A brief history of the region is that in the 1980’s mountain people fleeing political violence and economic devastation in the high Andes descended on the fringe of Lima. Shantytowns or free settlements like Huaycan were formed as poor people organized to scrape out a living. Today, over 180,000 inhabitants live in this barren, rocky suburb. Generally, a house isn’t more than bricks stacked neatly together and covered with a corrugated tin sheet roof.  The further up the hill one lives, the worst the houses and the overall conditions are.  However organized these third world shanty-cites are, they are also melting pots were culture, politics and violence mix in haphazard ways. Their size overwhelms local and national governments; and that is where groups like Sr Rosa and HOPe come in.

Although we were in the middle of sprawling slum, Sr Rosa’s three story red brick house had hot water, a refrigerator, and a computer with an Internet connection, mostly funded by HOPe. Sr Rosa lives here with a nun who is a psychologist and two postulates who teach classes.  PRONOEI Santa Clara de Asís’ main focus is to support local children through education and nutrition and serves over 100 families daily.  Because the need is so immense, Sr Rosa only helps the poorest of the poor, like the children who have no father at home or perhaps an abused mother. Many of children suffer from TB, malnutrition and other health aliments associated with extreme poverty. Five days a week starting at 8am the Pronoei offers early learning classes for children 2-5yrs. Many of the preschoolers wear checkered uniforms provided by Sr Rosa and eagerly come to school in pristine condition full of pride. A typical morning starts with the children in a semi-circle doing mediation while soft Enya like music plays in the background. The children chant affirmations like, “I am intelligent,” “I am loved” and “I am love.” They do art therapy and draw personal pictures of their family and home. Images of contentment, safety or chaos quickly emerge from the drawings. The resident therapist will later interpret the artwork and discuss it with the children and parents, if need be. In the afternoon, older children use the center as a safe place for homework help, and mothers arrive in the evening for workshops on health and to learn about the importance of education.

Besides HOPe’s donations, the 49yr old sister works two jobs to keep the doors opens. Coming from an upper middle class family in Lima, Sr Rosa speaks five languages (English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish) and provides languages translation services. Occasionally, she gets requests to coordinate conferences.  Her congregation, Mothers of the Holy Cross which originated in Tanzania offers moral support and some financial assistance as well.

Throughout the developing world, urbanization has created shantytowns that circle major cities for miles on end. Extreme poverty is the norm and opportunities are ripe to corrupt young minds. Thankfully, Sr Rosa has no desire to slow down and is looking to expand. While there, we toured a rocky plot nearby where she plans to build another house. This one will have a community kitchen where malnourished children will get healthy food daily and where mothers will come and learn cooking and a trade. The plot is owned by the community and the locals have agreed to hand the deed over to Sr Rosa’s Franciscan order.

The streets may have no names but Sr Rosa and her teachers know all the children’s names and the names of their parents up and down the hills of Huaycan. Together they are working hard to better their situations and pull themselves out of poverty – and HOPe is honored to be involved.

HOPe – Helping Other People was founded by members of the Kerry Association in Yonkers over ten years ago. HOPe is a non-denominational humanitarian agency that helps the poor transcend poverty. HOPe is always looking for volunteers and for more information visit www.hope-charity.org.

This article was previously in the Huffington Post and the Irish Echo.

The movement is called Coder Dojo. The non-profit organization centers around a series of free computer programming classes for children aged 7 to 17. The kids are taught how write code in several languages by volunteers (‘dojos’) who range from the CEOs of successful tech companies to university students. In an informal learning environment, kids learn how to write web scripts, create mobile apps, even video games in JavaScript, PHP or HTML. Some DoJo’s organize tours of technology companies for the kids, and bring in guest speakers to talk about careers. Besides learning how to collaborate and write code, James knows the kids are learning much needed math skills as well.

Whelton started the prototype for Coder DoJo when he was in sixth class and taught himself how to program. Frustrated by the lack of entry level IT classes, he later setup a computer club in his school (PBC Cork) and started teaching his friends basic HTML and CSS. Things escalated when he met Bill Liao, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who was interested in addressing the need for computer technology education in Ireland. Bill saw the potential and wanted to grow the project into something bigger. In June 2011, the first CoderDojo was launched and today there are over 100 clubs spread across Italy, Sweden, South Africa, Japan and many other countries. In the US alone, there are more than 25 local CoderDojos, with the most recent one set up in Silicon Valley, California.

