrics. each have a fundraising page for their projects.

All Day Buffet: AtlasCorps:

The Feast: All Day Buffet will reserve a certain number of
tickets for GES delegates to “The Feast,” a social innovation
conference in October 2009.
20 • GES 2009
Atlas Corps facilitates international fellowships for rising
citizen sector leaders who volunteer overseas for at least one
year. They will be inviting GES delegates to apply for their
Fellowship Program, due April 15th.
*Outcomes are open to both delegates and alumni.
 career connect
How can I make the most
CareerConnect, a new out of CareerConnect?
addition to GES, provides
you with an opportunity
1 Research the organizations that are
coming. Before the event, use the
GES Connection Finder to research
to engage in dialogue and those attending, look at websites,
and ask around to find out which
form valuable connections organizations best match your
passions and interests.
with a select group of
organizations that shares 2 Prepare your resumé. Although
not all organizations attending
GES’s commitment to CareerConnect are currently hiring,
each organization is interested in what
global social change. you may have to offer (potentially
as a volunteer, intern, or employee).
CareerConnect is built from the vision that Further, they can offer sound advice
young people are not short of passion to about joining organizations like the
make change, but are often lacking the education, tools, resources, and networks to ones they represent!
do so. For those committed to working in development, social entrepreneurship, and
philanthropic sectors—CareerConnect will help you navigate this often elusive field. 3 Attend CareerConnect on Friday,
April 10th from 4:30-6:00 pm. Mingle
Although modeled after a traditional career or internship fair, CareerConnect is an with organization representatives, ask
informal networking event that provides access to organization representatives who questions, and connect on subjects
are excited about talking to talented young people about their ambitions and vision for that mean something to you!
their futures.

organizations attending include:

Global Engagement
Summer Institute
delegates
name email school/region project region

Aaron Redman aaron.redman@asu.edu Arizona State University El Salvador

University of California, Egypt

Aashika Damodar adamodar@berkeley.edu
Berkeley

Adam Vera avera@knox.edu Knox College Urban USA

Alexandra Kumin akumin715@gmail.com University of Wisconsin, Argentina

Madison

Aliaksandr Bystryk bystraa@gmail.com Belarus Lithuania

Alice Mary Bator alice.m.bator@vanderbilt.edu Vanderbilt University Uganda

alisonshmerling2009@ Northwestern University

Aison Shmerling USA
u.northwestern.edu
Allison University of Illinois, Liberia
amontgo3@uiuc.edu
Montgomery Urbana/Champaign

Amy Zhang azhang@email.unc.edu University of North Carolina USA

Astha Ramaiya akramaiya@gmail.com Tanzania India & Tanzania

Brandi Streauslin bstreauslin@gmail.com Georgetown University Panama

Catlin Powers catlinpowers@gmail.com Wellesey College Asia

Chomba Kaluba ckaluba@bates.edu Bates College Zambia

Chris Kardosh kardosh@wisc.edu University of Wisconsin, Madison Mexico

Christina Tang christina_tang@brown.edu Brown University India

Claire Simeone csimeone@vt.edu Maryland School of Veterinary Medicine worldwide

Daniel Stofleth bluelotusofarda@gmail.com Indiana University Spain

Danielle DeLatte ddelatte@mit.edu MIT Kenya & Vietnam

Ehren Dohler EhrenDohler2007@ Northwestern University USA

u.northwestern.edu
Uzbekistan
Ellina Hattar ehattar1@jhu.edu Johns Hopkins University
 name email school/region project region

