First Opportunity Collaboration Rocks
On October 17th, approximately 270 social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, religious leaders, nonprofit executives, foundation officers and political activists arrived in Ixtapa, Mexico for a four-day business retreat to share their diversity and to uncover compelling ways of collaborating to reduce poverty.
The inaugural launch of the Opportunity Collaboration was also the Hindu festival of Deepavali (“Festival of Lights”). Deepavali celebrates the victory of good over evil. In the words of one Opportunity Collaboration Delegate we “light lamps to the goddess of wealth and prosperity and pray to her for hope and happiness”. An auspicious coincidence, to be sure.
Set on a 37-acre, Delegates-only campus situated in a bucolic Mexican beach cove, the Opportunity Collaboration was a working business meeting of doers, not talkers. Unlike a traditional policy-wonk conference, this gathering featured no plenary speeches, no panels, no powerpoints.
2009 Opportunity Collaboration Voices
“Leap of faith to come. Now very glad I did.” “Openness, idea sharing, relationships.” “Exposure to best practices.” “Intergenerational respect.” “Left egos at home.” “No powerpoints led to real conversations.” “Frank exchanges, especially about challenges and failures.” “May not be broad enough in my thinking and social investments.” “Faith and secular together!” “Encouraged to be ourselves, rather than our entities.” “Collaboration can cut down on re-inventing the wheel.” “No ranking of issues.” “Change field by on-going cross-fertilization of ideas.” “Changed my mind about conferences.” “Asked a deeper question: Why m y organization exists?” “Need in-country cooperation and structured follow-up.” “Un-made my mind. Reconsidered first instincts.”
Opportunity Collaboration Blogs
John Anner, CEO, East Meets West Foundation, aptly ponders the Opportunity Collaboration, “Prepared to be disappointed, I was instead energized and overwhelmed by the concentration of talent, accomplishment and innovation among the 270 attending Delegates. There were people working in all niches of the development ecosystem, from media to fish farming, empowerment of girls and women to affordable health care, microcredit to education.” Read his full blog.
For values learnings from the Opportunity Collaboration check out Sara Olsen, CEO, Social Venture Technology Group, at the Social Edge. Her Opportunity Collaboration-inspired blog talks about the tension between Individual Will versus Social Will. Our mixed messages about bolstering individual will, choice, freedom and entrepreneurial initiative versus building community, social solidarity and neighborhood norms are “unmasked”.
A third perspective comes from Curtis Chang, CEO, Consulting Within Reach, who addresses “How Do You Keep On Pitching and Not Lose Your Soul?” His heartfelt understanding of the pressures on social entrepreneurs to do it all and do it all well is worth a read.
Register Online for Early-Bird Discount
For returning Delegates, the Opportunity Collaboration doesn’t keep credit card numbers, so you must register online on your own. The cheapest available general Delegate pricing is $3250.00 for registering before December 31, 2009. The 2010 Registration Form is now operational at our website. Note: The 2010 Collaboration is already 20% sold out….and it is a full year from now.
Send OppColl Photos; Win 2010 Discount
Post your photos in the Opportunity Collaboration Photo Gallery at our website before November 30, 2009. Or, email Tracie Hudgins, Registrar, at [email protected]. If we use your photo as a permanent element of the new 2010 Opportunity Collaboration website, you win a $500.00 discount off any current 2010 registration fee.
Directory of Delegates Available
For Delegates only, the final Directory of Delegates is available. For your copy, email Tracie Hudgins, Registrar, at [email protected].
Read Beyond Profit, Think Beyond Profit
Opportunity Collaboration Delegates will receive two complimentary copies of the new quarterly print magazine Beyond Profit. Published in India, Beyond Profit – an Opportunity Collaboration alum — focuses on social enterprise and social investing in developing and emerging markets. Learn more about impact investing, hybrid structures, how to become a social entrepreneur, new models for change, and more. The first issue is on its way to your mail box! In the meantime, sign up for Radar, a free fortnightly newsletter or check out the blog at www.beyondprofit.com.
I On Poverty
Opportunity Collaboration CEO Jonathan Lewis has launched his new weekly blog, I On Poverty, on the Skoll Social Edge – another Opportunity Collaboration alum. You are invited to subscribe, comment, complain and kvetch.
OppColl Twitters
Follow Opportunity Collaboration at http://twitter.com/OppColl. And, send us your Twitter links too!!!