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For the last four years Center member CA, Inc. has sponsored CA Together in Action (CTA), a month-long program to support non-profit organizations around the world. Launched in 2006 as a two-week event, the program expanded to a month to allow as many employees as possible to participate. 
2009 Conference promises inspirational speakers
As the old saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention. In these difficult economic times many conventional corporate citizenship strategies and programs have quickly became obsolete. And so, strong and competitive companies are now motivated to find new opportunities in adversity. To address this reality, the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is designing its annual conference around the theme of finding opportunity in difficult economic conditions.
The conference, to be held March 29-31 in San Francisco, is expected to attract some 400 executives responsible for directing corporate citizenship activities in global companies. While opportunity and innovation will be featured themes of the conference, we’re also committed to helping participants gain new skills and knowledge.
This conference is an absolute must-attend for anyone in a company with responsibilities related to corporate citizenship. The breakout sessions are being designed to address this unique period and speakers will be offering tools and solutions to some of the most vexing problems – from keeping employees energized to rebuilding trust with customers and the public.
For those looking for inspirational speakers to spark their own creativity, innovation expert Dev Patnaik and social and environmental entrepreneur Van Jones will fit the bill.
Keynote speaker Dev Patnaik, called an “innovation guru” by Fast Company magazine, will provide the bold and creative insights he offers companies such as HP, Nike and Target when called on to help develop new products and processes. Founder of Jump Associates, Patnaik is the author of the soon-to-be released book “Wired to Care”. With his engaging style, Patnaik will explain why he believes empathy is a key competitive differentiator for companies. Describing the book, Malcolm Gladwell said, ” ‘Wired to Care’ will convince you that businesses succeed with their hearts as much as their heads. Dev Patnaik has given us just what we need for the lean years ahead.”
You’ll hear lots of good advice and creative ideas from Patnaik. Some advice he once offered Business Week readers: “calling a new team the ‘innovation department’ is a good way to get everyone else in your company to hate you”; “successful innovation leaders often have a partner in crime to help get the job done.” Expect Patnaik to provide valuable advice you’ll be sure to bring back to colleagues – or at least wow your boss with your new insights and ways of meeting today’s challenges head-on.
Finding economic opportunity has been the hallmark of the career of Van Jones, one of the most inspirational environmental champions and social entrepreneurs in the United States. The results-driven visionary is the founder of the Oakland-based organization, Green for All, which promotes green-collar jobs and opportunities for the disadvantaged. Named as a Time magazine 2008 Environmental Hero, Jones played a key role in the historic 2007 federal legislation that authorized $125 million in funding to train 35,000 people a year in green-collar jobs. “Van Jones is one of the most innovative and strategic thinkers of our time,” said Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives.
Jones is also the author of the recently released book “The Green Collar Economy”. In describing the book, which became an instant best-seller, google.org director Larry Brilliant said, “watch out, this book could change everything.”
There’s no question Jones is a visionary for our times but his real gift is to translate what seem like lofty goals into practical solutions that are creating jobs and economic opportunity for lots of people.
For more information about the conference or to register go to www.corporatecitizenshipconference.com.