CoderDojo has developed its own company motto to describe its mission and culture – Above All: Be Cool. Kids even wear this motto on tee-shirts. Putting “Be Cool” in the vernacular emphasizes that bullying, lying, wasting people’s time is uncool. You need to “be cool” and apply yourself in a nice way to fit in here.

Coder Dojo is already having an impact on children’s lives. One in particular is 13-year-old Harry Moran, whose Pizzabot game topped the Apple download charts when it first launched, beating gaming phenomenon Angry Birds. Harry learned how to write code at CoderDoJo computer club at the Glasheen Primary School in Cork.

Adults are also benefiting from the initiative. CoderDojo offers a way for experienced developers to “give back” to the community and share expertise. Rebecca Garcia, a co-founder of CoderDoJoNYC echoes this sentiment- “I don’t teach kids for the money, I teach them for the chance to ignite that spark. To show them that you can build whatever you set your heart to.”

Recently, James became the youngest-ever recipient of the prestigious Ashoka Fellowship, joining social entrepreneurs that include Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia and Nobel Prize-winner Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank. With the recognition comes a cash prize of 100k that according to James will be put towards building infrastructure. “Now that we are launching all over the world, we need to have the right legal and organizational structure in place. We need to protect and expand our model and protect the children. This all comes with scaling an idea into a global entity,” he explained at the Irish Consulate of New York hosted event.

Co-founder, Bill Liao at the recent Dublin Web Submit summarized it nicely, “Ireland is a nation of storytellers and poets and code is another language for self-expression. While it could be the initiative that produces the next generation of software developers– the CoderDojo kids are clearly turning this coding revolution born in Ireland into an international phenomenon.

For the latest news on CoderDoJo go to http://www.coderdojo.comhttp://www.coderdojo.com and for more information on the Irish International Business Network, go to http://www.iibn.comwww.IIBN.com.

This article first appeard in the Huffington Post.

Follow Maura Kelly on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MauraKellyMedia

NEW YORK: Having attended numerous Clinton Global Initiatives (CGI), I continue to marvel at the array of brainiac world leaders and popular celebrity’s the annual meeting still attracts. Now in its eight year of operations,  President Clinton recently hosted President Barack Obama, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, and Governor Mitt Romney, alongside Green Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am, Matt Doman and Oscar de la Renta (to name a few).

Described by Time magazine as the “apotheosis of philanthrocapitalism” CGI is an ultimate power gathering of the minds. For three days, progressive CEOs, heads of states, and NGOs mingle and tackle severe global problems. This year’s theme, “Designing for Impact,” focused on the capacity of global citizens to create an environment where their lives and the systems they use can serve as an effective vehicle for change. Through this theme, participants explored how innovation and creativity can transform into platforms for global action.

CGI was and is created to promote collaboration and members are encouraged to create “Commitments to Action.” These commitments are action plans that are specific, and measurable. Over the three days, Clinton happily announced over 150 new commitments valued at more than 2 billion dollars. From improving the monitoring and warning of severe weather in Haiti to sending medical personnel to Rwanda for health programs to addressing the problem of under-nutrition in Guatemala, the new projects aim to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.

 “I am convinced that cooperation, not conflict, will define this century,” said President Clinton. “From the capitols of the world to the most remote villages, people everywhere understand that there are universal challenges which face us all and are beyond the power of any individual to solve alone.  

On day three, President Obama used his speech to speak out passionately against modern day slavery. “Our fight against human trafficking is one of the great human rights causes of our time” The President acknowledged that human trafficking is a major problem in the United States, particularly in the immigrant communities. “I’ve made it clear that the United States will be a leader in this global movement against trafficking,” Obama said. “Nations must speak with one voice – that our people and our children are not for sale.” President Clinton echoed this message and urged participants to support the NGO’s who shoulder the heavy burden of helping the millions of victims.

Later that day in a series of one on one interviews, TV show host Piers Morgan joked with Bill Clinton that the people of Britain would love to have him as their Prime Minister.  In response, Clinton said: ‘There are only two countries I’m eligible to run for the leadership position. If I move to Ireland and buy a house I could run for president of Ireland because of my Irish heritage. And because I was born in Arkansas, which is part of the Louisiana purchase any person anywhere in the world that was born in a place that ever was part of the French empire, if you live in France for six months and speak French, you can run for president.”