Emily Ruppel ruppel.emily@gmail.com University of Denver Guatemala

Eric Eisberg ezeisberg@yahoo.com Santa Rosa Junor College Liberia

hayleymacmillen2012@ Northwestern University Sub-Saharan Africa

Hayley MacMillen
u.northwestern.edu

Hebah Fisher hf5u@virginia.edu University of Virginia Bahrain

Illya illya.symonenko@gmail.com Ukraine Ukraine

Symonenko

Josh Nesbit joshuanesbit@gmail.com Stanford University Namitete, Malawi

Juan Catalano catalanojuan@gmail.com Argentina Argentina

Kristiana del Pace info@whycantwegetmarried.com Australia Australia

Lauren Vegter lvegter@mit.edu Ecuador, India,

MIT
Malawi

Leif Johnson ljohns12@macalester.edu Macalester College El Salvador

Leticia Lopez tiznadita@gmail.com University of Florida Mexico

Tiznado
Lina Mata lina.mata@gmail.com Costa Rica Nicaragua
Guido

Lori Hanna hannalol@gmail.com University of Dayton Nicaragua

Lucy Richards l.richards@trektoreenergize.org Middlebury College USA

Marcelo Schnock marceloschnock@gmail.com Argentina Argentina

Marco Puccia pucciam@gmail.com American University Kenya

Marissa mommaerts@wisconsin.edu University of Wisconsin, Uganda

Mommaerts Madison

Marit maritwoods@hotmail.com University of Minnesota Liberia

Woods
Mark Loong mark.loong@inspire.org.au Australia Australia

Meghna Philip meghna_philip@brown.edu Brown University Pakistan/India

 name email school/region project region

Melanie D’Andrea m.dandrea@umiami.edu University of Miami N/A

Michael McCullough mcculloch.mrc@gmail.com Carelton College France

Michael Ogutu mogutu@middlebury.edu Middlebury College Kenya

Michelle Mazzeo mazzeo@wisc.edu University of Wisconsin, Uganda

Madison
University of Missouri,
Nadege Uwase nuwase@mizzou.edu USA
Columbia

Nancy Fang nzfang@gmail.com Northwestern University Malawi

Nanjie Caihua cc121@duke.edu Duke University China

Nidya Sarria nsarria@princeton.edu Princeton University Nicaragua

Nikolai Smith smith.nikolai@gmail.com Northwestern University Guatemala

Osamah Idrees neo1073@yahoo.com Iraq Iraq

Pravathi parv@u.northwestern.edu Northwestern University Africa

Santhosh-Kumar

Pooja Upadhayaya poojau23@gmail.com University of California, India

Berkeley

Rachel Storm rstorm2@uiuc.edu University of Illinois, Ecuador

Urbana/Champaign
Radoslaw s0808821@sms.ed.ac.uk Poland Poland
Kowalski

Raisa Aziz raisa_aziz@brown.edu Brown University South Africa

Ramy Kamel ramysamy1@hotmail.com Egypt Egypt

Ramya narahar2@msu.edu Michigan State University South Africa

Naraharisetti

Ricardo Pillay ricci.pillay@gmail.com South Africa South Africa

Ruo Yun Yang clodir_rose@hotmail.com China China

Sarah Rogers sarah.e.rogers@rochester.edu University of Rochester Nepal

24 • GES 2009
 name email school/region project region

Sarah Thiele smt751213@yahoo.com University of North Florida Peru

Shammi Quddus shammi@Mit.edu MIT Bangladesh

manevski.stefan@ Macedonia
Stefan Manevski Macedonia
macedonia.eu.org

Stefano Gurcuillo etstefano@gmail.com Italy Italy

SumeethJonathan2007@u. Northwestern University

Sumeeth Jonathan USA
northwestern.edu

Suoyang Hou suoyanghou@gmail.com Northwestern University Tanzania

Syed Kamal syedmayo@gmail.com Earlham College Bangladesh

Thor Steinhovden steinhov@stolaf.edu St. Olaf College Guatemala

Thuso Segopolo thussego@yahoo.com South Africa South Africa

Tiffany Tong ttong9@gmail.com Princeton University Pakistan

Tracy Miller trcyanne1@hotmail.com Central Christian College Kenya

of Kansas

Vance Brown vfjbrown@gmail.com Ohio Wesleyan University USA

Vera Belazelkoska belazelk@stolaf.edu St. Olaf College Guatemala

Wendy Chen chenzw@mit.edu MIT wordwide

Yashaswi Shrestha yasushrestha@gmail.com Methodist University Nepal

Zhuoma Gadou drolma.gadou@duke.edu Duke University Tibet

“ Having a group of globally conscious college students and

amazing facilitators and speakers together at the same
time shows how powerful global engagement can be.
”
- Summit 2009 delegate
GES 2009 • 25
organizational
representatives
Abby Falik
Global Citizen Year • Founder and CEO • abby@globalcitizenyear.org
Workshop: Education and Social Change: Incorporating Civic Education and into Global Projects
Abigail’s vision for Global Citizen Year grew from over 10 years of experience in education, international
development and social enterprise. Transformed by her own experiences in the developing world, Abigail
has dedicated her professional life to use education to promote social justice and poverty alleviation. She
spent four years at NetAid where she designed and launched a program which empowers high school
students to mobilize their peers in efforts to end global poverty. Today, the program is a flagship initiative of
Mercy Corps. A recognized expert in Global Citizenship Education, Abigail has worked as a strategic advisor
and consultant, and has published in leading journals. In 2009, she was awarded the Mind Trust Fellowship for
education entrepreneurs who are developing transformative new strategies to tackle education’s greatest
challenges. She was also named a Rainer Arnhold Fellow and a Pop!Tech Social Innovation Fellow for her
work founding Global Citizen Year. Abigail holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from Stanford University, and an M.B.A.
from Harvard Business School.

Aden Van Noppen

Acumen • Intern and Consultant • adenvn@gmail.com
Workshop: A Conversation on Conceptions of Poverty
Aden Van Noppen will graduate from Brown University in 2009 with a major in Development Studies. She
focuses on the relationship between climate change, energy, and development, and has spent the fall of
2007 studying in India. In 2006, Aden founded and led emPOWER, Brown’s successful campaign for climate
action. She is also a member of the university committee to develop Brown’s energy and emissions policies
and was appointed by the Providence City Council to the Clean Energy Task Force, advising the city on
how to attain 20% renewable energy by 2010. In 2007, Aden was awarded the Udall Scholarship for her
environmental leadership. Aden has been a research fellow at the Breakthrough Institute since 2006. She
performed research for the book Breakthrough: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of
Possibility and co-authored “Fast, Clean, Cheap: Toward an Investment and Innovation Policy Framework to
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” a white paper published in the Harvard Law and Policy Review that
outlines a strategy to build a clean energy economy in the US. Currently, Aden is an intern and consultant
at Acumen Fund.
Alex Merkovic
Global Peace Exchange • Founder • alex.merkovic@gmail.com
Workshop: Utilizing University Resources
Alex Merkovic is the founder of Global Peace Exchange (GPE) at Florida State University, a part of the
Claude Pepper Center for International Dialogue. GPE coordinates and expands service based exchange
opportunities for students throughout the world. GPE has an ongoing exchange working with refugees in
Ghana, and will take more than a dozen FSU students to Rwanda this summer.

Alex Michel
Managing Director • missionHUB • alexbmichel@gmail.com
Workshop: Creating the Perfect Pitch: Marketing 101
Alex is the Managing Director of missionHUB - a co-working space for social entrepreneurs to cultivate ideas
and resources. missionHUB also hosts a variety of events, lectures and conferences, such as SoCap, to create
community and catalyze social change. Prior to missionHUB, Alex was the Director of Communications
and Organizational Development at the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD). At FSD, Alex
developed new grassroots development programs in Africa and Asia, established a network of supporting
universities and individuals, and built the organization’s infrastructure from the ground up. He holds a
business degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in psychology and philosophy
from John F. Kennedy University. He has also been a founding member of several international businesses
and non-profit organizations and continues to support the work of many San Francisco based organizations.
In his spare time, Alex has traveled, studied, and worked extensively in the developing world.
Alli Johnson
Mission Measurement • Manager • ajohnson@missionmeasurement.com
Workshop: Impact Assessment and Metrics
As a Manager at Mission Measurement, Alli Johnson promotes the use of outcomes measurement within
social enterprises. She helps nonprofits, foundations, and corporations measure their social impact and apply
performance data to budgeting, program strategy, and fundraising. Alli joined the firm from Bain & Company,
where she worked with a wide variety of corporate clients and had opportunities to counsel the City of
Chicago through the Civic Consulting Alliance and lead the office chapter of Inspire, a nonprofit consulting
group. Alli earned her B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA. She currently
serves on the Board of Directors for campusCATALYST, a Chicago-based nonprofit that develops cross-
sectoral leaders by bringing together students, universities, nonprofits, and business leaders to create positive
social change.

Allana Jackson
Kellogg School of Management • MBA student • ajackson2009@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Workshop: From Idea to Functional Organization: Developing a Realistic Business Plan
Allana Jackson is currently a 2nd year MBA student at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management where
she majors in social entrepreneurship and strategy. She spent the past summer in Kenya with One Acre
Fund, a social enterprise providing loans and education to East African farmers. Prior to Kellogg, Allana was a
consultant with the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit consulting firm, where she worked with clients addressing
youth development, education, and community development. Allana has also worked in strategy consulting
with Bain & Company where she will return after completing business school. Allana graduated magna cum
laude from Harvard University with an A.B. in Economics and Sociology.

Amy Benziger
Social Capital Media • Associate Producer • amy@xigimedia.net
Workshop: Crafting the Perfect Pitch: Marketing 101
Amy Benziger is the Associate Producer of Social Capital Media, an integrated media company dedicated
to forming partnerships, producing events and incubating ideas around the creation of a social capital
marketplace. They recently produced the first annual “Social Capital Markets Conference” in San Francisco,
which focused on blended value investing and the acceleration of capital to good. Prior to coming onboard
with SoCap Media, she was the youngest sales specialist for Diageo North America, managing San Francisco
and the greater Bay Area. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a B.A. in History with an emphasis
on social activism. A lifelong traveler, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Spain, Argentina and SE Asia. These
experiences have pushed her towards working on effecting change in the global economy.

