Opportunity International Nicaragua was born out of a long, ongoing dialogue between Bob Lupton and David Allman. The pilot project was launched in Nicaragua based on the idea of applying community revitalization practices to microlending clients in developing countries with a goal to accelerate clients out of poverty. Opportunity International in Chicago helped raise money for the project, which was officially launched in 2005. In 2005, with Geralyn Sheehan, we began our Community Economic Development (CED) program in Nicaragua to pilot holistic methods of transforming families and communities in lower-income areas. The CED program provides investments to address sustainable solutions for micro-entrepreneurs by leveraging local assets to help foster healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Through work with smallholder farmers and community initiatives, Opportunity observed a clear need for quality secondary education in Nicaragua’s rural communities—only about 40% of students in rural areas will complete primary school, and only 10% will graduate from secondary school. To address this deficiency, Opportunity opened the Emprendedora High School in 2011. The school offers technical degrees in agriculture and tourism and a learn-by-doing methodology to provide students with hands-on experience for their future careers.