Perhaps, in this revealing talk, Bill is starting to think about life after CGI. If this was ever the case, I think the Irish people who have a strong affinity to Bill Clinton would support his nomination whole heartily. However, according to the Irish Constitution, he must first get his Irish citizenship papers in order. 

Eight years in the making, CGI continues to grow in strength. “I think more and more people are drawn to the idea of coming together to take action. Companies increasingly understand that social responsibility is part and parcel of what makes a market leader in the 21st century, and that makes our Annual Meeting a must attend forum for top CEOs,” remarked Clinton.

About the Clinton Global Initiative: Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which have already improved the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

On a recent, balmy Wednesday evening, Alan T. Ennis, President and CEO of Revlon, Inc. joined members of the Irish Business Organization (IBO) to talk about his role at the global cosmetics giant and to share some strategies for professional achievement.

According to the Dublin-born Ennis, business success is a combination of two factors: ability and opportunity. Based on his fast-track career path, it’s clear that Ennis has the experience, management style, and ability and takes full advantage of opportunities that are presented. One major opportunity that he seized was in May 2009 when Ron Pearlman offered him the job of president and CEO at Revlon, Inc. Today, the 42-year-old energetically oversees the $1.4 billion, NYSE-listed company with a presence in over 100 countries and key markets in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK.

In his address to the IBO members and guests, Ennis reviewed his formula for success. As a leader, he noted that you must be strong in your convictions and honest in your dealings, be prepared to seize opportunity when it comes and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Ennis learned early on that a true CEO never works in isolation and recruiting talent and building a strong team is paramount. “Build, nurture and trust your team, your people are a key to your success,” he said. He knows that in today’s volatile marketplace, the financial literacy and business acumen of his managers is fundamental to the bottom-line and he focuses on results, looks for clear accountability while promoting open communications.

Ennis is also actively involved in the business, even personally sampling some of the many products. He has gone as far as to test lipsticks and mascara to measure the texture of the products and ensure they are as described. Now that is commitment.

Currently, with over 4,800 employees worldwide, Ennis is working hard to return Revlon to its leadership position in the beauty business by focusing on growing the business and the brands, developing the company’s organizational capability and driving Revlon to act globally. It’s good to know that Revlon has a small presence in Dublin comprised of several seasoned sales executives.

Underscoring the “ability and opportunity” scenario, prior to his CEO role, Ennis was a numbers wiz at Revlon and held various positions in finance and auditing. Since 2006, he has been Chief Financial Officer, executive vice president and president of Revlon International, that latter he credits with broadened his knowledge of the global cosmetics landscape and the importance of efficiency standards.

Earlier in his career, Ennis held several senior positions with Ingersoll-Rand Company. He began his business odyssey in 1991 with Arthur Andersen in Dublin and is a chartered accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin, and a Master of Business Administration degree from NYU Stern.

Regarding his Irish roots, Alan Ennis’s father, Michael, comes from Tipperary and his mother, Maggie, is from Cork. Ennis believes that “being Irish is about perseverance, resilience, and gratitude.” He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife, Michelle, and three young children.

Talking about global companies, a global professional organization active in the tri-state area is the Irish International Business Network or IIBN. This unique organization is made up of successful Irish entrepreneurs and business professionals throughout the world. Launched in 2007, today IIBN has chapters in London, Dublin and New York.

This year, IIBN is planning a tri-chapter “Fashion Couture Event” with a fashion event in Dublin, New York and London. The New York event is in association with the Irish Consulate and for details go to http://www.iibn.com. For more information on future Irish Business Organization events and speakers, go to http://www.ibo-ny.com.

And don’t forget to connect with me on Twitter @maurakellymedia.

On the other hand, the majority of people feel they need to make their own mistakes in order to learn from them. However, there is plenty of data that shows the fastest road to success is to seek advice from individuals who have already spent years learning and have the wisdom we need.