Amy Maglio
Women’s Global Education Project • Executive Director • amy@womensglobal.org
Workshop: Gender and Development
Amy Maglio is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Global Education Project, (www.
womensglobal.org) an Illinois-based international non-profit organization dedicated to helping women
and girls in Africa gain access to education and training. She holds a master’s degree from the School of
International Service at the American University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelor’s degree from the
University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a gender specialist with over 13 years experience in the
field of international development having worked for nonprofit, business and government agencies. She
worked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a gender research analyst
measuring the impact of the agency’s programs on women worldwide. Amy spent almost 3 years living
and working in Senegal as Peace Corps volunteer, gaining valuable hands on experience in the practical
application of issues facing women and girls in developing countries. Amy has also managed and designed
international exchange programs in women’s business development, NGO capacity building and leadership.

Blair Miller
Acumen • Talent Manager • bmiller@acumenfund.org
Workshop: A Conversation on Conceptions of Poverty
Blair Miller is Acumen Fund’s Talent Manager, a position she assumed in February 2009. Her primary
responsibility as Talent Manager is running Acumen Fund’s Fellows Program. Blair originally joined Acumen
Fund as a Business Development Manager in 2009. Her experience in pro-poor, market-based solutions is
drawn from both buiness and policy. She has helped develop a social impact assessment framework for base
of the pyramid (BoP) business ventures like VisionSpring and Hindustan Lever’s project Shakti, spearheaded
youth-centered policies and education programs at the United Nations, and worked on a micro health
insurance project with Ashoka’s Full Economic Citizenship Initiative in India. Blair also worked with CARE in El
Salvador to develop the business plan for an investment vehicle aimed at scaling small and medium-sized BoP
enterprises. Blair holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA from the University of Virginia.
Blake Walker
Chicago Public Schools • walker.blake@gmail.com
Workshop: Working with Youth
Blake Walker graduated from Northwestern in 2009 and was a GES staff member for 3 years. He currently
works for Chicago Public Schools for a program called Summer Quest, which works to increase college
access for low-income high school students. He and his co-facilitator play in a band together, and their
workshop may or may not be presented as a rock opera, depending on whether or not the pyrotechnics
order is delivered in time.

Britt Bravo
Brittbravo.com • blogger, podcaster, career coach, nonprofit social web consultant • britt@brittbravo.com
Workshop: Working with the Web (Advanced): Blogging for Social Change
Britt Bravo is a blogger, podcaster, career coach, and nonprofit social web consultant who teaches individuals
and organizations how to realize their big vision and be a powerful force for good. She writes for two blogs:
Have Fun Do Good and BlogHer, and produce two podcasts: the Big Vision Podcast and the Arts and Healing
Podcast. She also host Echoing Green’s Be Bold Podcast: Create a Career with Impact. Her local paper, The
East Bay Express, named her the Best Podcaster/Blogger Most Dedicated to Social Change in 2007. She lives
in Oakland, CA with her husband, Adriano Bravo, and their cat, Dora, who thinks she is a dog.

Caitlin Cohen
Mali Health Organizing Project • U.S. Executive Director • caitlin@malihealth.org
Workshop: Cultural Literacy
Caitlin Cohen is the co-founder and Chief Eternal Optimist of the Mali Health Organizing Project. She
left her home in rural Vermont at age 19 to work in a slum in Mali. While working in a maternity ward she
witnessed the death of a newborn child and it changed her life. In 2006 she moved to this slum and started
MHOP with $1500 in borrowed funds. MHOP now has an annual budget of $160,000 and is responsible
for creating a Malian senate sub-committee for universal access to primary care, and a trial zone in her host
community to figure out practical tools to achieve this goal. Caitlin has received numerous awards for her
work, including the FOX/DoSomething award for the top 9 activists under age 25. She currently directs
MHOP onsite in Mali, and has worked on primary care, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, and political
health advocacy in Rwanda, Mali, and several other francophone West African countries. Caitlin graduated
with honors international development studies from Brown University, and is pursuing an MD and an MBA.

Charlie Harding
Brown University • Student • caharding@gmail.com
Workshop: Utilizing University Resources
Charles Harding is a senior at Brown University majoring in Development Studies writing a thesis on fair
trade commodities and social impacts. His project, Runa LLC, pioneers a market based restoration model to
sustainably harvest forest products. Working in conjunction with indigenous cooperatives in Ecuador, Runa
seeks to share botanical wisdom and myths to a global audience with our product line of beverages and
teas, while maintaing social and environmental integrity. He previously worked with Longitude, an education
advocacy and volunteer non-profit working in Rhode Island, Ghana and India.
Charles attended GES as a delegate last year, and it truly changed my life’s tragectory. He is thrilled to return as
a workshop facilitator. He hopes to make lasting partnerships, learn about delegate projects, critique ideas, and
share his knowledge and networks. His intersts are particulalry in international development, market based
restoration, social media, new technologies for expanding freedoms and raising voices, global citcizenship, and
schemeing to change the world. He hails proudly from Maine, is a dedicated songwriter, and he balances his
freetime between contemplative practice and political blogs.

Chris Day
Northwestern University • PhD Candidate, Political Science • daychristo@gmail.com
Workshop: Disaster Mediation
Chris Day has over five years of experience working with Doctors Without Borders. He has had experience
in conflict and disaster situations in countries like Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kashmir,
Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Mexico, and Sri Lanka. In 2006, Chris worked with Goal International on tsunami
reconstruction in Sri Lanka. Chris Day is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Doctoral Fellow studying towards a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science at Northwestern University. He
did his undergraduate studies at The College of Charleston, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and
a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and he received a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Johns
Hopkins University.
Chris Warren
Cabrini Green • Tutor/Mentor Coordinator/Resource builder • chris.warrens.mail@gmail.com
Workshop: Working with Youth
Chris graduated from Northwestern University in 2009 with honors in Cognitive Science and a specialization
in cognitive neuroscience. During his time at Northwestern his primary outlets for this latter passion were
the Campus Greens and the NU Darfur Action Coalition. This year he is taking on a leadership role at Cabrini
Connections, The Tutor/Mentor Connection, a bipartite Chicago Nonprofit that is dedicated to improving the
availability and quality of comprehensive, long-term, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in high-poverty
areas of the Chicago region and other large US cities through an ongoing, dynamic exchange of ideas. As
part of his role, he co-coordinates a youth tutor/mentor program that serves 6-12th graders from the near-
northwest side housing development of Cabrini Green as well as displaced residents who are currently living
in other projects and high poverty neighborhoods around the city. At this program, Cabrini Connections, he
coordinates events, enrichment activities and over 70 one-on-one mentoring relationships between youth
and volunteer tutor/mentors who meet regularly, both through our weekly on-site tutoring sessions as well
as on their own. Students benefit from having a mentor in their life as well as from access to their mentor’s
professional and social networks, which help students stay college-bound and entering careers by the age
of 25. This fall, Chris and his girlfriend will be serving as peace observers with Zapatista communities in the
Mexican southeast and continue on to work on implementing a mental health curriculum in El Colegio Miguel
Angel Asturias, a non-for-profit school for indigenous Guatemalans that would be otherwise excluded from
the public education system. He is planning on attending graduate school in the coming years to earn his PhD
in clinical psychology so he can work to ensure the mental health of the next generation of leaders fighting
for positive social change.

