Quotable: 20 years ago, fighting poverty felt futile. Not so today.

"Twenty years ago we spoke about the poor with a sense of futility, and I think now when you talk about the base of the pyramid, more often than not you're talking about markets and opportunities."

- Michael Schlein, chief executive of Accion, a non-profit organization that invests in microfinance institutions and companies advancing financial inclusion. Via The Chicago Tribue.