A record-breaking 175 people attended the latest entry in FPU’s The Work of Our Hands Summit Series.
“Business as an Agent of Change” took place Thursday, April 30, at Northwest Church, 5415 N. West Ave., Fresno, and was sponsored by the FPU Center for Community Transformation and School of Business.
The event was for business and professional people and students who want to go beyond charity to create a flourishing community. Participants:
- Connected with others who care about business solutions to poverty
- Heard innovative ideas for social entrepreneurship
- Were part of practical workshops that equip people of faith to bring their unique resources to the table
- Learned how local churches and community-based organizations use business to solve social problems
Ivan Gonzalez (pictured) was the keynote speaker and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin presented as well. “The buzz in the room was palpable,” said Randy White, D. Min., CCT executive director. “Ivan Gonzalez is a skilled and gifted speaker. I felt the workshops reached a new level of quality, and the mayor, as always, was very adept at building vision.”
Business coordinator of the Christian Community Development Association, Gonzalez is an experienced social entrepreneur who has spent more than 25 years preparing leaders who make a difference in their communities. He has worked with start-ups and mid-size businesses that have a social impact and focus on multiple bottom lines. He also directs strategic partnerships for the Steward’s Market in Chicago.