Daniel Yang
Project FOCUS • Co-Founder • danielyang20@gmail.com
Workshop: Socially Conscious Media
Daniel Yang is a first year medical student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Three years ago, he was
deeply impacted by a documentary film about the civil war in Northern Uganda and decided to travel there
with three of his friends. Lacking money and a clear plan, he took to the streets of downtown Chicago dressed
in pink teddy bear costume bought on eBay for $150. With the support of a few thousand hugs, he made it to
Uganda, handing 16 children in the slums of Kampala a camera and an opportunity to share their stories. After
returning from his trip, he co-founded Project FOCUS, a locally-based youth-led initiative of artists, writers,
activists and students committed to educate, inspire and empower youth through art. Currently, the project is
working with a rural community devastated by HIV/AIDS in Lyantonde, Southwestern Uganda.

Diana Ayton-Shenker
Fast Forward Fund • Founder • diana@fastforwardfund.org
Outcomes Presenter
FFF Cofounder, Diana Ayton-Shenker is Sr. Fellow at Bard College’s Globalization and International Affairs
(BGIA) Program, teaching “Global Social Entrepreneurship & Strategic Philanthropy” at BGIA. She has previously
taught at the American University (Paris), Lewis & Clark Law School, and Hunter College, where she directed
the first undergraduate human rights program in the U.S. Her publications include: A Global Agenda: Current
Issues before the General Assembly of the United Nations (2002, and 2001, Rowman & Littlefield), articles
on CSR, human rights & culture, and an original poetry collection, Tumbalalaika (2007, Narcissus Press). As
founder of Global Momenta, Ms. Ayton-Shenker brings decades of work with philanthropy, the UN and int’l
NGOs aiming for high-impact global social entrepreneurship. She has held sr positions with Mercy Corps,
PEN, Human Rights Watch, and served on international, national and local nonprofit boards. Ms. Ayton-
Shenker holds an LLM from the Univ. of Essex Law School , and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Simpson
do good Consulting • Group Dynamics & Teambuilding Specialist • email
Workshop: Healthy Working Groups
Elizabeth has done interpersonal and intra-group dynamic work since 1995 and is certified in Victim-Offender
Reconciliation, Circle Mediation, and Family Group Processing. She is trained in a variety of decision-making
modes, including Formal Consensus, Dynamic Governance (sociocracy) and Restorative Justice Principles. She
has assisted groups with retreats, visioning, Board trainings, and uses a variety of creative strategies to draw
on the resources of groups to find answers to the issues at hand. Elizabeth is an anti-racism activist who has
worked with groups to address how privilege in organizations affects members’ ability to work together. She
has also worked with groups around the dynamics of class and gender. In addition to her work with do good,
Elizabeth also serves as Peer Mediation Coordinator at Urbana Middle School and is facilitating an Inter-group
Dialogue on Race & Ethnicity at UIUC.
Elliot Greenberger
See3 Communications • Communications Manager • elliot@see3.net
Workshop: Social Media Marketing
Elliot Greenberger is Communications Manager at See3, where he helps social causes use the web—with a
focus on multimedia—for education, fundraising, and advocacy. He has strategized social media campaigns
for nonprofits such as Sierra Club, Refugees International, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Center for
Global Development. He has contributed writings on social media to Philanthropy Journal and The Chicago
Association Forum, and has also edited freelance for EssayEdge and the New York-based art magazine
North Drive Press. He is a graduate of Yale University with a degree in English Literature.

Hannah McConnaughay
Interfaith Youth Core • Outreach Education and Training Associate • hannah@ifyc.org
Workshop: Interfaith Collaboration
Hannah McConnaughay currently serves as a Program Associate in the Outreach Education and Training
Department of the Interfaith Youth Core, traveling to college campuses and conferences to promote
religious pluralism and offer skills trainings. Hannah graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Religious Studies
and Economics from the University of Chicago and has previously worked in the fields of rape crisis, social
work, and educational enrichment programming. While at the University of Chicago she was a member
of the Interfaith Youth Core Fellows Alliance, a group of interfaith campus leaders from across the country.
Her childhood in East Asia and service experiences in religious communities like the Mississippi Delta drew
her to interfaith work, and the incredible stories of youth peace building she encountered kept her there.
Hannah is a Christian, committed to the call to work for justice and commune with all people that her faith
has taught her.

Harish Patel
Project FOCUS • Co-Founder • harishi@projectfocus.org
Workshop: Socially Conscious Media
Harish I Patel received a BA in Political Science with a Minor in Philosophy from the University of Illinois
at Chicago (UIC). Upon graduating, he instructed a class on Youth Engagement in a Globalized World at
UIC. He has traveled and lived in India, Argentina, New Zealand, Uganda and US. Harish is also one of
the founding members of Project FOCUS, a locally based youth-led initiative of artists, writers, activists
and students committed to educate, inspire and empower youth through art. The project is working with
a rural community devastated by HIV/AIDS in Lyantonde, Southwestern Uganda. By day, he works as a
Project Coordinator for the Southwest Youth Collaborative, a direct-service and organizing, community-
based organization that works on the southwest side of Chicago, to unleash the potential of youth from
diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

Jakob Elster
Crop to Cup Chicago • Midwest Office • jake@croptocup.org
Workshop: Fair Trade and Income Generating Projects
Jakob heads C2C’s Chicago office and focuses on building the roaster network, farmer relations, and global
supply chain. Jake holds a degree anthropology, international studies and the humanities from Washington
University in St. Louis. After interning with the United Nations and studying abroad, Jakob traveled to
Uganda, East Africa, to found a rural leadership and technology training center called DevelopNet Iganga.
Since returning from Uganda Jakob spent two years as the Director of Programs and Services for the Knapp
Entrepreneurship Center at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he helped to launch 36 companies
and an early-stage venture fund.
During this time Jakob founded and managed Main Traders America Ltd, a coffee broker specializing in
Ugandan Coffee. He has advised the Episcopalian Diocese on a coffee commercialization/community
development project in Haiti. Prior, he served as a supply-side consultant for Main Traders Ltd., a coffee
company out of Uganda.
Jason Selwitz
Green Empowerment • Director of Service Learning • jason@greenempowerment.org
Workshop: Sustainable Energy from the Bottom Up
After graduating from Penn State in Park Management, Jason (pictured to the left of the photo) served
in the Philippines with the Peace Corps on the island of Palawan -- the last frontier. He worked with 10
villages and the local government to start a NGO, the Palawan Conservation Corps (1999), to train young
adults in agroecology, plumbing/carpentry/electrical trade skills, health/sanitation, ecotourism, and watershed
restoration. The PCC continues to work with communities surrounding the Puerto Princesa Subterranean
River National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) to complete needed service projects. At Cal Poly
Pomona, Jason received his Master’s in Regenerative Studies by studying systems that integrate wastewater
treatment, constructed wetlands, and renewable energy (2007). At Green Empowerment, as the Director
of Service Learning, Jason builds collaborations with universities/colleges, professional organizations, civic
groups, and congregations to support NGO partners and rural communities in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, the
Philippines, and along the Burma/Thailand border. With each Green Empowerment project, Jason works to
integrate appropriate technology, agroforestry projects, and watershed restoration into the larger renewable
energy and/or clean water delivery system. Jason can be reached at jason@greenempowerment.org or at
(503) 284-5774.