I’m a big fan of mentoring and have at different times been on both the giving and receiving end of the relationship. These days, I often meet new graduates and entrepreneurs who are struggling to find sound advice. That is why I am a supporter and a mentor in the newly launched Irish International Business Network (IIBN) and IN-NYC’s Executive Mentoring Program 2012. Created in partnership with the Consulate General of Ireland, the initiative is designed to provide valuable professional development to mid-level Irish and Irish American executives based in New York City. The goal of the program is to recruit successful executives who will coach and develop the next generation of Irish and Irish American leaders across all industries. The six month program will match fifteen mentees with industry specific mentors who will work together from June-December 2012.

There are many benefits to seeking a mentor relationship. Brian Tracy, in his new book, Earn What You’re Really Worth, highlights how mentoring, as well as other personal development activities, can quickly increase anyone’s value in business. Here are some key points on how to find and utilize the right mentor.

First and most basic is you need to identify the areas of knowledge and expertise you will need to acquire to achieve your goals. Next, set clear objectives for your personal and business growth; and then look around and select the most successful people in the areas in which you need the most help.

Work, study, and practice continually to solidify the guidance. The very best mentors are the most interested in helping someone who is willing to learn and grow quickly. Remember the difference between a mentor, a friend, and a coach. Expect a mentor to tell you what you need to hear, not like a friend who may tell you what you want to hear. On a regular basis, send an email to communicate progress and current tasks. There is nothing that makes a potential mentor more open to helping you than your making it clear that you are following through, and the help is doing you some good. Keep the relationship positive and productive. Like any other relationship, it takes work on both sides to make mentoring work. Finally, remember that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Sometimes you will be the student and other times you may be the teacher — just be ready.

For more information on IIBN go to http://www.iibn.com. Connect with Maura on Twitter @MauraKellyMedia.

This article previously appeared in the Huffington Post.

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This June, the world renowned Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France  partnered with the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland to pay special tribute to the Irish animation sector. Referring to Ireland as “a creative hotspot” for animation, the organizers of Annecy said they decided to spotlight the country because of its distinctive cultural identity, its highly original productions, great artistic successes and its special relationship with other major European countries in animation.”

Of the Irish focus at Annecy, Birch Hamilton of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland said, “We’ve had huge recognition from the U.S. in previous years and now to be focused on at Annecy, in front of 7,000 people from across the animated world, is fantastic. There is huge talent in animation in Ireland and that is what has really made us standout.”

The festival took place over June 4 to 9, 2012 and put the spotlight on 48 Irish projects screened under the banner Forty Frames of Green. The works screened included, Tom Moore’s Oscar-nominated film The Secret of Kells, Kavaleer Productions short The Depository, along-side episodes of the loveable Skunk Fu! co-produced by Ireland’s Telegael and Cartoon Saloon.

Animation in Ireland is a multimillion-dollar industry, with thousands of people employed in the sector and there is plenty of room for growth. Dublin-based Brown Bag Films is currently in production with Disney Junior U.S. on a new pre-school series called The Happy Hugglemonsters, based on the book series by Niamh Sharkey. Boulder Media has produced for Cartoon Network (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends), and Nickelodeon (El Tigre). On any given day, some young child you know in the U.S. is probably tuning in to Irish animated programming. It could be on Disney, PBS, or Nickelodeon to watch classics like NODDY, Olivia, or The Amazing World of Gumball (to name a few). 

Irish tax incentives are a major factor to the sector’s success, such as Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The scheme offers generous tax relief to producers investing in Irish-made films and television.Another factor making a big impact on the animation industry is emerging technologies. Today, animators can use digital tools to create both 2D and 3D animation. The new tools allow designer to create richly textured images similar to labor intensive hand-drawn animation in much less time. Animators can create quirky characters using programs like Flash, composite in After Effects and use Photoshop and Illustrator for colorful backgrounds. Overall, new technology allows producers to create shows faster and at a lower cost than in previous decades. In addition, social media platforms like YouTube and WorldIrish.com allows Irish animators to promote their work to a wider audience potentially gaining global visibility and a work contract. Ongoing support from the Irish Film Board and Enterprise Ireland continue to propel the industry to new heights.

Founded in 1960, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival is the world’s largest event entirely focused on animation. The International Animation Film Market (Mifa) is held side by side with the Festival. The festival’s International Animation Film Market was held June 6-8, 2012.

