First Yunus Social Business Centre in USA
Yunus Centre Press release(9 April 2015):
The first Yunus Social Business Centre at a US institution of higher education was launched at Becker College at Worcester, Massachusetts on 5 April.
Dr Robert Johnson, the President of the 230 year old college made the announcement at the historical Mechanics Hall in Worcester MA in the presence of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, who delivered the college's Presidential Speech on the occasion.
The Centre will work on creating sustainable solutions to problems facing society today, focusing on many areas including healthcare for which Massachusetts is a hub of global excellence.
In his speech, which was attended by a packed auduence of 1500, Professor Yunus challenged the young people to think differently, to use their creativity to create the world they want to live in, and not do what is assigned to them by society which is to fulfill a narrow role of seeking a job. He congratulated Becker College for the establishment of the Centre which would work to create transformational change in the US but also beyond.
Professor Yunus speech which was attended by leading business people, representatives from banking and finance, members of academic community, was met with standing ovations . Long time Congressman from Massachusetts Jim McGovern attended the speech and had a meeting with Professor Yunus after the speech.
Dr Johnson conferred the highest honor of the college, the Presidential Medal, on Professor at the event.
Professor Muhammad Yunus also attended special meetings during April 5 and 6 with members of business community, policymakers and healthcare leaders in Boston to discuss possible collaboration on social business in healthcare for Bangladesh and the rest of the developing world. He delivered speeches at each of these events which were held in Boston at UMass Memorial Medical Center, at Bank of America, at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and at an event organized by Bain Capital, an investment fund and New Profit a non profit philanthropy fund.
During his visit Professor Yunus had a lunch meeting with the senior students of Becker College and carried out field visits to Summit ElderCare, a healthcare centre taking care of frail elders in Worcester , and to East Boston Neighbourhood Health Center which provides primary healthcare to the community in East Boston without regard to background of individuals being served.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dr. Robert E. Johnson, David Jordan, the new director of Yunus Social Business Center at Becker College were present in all meetings. US Representative Michael Capuano, and State Representative Jeffrey Sanchez attended the discussion on healthcare access to all held at MCPHS, Boston where Prof Yunus delivered the keynote address.
On the final day of his visit , Professor Yunus met with renowned medical oncologist Paul Goss founder of Global Cancer Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to discuss collaboration in field of cancer care in Bangladesh
He later visited the Boston branch of Grameen America Inc (GAI) with GAI President Andrea Jung, which is providing collateral free loans to members if the Latino community, all women, in Boston to invest in their small businesses. The branch has reached the milestone of USD 1 million in loans outstanding in March 2016. Professor Yunus interacted with the borrowers who originally came from Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic among others, as well as the staff of the branch. GAI now operates 18 branches in 11 US cities, with number of borrowers exceeding 65,000. They are all very low income women.
Photo Caption 1: With Massachusetts State Reoresentative Sanchez. MCPHS President. Congressman Michael Capuano and Becker College President Robert Johnson at ' Call to Action Healthcare Access for All' event where Professor Yunus delivered keynote address at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Photo Caption 2: President of Becker College Dr Robert Johnson presents Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with the colleges's highest honor, the Presidential Medal, at Mechanics Hall, Worcester MA on 5 April
Photo Caption 3: Professor Muhammad Yunus visited the Boston branch of Grameen America Inc. where he interacted with the women microcredit borrowers and staff of the branch on 7 April 2016.
Source: Yunus Centre
Updated Date: 11th January, 2017