Reflections on ReVV2011 – March 7-8, PDX

If you’ve been keeping up with Springboard Innovation activities, you are aware the annual ReVV conference is almost upon us. This will be my first year at the conference, but reading comments and feedback from the previous year(s) gives me great confidence it will address issues, inspire and evoke response from those that attend and go back to their funds, non-profits and enterprises to make an energized difference in communities, environments and the world.

I recently read a great book, “The Blue Sweater”, by Jacqueline Novagratz, founder of the Acumen Fund. In this story she does a great job – using herself as an example – of guiding the reader to an understanding of not only lending aid but exacting and measuring accountability to communities that have a desire to lift themselves from poverty to subsistence.

While her example takes place in Rwanda and India, and the issues discussed at ReVV2011 seem to be focused on local communities, the parallels are significant. How can we empower citizens by giving them tools to make ecological changes in their community, make a socio-economic differences in their neighborhood, lift themselves to self-sufficiency? These questions are in the forefront of what will be presented at the ReVV2011.

The speakers for this year’s event are, happily, diverse. Here are some I’m particularly looking forward to meeting:

Woody Tasch | Founder of SlowMoney.org

A venture capitalist, foundation treasurer, and entrepreneur, whose explorations shed new light on a truer, more beautiful, more prudent kind of fiduciary responsibility . . . which reflects the economic, social, and environmental realities of the twenty-first century.

Henry Petroski | Author, Professor of Civil Engineering, Duke University

He will talk about his book, ”The Essential Engineer: Why Science Alone Will Not Solve Our Global Problems“, the strategy of failure, and the promise of the engineer in all of us.

Tim Draimin | Executive Director, Social Innovation Generator; Chair, Causeway Social Finance

Tim will share strategies for city and government leaders about how policy and networks can accelerate local innovation for good.

Louise Pulford | Director, Social Innovation eXchange (SIX)

Louise coordinates SIX – a global community of 3,000 individuals and organisation involved in social innovation. SIX also leads a European consortium which is setting up a Social Innovation Pilot Initiative for Europe.

Michael Van Patten | Founder & CEO, Mission Markets and Mission Markets Earth, LLC
Michael and his team will share insights about how to increase the social capital markets, as well as offer a session on how to get onto Mission Markets’ platform for investments or as an investor.

Heather Fleming | Co-Founder and CEO, Catapult Design
In 2005, Heather co-founded and led a volunteer group focused on social impact design through Engineers Without Borders – SFP. She is also a Staff Writer for NextBillion.net, an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University, and Senior Lecturer at CCA in San Francisco.

You can see more speakers when you register for the fast-approaching conference at http://www.revisioningvalue.org/event_registration

Please follow tweets about this event with the hashtag: #ReVV2011

and Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/springboard.innovation

The event will be held at the very sustainably-engineered Gerding Theater.

Please look for more posts, post your own, share the invite and see me there!

Tari Donohue is a visual designer and interactive media producer, dedicated to bringing non-profits ‘visual voice’ with consistent branding across all mediums.