NOMI NETWORK AROUND THE CAMPUS, AROUND THE WORLD

Diana Mao, President and Co-Founder of Nomi Network, was invited to speak on a panel for Net Impact’s 5^th Annual Social Responsibility Forum on November 12th and 13th at IE University. IE University is a private university world-renowned, highly ranked Business School in Madrid.

“The Progressing Social Economies" panelists explored how businesses create social change and how social change creates new business opportunities from an entrepreneur’s, business/social change expert’s and investor’s perspective. Diana Mao provided an entrepreneurial view of how Nomi Network works to bring positive change within the Cambodian economic system, which has very damaging consequences for its women. Through Nomi’s social entrepreneurial model, she showed how education and economic opportunity empowers women to escape sexual slavery and make positive contributions to society,” said IE Business School student, Elizabeth Painter. Students were very engaged and asked thought provoking questions about Nomi Network’s unique model of job creation in an economy that traditionally lacks employment opportunities. In addition, they asked practical questions about how they could start social enterprises of their own.

Net Impact’s goal of being a global network of leaders changing the world through business meshes perfectly with Nomi Network’s aim of leveraging the marketplace to end slavery. The conference theme of “Leading To The Next Big Thing” could not have been more appropriate. Keynote speakers for the conference included polar explorer Sir Robert Charles Swann, Philip Armstrong, Head of Global Corporate Governance Forum in Washington D.C., the Reverend Karen Tse, CEO of International Bridges to Justice, Joshua Ramo, the youngest to ever be Managing Director at Kissinger Associates and visionary entrepreneurs, Wendy Luhabe and Hans Reitz.

Back across the pond, Alissa Moore spoke at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Intervarsity Christian Fellowship about the integration of faith and justice to eager young minds. Rather than indulging in Thirsty Thursday’s festivities, on October 14^th, 80 New Jersey Rutgers Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and RU-Pride Gay Community students gathered for a social justice meeting to learn how they can change the world. The evening’s keynote speaker, Alissa Moore, an Inter-Varsity alum and Nomi Network’s Vice President, shared her personal testimony and the inspiration behind Nomi’s mission to end sexual trafficking. Her story, along with Nomi’s story, the 8-year old girl who prompted the creation of the social enterprise, challenged the students to see the hope that can arise from the ashes of desolation.

Alissa’s candid reflection and remorse for Rutgers University’s recent loss of a student, who committed suicide, also encouraged students to live to make a difference for someone in need. After the program ended, students eagerly asked how they could get involved in anti-human trafficking efforts. The night grossed the largest amount in bag sales at any single event, and students also donated over $300 to Nomi Network. We believe that these future leaders will continue to make a difference.

By Stanley Lee and Lisa Kim