Reed will discuss the global and local impacts of slash-and-burn agriculture in the tropics, and how SHI's unique and successful model for reversing this harmful trend has helped to decrease hunger and alleviate poverty. "As far as I know, we are the only organization in the world providing long-term technical assistance to rural families in the tropics, offering them alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture," says Reed. Since launching SHI from a spare bedroom in her parents' New Hampshire home, SHI and its network of trained staff, farmers and grass roots community groups, have reached more than 1800 families in 120 communities in Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua and Panama. To date, SHI farmers have helped to save thousands of acres of tropical forest, planted more than 2.3 million trees, improved nutrition through the establishment of more than 4,700 organic vegetable gardens, and raised their income as much as eight-fold.
Panama RPCV Florence Reed, Founder and President of Sustainable Harvest International, Appointed Delegate to Groundbreaking Poverty Alleviation Summit
Florence Reed, Founder and President of Sustainable Harvest International, Appointed Delegate to Groundbreaking Poverty Alleviation Summit
Florence Reed and 250 other major agents of social change will convene at the Opportunity Collaboration on October 17th, World Poverty Day, to discuss how to alleviate poverty.
Surry, ME, October 10, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Florence Reed, founder and president of Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), (http://www.sustainableharvest.org) will be a delegate at The Opportunity Collaboration, (http://www.opportunitycollaboration.net) a four day strategic poverty alleviation summit commencing on October 17th, World Poverty Day, in Ixtapa, Mexico. Reed, whose Maine-based international non-profit provides farming families in Central America with the training and tools to overcome poverty while restoring the planet's tropical forests, will join about 250 other delegates from such organizations as Ashoka, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, Calvert Social Investment Foundation, Global Philanthropy Forum, and the Women Donors Network.
The Opportunity Collaboration is convened to respond to the current market turmoil which is hurting non-profit and social finance funding, and ultimately, the poor. "The Opportunity Collaboration is about leveraging resources and creating influential partnerships," states Opportunity Collaboration CEO Jonathan C. Lewis. "Every delegate brings an important point of view to the summit and a hands-on, working solution to poverty. Reed's work in social change is exceptional, high-impact and compelling. She will have a unique opportunity to share insights with other delegates, but most importantly to pursue concrete actions for real solutions and new partnerships to advance economic justice."
Reed will discuss the global and local impacts of slash-and-burn agriculture in the tropics, and how SHI's unique and successful model for reversing this harmful trend has helped to decrease hunger and alleviate poverty. "As far as I know, we are the only organization in the world providing long-term technical assistance to rural families in the tropics, offering them alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture," says Reed. Since launching SHI from a spare bedroom in her parents' New Hampshire home, SHI and its network of trained staff, farmers and grass roots community groups, have reached more than 1800 families in 120 communities in Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua and Panama. To date, SHI farmers have helped to save thousands of acres of tropical forest, planted more than 2.3 million trees, improved nutrition through the establishment of more than 4,700 organic vegetable gardens, and raised their income as much as eight-fold.
"It is easy for me to see the positive impact SHI has had on overcoming poverty while restoring the environment," says Reed. "I also know that collaborating with complementary organizations would allow us to do much more to further our work and theirs. I look forward to starting those conversations at the Opportunity Collaboration," Reed adds.
About Florence Reed and Sustainable Harvest International:
SHI was founded in 1997 by Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Florence Reed. Since its inception, the non-profit organization has planted more than 2.3 million trees, converted 9,000 acres to sustainable uses (thereby saving 45,000 acres from slash-and-burn destruction Sequestered 73,425,000 pounds of carbon as a result of our planting efforts, increased farm income up to 800%, and built more than 750 wood-conserving stoves (saving 7,500 trees per year).
About the Opportunity Collaboration:
From October 17–20, 2009, the Opportunity Collaboration is a strategic networking summit of social investors/social ventures, entrepreneurial non-profit leaders, foundation trustees/executives and policy thought leaders. The Opportunity Collaboration brings together leaders from all over the world to leverage resources and create new alliances in the fight against poverty.