Jody Kretzmann
Asset-Based Community Development Institute • Co-Director • j-kretzmann@northwestern.edu
Workshop: Asset Based Community Development
John Kretzmann is Co-Director of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, a research
project of the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. ABCD Institute works with community
building leaders across North America as well as five other continents to conduct research, produce materials
and otherwise support community-based efforts to rediscover local capacities and to mobilize citizens’
resources to solve problems. A much-traveled speaker and trainer, Kretzmann brings more than thirty years
of community experience and study to his current position. He has been a community organizer in Chicago’s
West Side, and served as a consultant to a wide range of neighborhood organizing and development groups.
He has also taught at Northwestern University, Valparaiso University and the Lutheran School of Theology in
Chicago. Kretzmann’s educational background includes a B.A. from Princeton University (Magna Cum Laude);
a M.A. in English Literature from the University of Virginia; and a Ph.D in Sociology and Urban Affairs from
Northwestern University.

Jonathan Sotsky
Mission Measurement • Consultant • jsotsky@missionmeasurement.com
Workshop: Impact Assessment and Metrics
Jonathan Sotsky is a Consultant at Mission Measurement. He works with corporate, nonprofit and foundation
clients to develop approaches to data collection and management. Jon also helps clients design performance
reports and conducts custom data analysis to investigate specific client strategy questions. Before joining the
Mission Measurement team, Jon worked at IBM as a Financial Management Consultant.There he worked with
several Fortune 500 companies to analyze their data management systems and develop financial reports. Jon
graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University with a B.S. in Applied Economics and Management. He
currently serves as Board Treasurer for pH Productions, an improvisational comedy theater in the Lakeview
neighborhood of Chicago.

Karl Rosenberg
World Vision U.S. • Operations Director for Water and Works Unity • kfrose66@yahoo.com
Workshop: From Idealism to Cynicism: Keeping a Positive Outlook During Difficult Times
When Karl Rosenberg began working for World Vision U.S. in June 2007, he brought with him twelve years
of experience in both Africa and Haiti. He initially worked in the grants division, concentrating on U.S.
government grants for the Horn of Africa and several West African countries. Today Karl is the Operations
Director for the organizations Water and Works unit, focusing on water projects, agricultural production, small
enterprise development and livelihoods. His responsibilities include pursuing and managing U.S. government
and foundation grants in collaboration with national and regional offices, and working with partners and
donors in D.C. to solidify relationships. Like many Americans working in the NGO sector, Karl started his
development career as a Peace Corps Volunteer, working as a Fisheries Extension Agent in Gabon, Africa from
1992 to 1995. He was later a Peace Corps trainer in fisheries and agriculture in Gabon and Cameroon in
1997 and 1998. In 1999 and 2000, he worked in the Africa Region for Peace Corps at its headquarters in
Washington, DC. After earning his master’s degree from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International
Studies in Washington, Karl married his wonderful wife Stephane and moved to Angola in 2001, where he
worked for Irish charity GOAL as assistant country program director.
Katrice Grayson
Northwestern University • Assistant Director, Corporate Relations • katrice-grayson@northwestern.edu
Workshop: Grant Writing Primer
Katrice Grayson has worked in the Office of Corporate Relations at Northwestern University since 2005.
She has a background in proposal development and technical writing. She received an MA in Writing from
DePaul University (Chicago, IL) and a BA in English from Spelman College (Atlanta, GA). Katrice serves as
the Corporate Development liaison for the following schools and units at the university: Medill School of
Journalism, University Library,The Graduate School, the School of Continuing Studies, and the Roberta Buffett
Center for International and Comparative Studies.

Ken Banks
kiwanja.net • Founder • ken.banks@kiwanja.net
Workshop: ICT: Information Communication Technology
Ken Banks, founder of kiwanja.net, devotes himself to the application of mobile technology for positive
social and environmental change in the developing world, and has spent the last 15 years working on
projects in Africa. Recently, his research resulted in the development of FrontlineSMS, a field communication
system designed to empower grassroots non-profit organisations. Ken graduated from Sussex University
with honours in Social Anthropology with Development Studies, and was awarded a Reuters Digital Vision
Fellowship in 2006, and named a Pop!Tech Social Innovation Fellow in 2009. Ken’s work has been supported
by the MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Institute, and he is the current recipient of a grant from the
Hewlett Foundation

Kjerstin Erikson
FORGEnow.net • Founder and Executive Director • kjerstin@forgenow.net
Workshop: Business of Sustainability: Getting Funding and Keeping It
Kjerstin Erickson is the founder and Executive Director of FORGE, an international organization that
empowers African refugees to be agents of peace and development. Kjerstin founded FORGE in 2003,
when she was a junior studying Public Policy at Stanford University. Today, Kjerstin continues to manage
FORGE’s operations, growth and development. She has grown FORGE staff to 165 individuals, developed
partnerships with the UN refugee agency, and has worked with dozens of international organizations and
local governments to bring FORGE’s work to serve 70,000 refugees in four different refugee camps in Africa.
Prior to starting FORGE, Kjerstin conducted research on women grantees in HIV/AIDS for the National
Institutes of Health, worked in local community development as the Chair of the Sonoma Youth Volunteer
Corps, and coordinated several service programs for underprivileged youth. She has been named a Haas
Public Service Fellow at Stanford, a “Top 10 College Woman” by Glamour Magazine, a “Person You Should
Know” by CNN, and is currently a Community Fellow at the Full Circle Fund. Kjerstin’s blog, Forging Ahead,
can be found on the Skoll Foundation’s SocialEdge website, and she can be found on twitter at @Kjer.

Manmeet Mehta
GlobalGiving.com • Founder and Executive Director • mmehta@globalgiving.com
Outcomes Presenter
Manmeet Mehta is responsible for GlobalGiving’s open access initiative and increasing the presence of youth
social entrepreneurs on GlobalGiving. She also works to provide support to social entrepreneurs on the
site. Previously, she worked as a Program Development Manager at the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation
designing and implementing a heritage conservation project in India and as a Sales and Marketing Associate
for IHCL, a Tata group company. She’s worked with Ashoka: Innovators for the Public and is on the board
of Atlas Service Corps. Manmeet grew up as a nomad in India, and is always planning the next big trip. She
holds an MA in International Relations from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University. She also holds an MBA
from Symbiosis Institute of International Business, India and a BA in Economics from LSR College, Delhi
University, India.
Marina Kim
Ashoka • markim@gmail.com
Workshop: Social Entrepreneurship and Developing a Socially Conscious Business Model
Marina has been with Ashoka for over three years and leads Ashoka’s University Programs. Ashoka’s
University Programs include university partnerships around the world, knowledge resources to increase
the quantity and quality of social entrepreneurship courses and research, and community-building for
faculty, practitioners and students through the University Network for Social Entrepreneurship (www.
universitynetwork.org). Her current role at Ashoka focuses on developing strategic partnerships and
relationships with professors/universities globally as well as designing and marketing programs for universities
that leverage Ashoka’s institutional knowledge of social change and entrepreneurship. Marina was very
active in growing Stanford’s Social Entrepreneurship program, focusing on increasing collaboration across
student groups and institutional support structures, at various points leading FUSION (the Future Social
Innovators’ Network), the Social Entrepreneurs’ Challenge and also bringing Youth Venture to Stanford. As
a student, Marina interned at Ashoka and was involved in Ashoka’s first institutional efforts to formalize
outreach to universities. Previously, Marina has done work with the Nonprofit Enterprise Self-Sustainability
Team (NESsT) and the Flora Family Foundation. She graduated with a BA in International Relations from
Stanford University.