This article appeared earlier in the Huffington Post

Follow Maura on Twitter http://twitter.com/@maurakellymedia @maurakellymedia

In late April, several UN agencies and top information communications companies will gather in New York to debate ways on how to close the technology gender gap. One of the main questions on the floor will be – “If opportunities abound, and demand and salaries are high – what is holding young women back from working in technology?”

According to the agency at the United Nations responsible for information and communication technologies (the International Telecommunication Union),  the percentage of young women earning computer science degrees in the 1980’s was more than twice what it is today. Today, girls are excelling at sciences, but when it comes to career choice, they’re opting for fields like medicine and bio-tech, rather than computing and technology.

To put a spotlight on the issue worldwide, the UN agency is organized a high-level global “Girls in Tech Day” conference.  Some of the worlds’ leading women in technology from Microsoft and Google will explore ways to encourage young women to play a greater role in the technology revolution.  Outstanding women and girls who have been empowered by technology and have compelling stories to tell will share the stage.

One special guest is Joanne O’Riordan, a 15 year old from Millstreet, Cork who will talk about how technology has helped her advance her life through education and social interaction with others. Paul Connelly, a media adviser for the UN based in Geneva, saw Joanne on an RTE talk show in Ireland last year and thought she would be an inspirational speaker for the tech talk. Joanne appeared on the RTE chat show to discuss how she persuaded the Irish Government to rethink cuts to disability payments.  You see, Joanne was born with total Amelia syndrome and is one of only seven known people in the world born without arms or legs due to the rare genetic condition. On the show, she explained how she met politician Enda Kenny during his election campaign and he personally guaranteed her that there would be no cuts to disability benefit.  Now Irish Prime Minister, Mr. Kenny has so far kept his word. That night she charmed host Ryan Tuberity and a national audience.  I happened to see the show online on http://www.RTE.ie  in New York and was also impressed with her energy and her spirit.

This week she is about to fulfill a dream and travel to New York, where she’ll talk at the global Girls in Technology conference about the benefits technology has for everyone — not just those who have disabilities. Joanne is the first person with a disability to be invited to this conference and will travel to New York with her family.   

Joanne’s inspirational story will reach an even wider audience with the release of an upcoming documentary currently in pre-production. Developed by her director brother, Steven and producer, Adrian Devane with Irish Film Board (IFB) funding, the film will tell Joanne’s extraordinary life story. A local film crew will document her journey for three days and capture not only the conference but the trio celebrating Joanne very sweet 16^th birthday in the Big Apple. The working title is “No Limbs, No Limits” and the producers hope it will have a positive effect on how people perceive those with disabilities while encouraging girls to get more tech savvy. 

If the information sector and global tech companies are looking to attract more women and girls then perhaps Joanne’s story will inspire girls to take another look at the ways technology can empower them socially, educationally and certainly financially.

Joanne’s recent appearance on Ireland’s Late Late Show can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/vmx5Sd . For more information on the Girl in Tech campaign, go to http://girlsinict.org/what-girls-ict-day.

by Maura Kelly — This article appeared earlier in the Huffington Post.

Follow @maurakellymedia

Bábógbaby or BB, the world’s first Irish-speaking teddy bear has been busy on the red carpet.  A recent winner of the Galway Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurship Award and a Gold Award in the Electronic Toy – Preschool Awards in London, BB is also the star of a new children’s toy company in Galway.  The teddy is the brainchild of Adrian Devane who set up the company in 2010 to provide tools and toys for toddlers, children and parents to learn those first cúpla focal (couple of Irish words).

The birth of BábógBaby reinforces the old adage “necessity is the mother of invention and highlights the innovation that is happened in Ireland.” I recently talked with CEO Adrian Devane to hear how he set up his company in a challenging economic climate.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

I saw a gap in the market. After having my first child, my wife Karen and I noticed there were lots of toys available but none that spoke or taught Irish. I investigated what was out there, took apart a few teddies and discovered how it all works.

Was it hard to break into the educational toy business?

No, I knew I have a unique idea and BB was going to be the first Irish speaking teddy made. There were books, and TV shows but no toys. So I researched it and built a toy that teaches 33 words of Irish; basically numbers, colors and shapes. AIB gave us a start-up loan of €100,000, and that enabled the company to make initial orders. We’re now in 100 stores in Ireland and in 14 US states.

You just got back from Hong Kong. What does HK have to do with Irish bears?

