Conferences

Focus The Nation is an educational initiative on global warming solutions for America occurring at more than 1,000 universities, colleges, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations, and businesses, in all 50 states on Jan. 31, 2008.

The teach-in has two goals: to formulate policy solutions that can be implemented immediately; and to explore a new model of collaborative, interdisciplinary education on a national scale, needed to tackle the interconnected social, environmental, and political issues of climate change.

Attendees will participate in workshops and panels, brainstorming global warming solutions. Each Focus team will invite local, state, and federal political leaders and decision-makers to participate in a non-partisan, round-table discussion of global warming solutions. Every institution will also vote on its top five national priorities for global warming action, producing a campus- and citizen-endorsed policy agenda for 2008.

There’s still time to get involved – learn how at the Focus the Nation web site.

March 7-9, 2008
Northeastern University, Boston, MA

We are pleased to inform you that registration for the IMPACT Conference is officially open!

Join college students, administrators, faculty, national nonprofit organizations, socially-responsible companies and many others this spring in Boston, MA for the historically largest national convening of campus community members involved in service, activism, politics, advocacy, and other socially responsible work across philosophical and ideological lines. This event builds on the legacy set forth by the C.O.O.L. Conference and the Idealist Campus Conference, spanning an incredible 23-year history.

You won’t want to miss this inspiring three-day conference, which will include a series of thought-provoking forums, plenary sessions, and student-led workshops as well as an Opportunities Fair, Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, powerful Opening Ceremony -- and even a few new surprises!

Register by January 7th, 2008 to receive the early-bird rate.

To learn more about the IMPACT Conference and to register, please visit
www.campusconference.org

Come participate in the ?Gender and Fair Trade: Women in Developing Nations? summit to be held at the Hobart and William Smith Colleges on November 3. The topic for the conference is the impact of fair trade on women workers in developing nations, and will focus on the following questions:

* How are fair trade and gender interconnected?
* What is the best way to empower women in developing nations, what are some of the ways students can have an impact?
* How can students become involved in fair trade, both in their personal lives and at their colleges or universities?

Furthermore, there will be workshops lead by fellow students that will empower students to strategically discuss these issues with their peers, coordinate an event around fair trade, or organize a campaign to get fair trade products at your campus.

The tentative schedule is provided below. The summit will take place at Albright Auditorium on the HWS campus in Geneva, NY.

9:00- 9:45 Registration and Breakfast
9:45- 10:15 Welcome and Introduction
10:15- 11:15 Keynote Speaker--Marceline White, Executive Director of Americans for Informed Democracy
11:15- 12:00 Workshops
12:00- 1:15 Lunch and Breakout Discussions
1:15- 2:15 Panel Presentation & Q&A
2:15- 3:00 Closing Remarks

The summit will feature a provocative keynote address by Marceline White, AID President and former Deputy Director of the Greater Access to Trade Expansion (GATE) Project funded by USAID's Office of Women and Development. Also on the agenda is a panel discussion with high-profile experts who can inspire interesting discussion about gender and fair trade. Among the confirmed panelists are Edward Kowalewski, professor of International Business at the University at Buffalo and head of international trade and investment for Empire State Development; and Debbie Naybor, organizer of the non-profit group With Both Your Hands, which raises money to start businesses and build schools in Africa.

Finally, sustainable and fair trade breakfast and lunch will be offered to give participants an opportunity to immediately interact with fair trade products. This conference is free for students to attend!

You can register to participate in the summit here or contact sam@aidemocracy.org for more information.

Did you know that colleges and universities control over $340 billion dollars in investments? That's a lot of money that could do some good in the world! Yet, though our schools lay claim to strong social missions, few have responsible investment policies and keep investing in human rights abuses and environmental destruction.

But don't despair: students have the power to challenge schools to align their investment portfolios with their social values, using their influence as investors to improve corporate practices, invest in the local community and green energy,among other great opportunities.

As college students, we are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to make possible the positive change we want to see in the world. Here's your chance to learn how you can further your activism by attending our conferences on responsible investing, where you will:

· connect with students from across the country working on responsible investing, corporate reform and community development
· learn from experts how responsible investing has lead to incredible victories for social justice
· workshop your campaign with top-notch student leaders and learn new campus organizing skills
· go on a sweet fieldtrip to see community investing in action ( Atlanta and Philly)

Registration fees vary by conference, but are no more than $15 and include all meals.
Travel and scholarships are available, first come first serve so register EARLY!
We will also raffle off hot prizes for early registrants…so why wait?

Here's the deal on the three events, for both undergrads and graduate students:

4th Annual National Conference
Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, 2007
Where: University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA.

Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Conference
Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, 2007
Spelman College, Atlanta , GA.

University of California Conference
Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18, 2007
UCLA, Los Angeles , CA .

Get your school to sponsor you!!!

Because our travel scholarships are limited, to receive one from REC you must have already approached your school to see about getting support. This is much easier than it sounds: attached to this email are sample letters you can submit, customized for each conference--get this in asap if you want to come!

Contact us with any questions at 415.670.9REC, or morgan@endowmentethics.org, and we'll see you this fall!