DAVIS, CA - July 2, 2009 -- This fall, 20 college students will have the chance to participate in the Opportunity Collaboration, a four-day, purpose-driven networking and problem solving offsite commencing on World Poverty Day (October 17, 2009).

The selected fellows will attend the forum with 200 other Delegates, made up of nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs, social financiers, grant-makers and agents of change. Together, Delegates and Fellows will explore unprecedented levels of collaboration, identify opportunities for leveraging resources across organizations and accelerate proven models for reducing poverty.

Selected by a distinguished panel of jurors, the student Fellows have demonstrated catalytic senior leadership, pragmatic vision, passionate tenacity, multi-sectoral thinking, a commitment to poverty alleviation, adaptive leadership skills, non-ideological activism and a strong ethical grounding.

Chosen fellows will have the opportunity to learn, network and meet influential people which will enrich their education and future careers. "Emerging social entrepreneurs need access to mentors, resources and strategic support to be successful," says Marina Kim, Opportunity Collaboration juror and Director of University Programs at Ashoka. "The Opportunity Collaboration Fellows Program is a unique opportunity for nascent change agents to get launched into their next level of development and impact by being part of a melting pot of great minds from the social sector, the business sector and the philanthropic world."

Collaboration Fellowships provide opportunities for the next generation of nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to participate in the Opportunity Collaboration. The hope and intent is to open doors and minds for university level student leaders committed to economic justice and poverty alleviation.

To see the full roster of selected Delegates and selection jury, please visit www.opportunitycollaboration.net.

About the Opportunity Collaboration
From October 17-20, 2009, the Opportunity Collaboration is strategic networking summit of social investors/social ventures, entrepreneurial nonprofit leaders, foundation trustees/executives and policy thought leaders. An impartial, non-aligned congress, the co-conveners are the Ashoka, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, Calvert Social Investment Foundation, Global Philanthropy Forum, Social Venture Network, Stanford Social Innovation Review (Stanford Center for Social Innovation), Women Donors Network, Worldways Social Marketing and MicroCredit Enterprises CEO Jonathan C. Lewis. The Opportunity Collaboration brings together leaders from all over the world to leverage resources and create new alliances in the fight against poverty. Learn more about the Opportunity Collaboration at www.OpportunityCollaboration.net.

Opportunity Collaboration

Opportunity Collaboration

A four-day problem-solving, strategic retreat for nonprofit leaders, for-profit social entrepreneurs, grant-makers and social investors engaged in poverty alleviation and economic justice enterprises. On World Poverty Day, leverage resources, combine forces, share innovations and operate more effectively. Break down the silos of unproductive competition and go beyond the boundaries of conventional poverty alleviation.

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