I was attending the Toy and Games Fair and the Licensing Show.  I went there to source a new supplier for our bears.  We make our teddy bears in China where 92% of the world’s toys are made. I also wanted to source merchandise to coincide with the release of our animation series on TG4.

TG4 has just commissioned a 10-part TV series based on the teddy. How did the series come about?

I always intended to build a brand that was an animation series and a toy.  Often the TV series happens first then the merchandise but we created the teddy first.  Together with Igloo Films and producer Brian Willis, we developed and submitted a TV proposal to TG4 and BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland). We got funding to make 10 episodes of 5 minutes. The pre-school series is called BB agus Bella and features BB and a little girl, Bella. In each episode BB takes Bella to Beartown to deal with a problem of the day.

How many people will the TV show employ?

35 people from animators and storyboard artists to writers will work on the production. Kealan O’ Rourke of “The Boy in the Bubble” fame, narrated by Alan Rickman will direct for us.

I understand a BB app has been developed. What features does it have?

The Bábógbaby app is available for the iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android platforms. It does what the teddy does and teaches 33 words of Irish. Like the teddy bear it is voiced by my daughter Robyn (aged 5).

What are your plans for 2012?

The animation series on TG4 is a high priority. We plan to roll out BB in more states in the US, and launch BB in other languages such as, English, Welsh and Scots Gaelic.  

What is your favorite part of the business?

 It’s an exciting time to be building a business and I love working on the animation series. I’ve worked on feature films and TV for over 14 years so that is my background. I work near where I live so I am close to my family.  The fact that my wife Karen and kids are involved makes it extra special.

Researchers say early immersion in a language has a direct result in language acquisition later on.  Locally, Peter Ryan, Irish Deputy Consul General NY will soon find out. “We have one of the Bábógbaby products and it is brilliant! My one year old loves BB and so does my 8 yr. old.” says Ryan. “The company is an Irish success story and a great example of innovation meeting opportunity”

For those who want to say hello to BB, you can get acquainted with the bear on the website. www.babogbaby.com.

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This article first appeared in the Irish Echo, Januray 2012.

By Maura Kelly  (This article first appeared in the Irish Echo)

Mayor Bloomberg has stated many times that small businesses are the chief engine of growth in New York City. However convincing entrepreneurs that his Department of Small Business Services isn’t another “bullying” bureaucracy is still a challenge. A challenge that its Commissioner, Robert Walsh has tackled for the past nine years.  In his role, Walsh visits neighborhoods in the five boroughs, and hears frustrated tales of red tape and delays; and knows that when someone is thinking of opening a small business the last place they think of is the government.  As Small Business Services Commissioner, it’s his job to show them that this is a major mistake. 

I met up with Commissioner Walsh recently at an Irish Business Organization (IBO) event when he presented his agency’s new initiatives to members.  Walsh has a special relationship with the IBO due in part to President, Niall O’Leary who taught Walsh’s daughter the finer points of Irish dancing at the Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance.    

“From Sunnyside to Chelsea, Red Hook to the South Bronx —entrepreneurs are an integral part of the city’s recovery,” said Walsh. “The city’s 200,000 small businesses are a fundamental sector of New York’s economy and my mission is to help more start-up and grow.”  Still after years in operation, many aspiring business owners in the room were hearing about his Agency for the first time. 

Working with a $128 million budget for 2012 and a staff of 250, Walsh has created business counseling offices in every borough.  Called Business Solutions Centers, they are at the forefront of the Agency’s effort to provide direct assistance to business owners.  According to Walsh, the agency will work with you to if you have a new business idea or if you have been in business for years. They will help you develop a business plan, secure financing, and access City benefits and much more. Overall, they try to cut the red tape for you by being your liaison when you need to resolve issues with other City agencies.  Walsh agrees that launching a business in this uncertain economy is not for the faint hearted, and yet many NYC entrepreneurs are taking the plunge. 

A key service that was of interest to IBO members was the array of business courses offered called the FactTrac programs. Through a partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and SUNY’s Levin Institute, over 1,000 aspiring and existing New York entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the hands-on intensive business courses.  The courses are taught primarily in English, with some available in Spanish and a few in Mandarin and Russian.