Mercedes Stickler
World Bank • Consultant • mmstickler@gmail.com
Workshop: NGO/Government Relations
Mercedes Stickler is a 2006 alumnae of Northwestern University. Since graduating with her Environmental
Science Bachelors degree, she has spent time supporting community organizations in Chicago and downstate
Illinois through the Grand Victoria Foundation as part of the NU Public Interest Program; traveling Africa
and speaking to farmers about their experience of American foreign aid and agricultural policies with the
Howard G. Buffett Foundation; and crawling through thorny bushes in an attempt to measure the value
of direct and indirect ecosystem services provided by natural resources to a community in South Africa’s
Eastern Cape with the support of a U.S. Student Fulbright Grant. She is currently writing her Masters
degree through Rhodes University (South Africa) while providing research and administrative support to
a 30-country review of large-scale land acquisition for agriculture and an upcoming conference on “Land
Governance in Support of the Millennium Development Goals” at the World Bank in Washington. When
she’s not buried in the books, Mercedes enjoys baking for friends and a night out at a good salsa club every
now and again.

Michael Kelley
Northwestern University • Office of Foundation Relations • mhkelley@northwestern.edu
Workshop: Grant Writing Primer
Michael Kelley joined the Office of Foundation Relations at Northwestern University in 2007. He holds
an M.A. in History from the University of Illinois (Springfield) and a B.A. in History from the University of
Illinois (Urbana). His professional background includes time spent as a high school English teacher, a National
Park Ranger, and a documentary editor. As Development Researcher for the Office of Foundation Relations,
Michael conducts research for University initiatives and high priority individual faculty projects and works
closely with offices in sponsored research to coordinate grant tracking.”

Mouhamadoun Niang
Director • Mali Health Organizing Project
Workshop: Cultural Literacy
Mouhamadoun Niang is the Director of MHOP. He has a degree from the National University of Mali in
financial management, and has done considerable work in microfinance with a local group called Nyesigiso.
He was born and raised in Sikoroni, MHOP’s pilot zone, and chosen by its residents as MHOP’s director.
He lives with his wife Massi, son Abba, brand new baby daughter Ya, and extended family. He is interested
in the intersection of health and finance, and innovative health financing tactics. This is his first visit to the
USA, indeed his first time traveling outside of Mali.
GES 2009 • 33
Molly Day
campusCATALYST • Co-Founder and Executive Director • molly.day@campuscatalyst.org
Workshop: Mission and Vision Development
Co-Founder of campusCATALYST, Molly Day now serves as the organization’s Executive Director. cC
catalyzes nonprofits, communities and the next generation of cross-sectoral leaders by engaging college and
business students in high-impact, pro-bono consulting for nonprofits. cC has programs at Northwestern
University and the University of Chicago, and to-date has contributed over 20,000 hours of pro-bono work
to Chicago-area nonprofits by engaging nearly 200 undergradute students and 50 business school students
in 40 nonprofit client projects. Molly is also a Northwestern Public Interest Fellow and was recently a finalist
for YNPN’s Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year. She graduated from Northwestern University in June
2007 having majored in Social Policy, International Studies and Spanish. During her undergraduate career,
Molly worked for Senator Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of State, and National Student Partnerships.
She also has a strong interest in and passion for global development efforts, particularly microfinance, which
she spent time researching in rural Malawi during her final year of school.
Nathaniel Whittemore
Center for Global Engagement • Director • globalengagement@gmail.com
Workshop: Social Entrepreneurship and Developing a Socially Conscious Business Model
Nathaniel Whittemore is the founding director of the Center for Global Engagement at Northwestern
University, an international program design center which helps students move beyond “good intentions”.
Through direct grants and consulting as well as programmatic partnerships with organizations such as the
GlobalGiving Foundation, the Chicago Global Donors Network, NEED Magazine, and SocialEdge.org, the
CGE has helped student projects in more than a dozen countries impact the lives of more than 50,000
people. Whittemore has spoken about youth engagement, responsible media, social entrepreneurship, and
the internet and social change at conferences and universities across the United States, the Balkans, the
Middle East and East Africa. In 2009, he was invited to be a table facilitator for the first annual Clinton
Global Initiative University. In addition to his work with the CGE, he runs Do Good Well Partners advisory
and nonprofit incubation firm, whose first sponsored project, a digital tool for improving collaborative
philanthropy in post-conflict northern Uganda, is a finalist in the $100,000 Netsquared Mashup Challenge.
He sits on the advisory board for Change.org and Global Citizen Year.
Noah Jenkins
University of Chicago • Associate with Temaner and Associates • noah@temaner.net
Workshop: Grant Writing Primer
Noah Temaner Jenkins is a freelance research, planning, and writing consultant to nonprofit groups and
universities that are engaged in community development, evaluations, technical assistance, workforce
development, social justice, poverty alleviation, and higher education. Current and recent projects include:
designing and implementing the evaluation for a multi-million dollar technical assistance project at UIC’s
Great Cities Institute; the Kellogg-funded Pathways to Collaboration project, which is a community-based
research project that evaluates grassroots participation in five partnerships nationally; and assisting various
nonprofits with their grant writing. Since May 2002, Noah has helped clients to raise more than $3 million
for workforce development programs, technology upgrades, commercial development, ex-offender re-
entry programs, community based research, advocacy efforts, strategic planning, and other activities. Noah
is also an instructor for the Mastering Grant Writing and Successful Program Planning and Evaluations for
Nonprofits online courses at the University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute and is adjunct faculty
in the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.
Patrick O’Heffernan
www.socialedge.org • Blogger • palm44@covad.net
Workshop: Hybrid Non-Profit and For-Profit Models: Blended Value for Social Change
Patrick O’Heffernan is a fund raiser, strategist, manager, marketer and social entrepreneur who serves as a
consultant/interim development staff and mentor to nonprofit organizations. Since 1972, he has obtained
$60 million in foundation grants and been part of teams that have raised $100 million in corporate,
government and major donor funds. He has been the fund raising expert, blogger and podcaster on
www.socialedge.org for three years. He is president of InTheStudio a podcasting/media marketing and
community building company, interviewing social entrepreneurs from around the world. An MIT Ph.D.
(1989) in International Relations and a former Professor at Georgia Tech, He has been awarded an Emmy, a
Webby Honors Award, four Telly Awards, and the Diamond Award from the Egyptian National Association
for Planning on the Environment and has been nominated for a Peabody award. He co-launched and raised
close to $1 million to create the North Asia Nuclear Free Zone project, an innovative diplomatic program
designed to restrict nuclear weapons in North Asia, which was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
He is a member of the MIT-Stanford Venture Lab and serves on the Board of the Center for Partnership
Studies and the microcredit foundation, Nameste Direct, and is Chairman of the Development Committee
of the New Leadership Council.
Paul Arntson
Northwestern University • Professor of Communication Studies • p-arnston@northwestern.edu
Workshop: Asset Based Community Development and Community Consulting
Paul Arntson is one of the pillars of student organizing and community development at Northwestern. His
contributions to the Northwestern landscape are wide and varied but include founding the Undergraduate
Leadership Program, Northwestern’s certificate program for leadership development, as well as the Public
Interest Program, through which more than 20 seniors are placed in year-long post graduate fellowships
with Chicago nonprofits. Each summer, he teaches community development and consulting as part of the
ENGAGE Uganda program. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Premal Shah
Kiva.org • President • premal@kiva.org
Keynote Speaker
As President, Premal leads Kiva’s efforts to scale its partnerships and member base. Prior to Kiva, Premal was
a Principal Product Manager at PayPal, an eBay company. During his 6 year career at PayPal, Premal drove
a number of key initiatives including a year long project defining eBay’s role in economically empowering
the global working poor. A number of corporate initiatives have come out of this effort, including PayPal’s
support of Kiva. Prior to PayPal, Premal was a strategy consultant at Mercer Management Consulting in
New York. Premal has had a long standing interest in microfinance. In 1997, he was awarded a grant from
Stanford University to research microfinance in Gujarat, India. More recently Premal co-founded the Silicon
Valley Microfinance Network and spent 2 months in India working to refine / validate Kiva’s model. In 2006,
Premal was a featured speaker at the Clinton Global Initiative and Global Microcredit Summit. Premal
graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University.

