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Los Angeles Microfinance Network.

The Microfinance industry is in flux. It has been receiving heavy scrutiny from former industry professionals and self-proclaimed scholars who question it's success in alleviating poverty. While scrutiny is good, as it incites industries to fix themselves, the criticism has turned hateful. This is surprising since Dr. Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Protected content his work in Microfinance, the Medal of Freedom by Obama in Protected content , and a slew of other awards. His Microfinance Institution, Grameen Bank, has brought over 50 million people out of acute poverty, lent well over $10 Billion, boasts an impressive 96% repayment rate and has a model that has been replicated in over 40 countries.

So why are people hating? It's a great question, and one of many that we'll be diving into at this event. It will be an Engaged Conversation between David Roodman (Author of Due Diligence, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development) and Chris Dunford (Former President of Freedom from Hunger for 20 years, current Senior Research Fellow), both of whom are elite and notable scholars in the Microfinance industry with vastly different perspectives on it's utility.

Dr. Bhagwan Chowdhry from UCLA Anderson School of Management will be moderating the event. If any of you watch Entourage, you may remember him from the last season where he made a cameo promoting his organization FAB (Financial Access at Birth).

The event will be held at Hub LA in downtown L.A. They were recently mentioned in Forbes and Fast Company for their social mission and brand new space!

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