Another new service that surprised many was assistance with loans procurement. Walsh explained the city works with nonprofit entities such as the Kaufman Foundation and for-profit entities such as Citibank, to fund some of its Business Solutions programs. “The problem for many people is access to capital, so Business Solutions has been created as “a proactive, not a reactive program”, he said. Walsh said these entities have been helpful steering loan applicants it has turned down to other loan sources that might accommodate them. In addition, he said that 20 law firms have done pro bono work for SBS.

 In addition, this year the city is aiming to help 40,000 New Yorkers find work through its expanded network of job centers.  A number of IBO members have had success with the SBS Agency and can vouch that the courses and business plan preparation has helped them progress business matters.

Walsh realizes his agency might have a PR problem but overall, he wants Irish business owners to succeed and know that the city government is there to propel their entrepreneurial ambitions. He invites the public to review the website nyc.gov/sbs and call his office.  Many US cities have similar agencies and services but you really have to do seek them out.

Robert Walsh is proud of his Irish roots and grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the fifth of seven children. He has a master’s in public administration from Fordham University and a track record in business development.  He was a keynote speaker at the Irish Echo Small Business Awards earlier this year.

So said Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, in response to events in the Middle East. She would know. She was an eyewitness to the Arab Spring when activists and citizens used social media to organize and release breaking news. The debate about the role technology played in the uprising is ongoing but many say things would not have happened the way they did without digital technologies. And it is only just the beginning.

Web 2.0 technologies, wikis, global online portals have developed significantly in recent years and many countries are eager to connect to their “digital diaspora” for economic development. There is the Overseas Singaporean Portal, Global INK (India), and the Overseas Chinese Network is Hugh. There are several online Irish themed sites too, like Rendezvous353, and Online.ie, and U.S. ancestry sites – all ready to engage.

The new player in the ”global portal” sector is WorldIrish.com. Two years in the making, a beta version of the site was launched at the recent second Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin Castle. It is the brainchild of John McColgan, co-founder of Riverdance, who is also the chairman.

According to the website, the goal is to harness the power of existing social networks (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) and connect users to the Irish experience, across culture, arts, and sports. The developers see WorldIrish as a movement, a forum for sharing ideas and experiences that can help the Irish realize their individual and collective potential.

“The timing of a project like this is opportune as Dublin is now the leading capital for social media with the presence of giants such as Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and most recently Twitter. Anyone with an affinity with Ireland and Irishness can join,” said John McColgan.

Denis O’Brien and Dermot Desmond are among those investing in the website and they are hoping to raise €7 million over three years. To date they have raised €3 million and have spent a million on development.

The launch created buzz in the Irish community with blogs, and tweets flowing – many reserving judgment until more apps were up, with others looking for more clarification on the mission of the site.

Andreavelbyrne wrote: “It’s an important moment for all Irish people this kind of initiative, because it’s a time to recover our Irish integrity, mainly after the financial and social crisis.”

B. Healy blogged: “Did WorldIrish miss a trick? Worldirish.com is a directory. You need to know who you are looking for.”

Tom, co-founder of RendezVous353.com wrote: “We launched a similar site in 2009 prior to Farmleigh.

John wrote: “While it is obviously a Beta that story in the Independent about it making 20 Million Euro profit per year within five years does skew the whole do-gooder view of things.”

John McColgan said he expects a profit of 20 million per year in the coming years. Obviously, he is trying to attract more investors, but he might want to take a note from Steve Jobs’ book and focus on building a great product first versus focusing on profits right away.

Meanwhile, thousands of folks are signing up and setting up profiles. I did too. WorldIrish does feature a neat daily roundup of the top tweets, images, and videos from around the Irish world on the site. And on WI’s Facebook page, friends are busy posting videos and getting acquainted.

WorldIrish may not be the first in the Irish portal space but perhaps it’s at the right place at the right time. Just look at the social networking phenomenon. Before Facebook, before MySpace, there was Friendster in 2002. With its innovative “friending” approach, many said it was the first of its kind. Where is Friendster now? MySpace? Facebook dominates. Perhaps WorldIrish will too. We’ll have to wait and see.

The new CEO Michael Branagan summed it up: “We are delighted to get feedback. I can tell you the team worked hard to get the project where it is now. We have a lot of apps and features in development. The feedback is invaluable; keep it coming and keep us on our toes for delivery.”