Regina Connell
Salt Cellar Consulting • Founder and Managing Partner • mconnell@saltcellargroup.com
Workshop: Mission and Vision Development
Regina has over 18 years experience in strategy, innovation, and brand consulting. She is the founder and
managing partner of Saltcellar Group, a consultancy that works with clients to unlock and maximize the
value of their brands and intellectual capital through strategy, planning, communications and relationship
development. Clients include Nippon Life, Calvert, Fortis, Chevron, Varian, Accel Partners, the Women’s
Funding Network, and Stanford. Prior to founding Saltcellar, she spent four years at Proxicom, an e-business
services company. She founded and was the Managing Director of the Customer Insight & Experience
group, advising clients such as Toyota, Ford, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Primedia, Nike, and Black & Decker on
interactive branding, new product strategy, and the creation of meaningful customer experiences. She was
also a senior brand strategist at Landor Associates where her clients included Kraft, HP, and Visa. Regina’s
management consulting career began at Booz Allen & Hamilton and continued at Fantus Consulting/
Deloitte & Touche. Previously, Regina also worked as a manager at Apple where she helped design and
promote sustainability initiatives. Regina holds a JD from Hastings and a BA in International Relations
from Stanford University. A strong advocate of promoting philanthropy and social investment, she was a
founding partner of Social Venture Partners, is on the Advisory Board of GoodCapital (www.goodcap.net),
a social investment firm based in San Francisco, and helped produce the inaugural Social Capital Markets
conference (www.socialcapitalmarkets.net) in the fall of 2009. Regina is based in San Francisco.

Scott Beale
Atlas Service Corps, Inc. • Founder • scott@atlastcorps.org
Workshop: Fundraising 101
For ten years Scott was a recognized leader of the Millennial Generation as the author of “Millennial
Manifesto: A Youth Activist Handbook” and the founder of Millennial Politics.com. After the 2004 Election,
the Youth Vote Coalition named him on of “30 People Under 30 Changing Politics in America.” Scott’s
activism has taken him to Bosnia three times. While there, he became the youngest Core Supervisor from
any country for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In the States, Scott has
worked for Governor Tom Carper of Delaware coordinating the state’s federal affairs. In addition, he worked
as the Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House responsible for Governors. Scott
returned overseas in 2004 to coordinate the U.S. Government’s efforts to fight human trafficking in India.
Scott helped coordinate $9 million of USG resources to citizen organization and international organizations
in India who were fighting modern day slavery. In March 2006, Scott left the Foreign Service to launch Atlas
Service Corps. He lives in Washington, DC but travels regularly to Bogotá, Colombia and New Delhi, India
developing a revolutionary method of international service. He is happily married to Courtney Beale, who
is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer serving as a Special Assistant to Secretary Clinton.
GES 2009 • 35
Sharon Schneider
Foundation Source • Philanthropic Director • sschneider@foundationsource.com
Workshop: The Nonprofit’s Guide to the Economic Downturn
Sharon Schneider is Philanthropic Director at Foundation Source, the nation’s leading provider of support
services for private foundations, where she assists the company’s 900 private foundation clients to accomplish
their philanthropic goals. Along with Page Snow, she recently co-authored “Strategic Philanthropy: Five
Approaches to Making a Difference.” Sharon has been a consultant to dozens of philanthropists, from The
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to individual donors. She is the author of The Philanthropic Family (www.
thephilanthropicfamily.com), offering ideas and inspiration for embedding philanthropy into everyday moments
and special occasions. An experienced presenter and facilitator, she has presented sessions at the Council on
Foundations, Resource Generation, Advisors in Philanthropy and the American Evaluation Association, among
many others. Sharon also has experience as a grant seeker, having facilitated a $300,000 grants program
and a government relations program at the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, OH. She holds a B.A. from the
University of Toledo (summa cum laude) and an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Tom Krieglstein
Swift Kick • Founder and CEO • tom@swiftkickonline.com
Workshop: Working the Web (Beginner) - Secrets Behind Webtools for Nonprofits
Tom’s first experience with the internet was an online retail store which he grew to $1.5 million dollars in sales
at the age of 22. Through his second company, Swift Kick, Tom has spoken to tens of thousands of students,
staff and administration around the US and the world including South Korea, Indonesia and Bermuda with the
goal of helping students thrive in the new world of technology. Swift Kick was named the #1 college speaker
for 2007, 2009, and 2009 by colleges nation wide through APCA. Swift Kick’s technological experience
comes from an extensive background in internet technologies and the dot com era. The instant messenger
on Myspace, Date.com and several other social networking sites was created by a co-founder of Swift Kick,
an online software designed to increase student engagement and retention by facilitating social comfort,
connection, and contribution. With Red Rover, students learn how to build and effectively manage their online
identity (Facebook, blogs, youtube, etc.) to connect with their peers, role models, mentors, and faculty.
Tom Coleman
Microfinance Consulting • Founder • tcole2000@comcast.net
Workshop: What does Microfinance have to do with Changing Global Poverty
Tom Coleman founded Microfinance Consulting in 1995 to integrate the best of commercial finance with
the best of microfinance for poorer clients. Prior to founding Microfinance Consulting, Tom was Director of
Research and New Product Development at the Chicago Board of Trade 1978-1994. Tom has consulted with
a number of the major microfinance networks on challenges ranging from guarantee funds and innovative
capital market financing vehicles, to social measurement to increase emphasis on service to and measurable
results for bottom billion clients. In 2007 he completed a global mapping of the incidence of Bottom Billion
poverty (as defined in the Millennium Development Goals) compared to the incidence of MFIs, MFI clients,
and MFI gross loan portfolios. He also completed projects on strategies for MFIs to better communicate and
summarize the “bottom line” of social return to Social Investors in ways that emphasize MFI social return in
the form of measurably reaching more Bottom Billion clients and measurably benefitting Bottom Billion clients.
In 2009-2009, Tom wrote several papers on Social Performance Management in microfinance.
Victor Roy
GlobeMed • Executive Director • victorroy@gmail.com
Workshop: Public Health in the Developing World
For the past 3 years, Victor Roy have served as the Executive Director of GlobeMed, a national organization
that enables students and communities to work together and improve the health of the impoverished around
the world. His interest in global health took root during the summer of 2006 during which IHeconducted
research on the social networks of street children in Kolkata, India. He graduated from Northwestern
University in 2007 with a B.A. in political science as a student in the Honors Program in Medical Education.
Next fall, I will be enrolling at Cambridge University in the UK as a Gates scholar.

Victor Tanner
Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) • Adjunct Professor • victortanner01@gmail.com
Workshop: Resolving Tensions in Aid and Development

Victor Tanner has worked with war-affected populations in Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans for 20
years, as an aid worker and a researcher. In recent years, his main areas of focus have been Darfur and Iraq.
He is an adjunct member of faculty at the Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington DC, where he teaches a class
on Humanitarianism and Politics.
GES staff
co-directors

Emily Eisenhart Rajni Chandrasekhar

e-eisenhart@northwestern.edu rajnic@gmail.com
Co-Director Co-Director
Anthropology/International Studies Political Science/International Studies
2009 2009

co-chairs

Alicia Lobeiras Brian Ahearn

alicia24@gmail.com brian.ahearn1@gmail.com
International Delegates Community Development
Political Science/History Political Science/History
2010 2010

Cameron Henderson
Allie Bream
cameron.d.henderson@gmail.com
allison.bream@gmail.com
Finance
Community Development
History/African Studies
Social Policy/Gender Studies
2010
2010

Ann Schraufnagel
ann.schraufnagel@gmail.com Cecily Harwitt
Community Development c-harwitt@northwestern.edu
History/International Studies Logistics
2009 Spanish/International Studies
2009

Anna Kelly Heidi Dessecker

annakelly2010@u.northwestern.edu heidibethdess@gmail.com
Outcomes Delegate Development
Political Science Cultural Anthropology/
2010 International Studies
2009 GES 2009 • 37
 Jennifer Hemesath Madeline Grennan
j-hemesath@northwestern.edu madelinegrennan2010@u.
Press, Marketing northwestern.edu
Journalism/International Studies American Delegates
2010 Social Policy/International Studies
2010

Jonathan Drake Megha Agrawal

jonarc124@gmal.com megha.agrawal@gmail.com
Web/Technology Content
B.S. Mechanical Engineering LOC/International Studies
2010 2010

Karina Walker
Molly Lister
k-walker@northwestern.edu
mollylister2007@u.northwestern.edu
Alumni
Content
Cultural Anthropology/
Journalism
International Studies
2011
2010

Liz Coffin-Karlin Rachel Heydemann

ziba54@gmail.com r-heydemann@u.northwestern.edu
OpenShutter Project Delegate Development
History/Spanish Ethnomusicology/Religion
2010 2009

Liz Granger
e-granger@northwestern.edu
OpenShutter Project Rachel Koch
Journalism r-koch@northwestern.edu
2009 Delegate Development
Anthropology/International Studies
2009

Liz Voeller
e-voller@northwestern.edu Ruth Orme-Johnson
Outcomes ruthoj@u.northwestern.edu
Environmental Engineering/ Delegate Development
International Studies Ethnomusicology/Religion
38 • GES 2009 2009 2009
 Sana Rahim Shoko Sugai
sana-rahim@northwestern.edu shokos@gmail.com
Documentation/Evaluation International Delegates
English/Political Science Political Science/International Studies
2011 2009

Shalyn Hockey Stephanie Sparrell

s-hockey@northwestern.edu stephaniesparrell2007@u.northwestern.edu
Delegate Development International Delegates
LOC/International Studies/ International Studies/Political Science
Economics 2010
2009
staff
Abby Freeman • Adrienne DaGue • Alex Liebowich • Alyssa Eisenstein • Alyssa Urish • Anne Nash • Ariela Abrevaya •
Asha Toulmin • Benita Chan • Boom Aramwatananot • Brandon Zaharoff • Brian O’Connell • Caroline Linden • Caroline
Pardo • Carrie Porter • Chelsea Eddy • Christina Thompson • Cindy Teng • Dana Behnke • Dara Carroll • Diana Nielsen
• Elizabeth Machesky • Ellen Abrams • Ellen Cooper • Emerson Gordon-Marvin • Emily Kingsley-MA • Emily Levin • Eric
Smith • Erica Haft • Erin Reynolds • Euhbin Song • Grace Johnson • Hannah Roodman • Heidi Dessecker • Heng Tan •
Hugh Roland • Ioana Chivu • Isabella Picon • Isabella Villa • Janine Kacprzak • Jenny Stratmann • Jeremy Intal • Kari Shantz
• Kate Bell • Kate Mullersman • Kathleen Jenning • Kathryn Anderson • Kiran Pookote • Kirk Morrow • Kyle Shedd • Lani
Seelinger • Laura Booth • Lauren Gramza • Lisa Peterson • McKenna Zerfas • Megan Hubel • Meixi Ng • Mike Fenech
• Miles Fletcher • Minh Thai • Natassia Gutman Safan • Nazihah Adil • Nicky Smith • Rachel Kalt • Rafi Zelikowsky •
Samantha Dupont • Sarah Freeman • Sarah Malin • Shanika Gunaratna • Stephanie DelRosso • Suzie Sheetz • Tiffany Wong
• Velid Begonic • Visraant Iyer • Will Stokley • Willa Zhang • XinKai Cheng • Zach Pope
GES doesn’t end here…
The Global Engagement Summit lends itself to productive collaboration
in the broader global change space. After workshops, discussions, and
forming new friendships, you have the tools, resources, and networks
to put your ideas into action. In addition, GES has created new forums
for you to stay in touch after the Summit ends. Use these networks
to stay connected, but also to take your ideas and passion to the next
level. Your power to change the world as individuals is immense; as a
community and as a movement, it’s unstoppable.

shout your ideas and thoughts online via the Summit Center on
the GES website. Follow GES on Twitter @GES2009.

contribute stories to our quarterly Alumni online newsletter.

connect with new friends and mentors with the GES Connection
Finder. Search for contacts based on interests, regional
focus, skills, and specialties.

act and use what you know and love to change the world.

Welcome to the GES community.

40 • GES 2009
engage