Varen Technologies Meets IT Needs

One of Varen's job recruitment tables.

A relative newcomer, having come on the scene in 2005, VAREN TECHNOLOGIES, was formed by its current President and CEO Martin E. Leshin, after he left Booz Allen Hamilton. Located in Columbia, MD, the company provides engineering, "cyber security, specialized technology solutions and management consulting services to" various federal government agencies. The company operates by the mantra, "Our performance is measured by the success of our clients", and it is evident in everything that they do.

Let's take a look at some of the software and IT solutions that Varen is known to provide. Their team is capable of providing these services throughout the entire system development lifecycle. Throughout their service process, they make sure that their solutions fit the organization's mission.



Within the area of business intelligence and performance management, Varen provides large scale performance management and data integration; analysis via online analytical processing and dimensionally aware relational sources; and has expertise in performance dashboards, enterprise planning, balanced scorecards, and event management.

Varen's application developers are skilled in open source and off the shelf products, along with being adept with the most prevalent computer languages. The company has a team of engineers with experience in agile development methods and cloud implementation. With this background, they can provide the capability to develop solutions that meet each client's specific needs.

Software engineering specialties include "*Java, C/C++, C#, Perl; *MS SharePoint Development; "*Web Services, XML, SOAP; *User Interface Design, Human Factor Engineering; *Agile Development; *Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Big Data, Data Mining; *Rapid Prototyping and Proof of Concept".

Varen is capable of deploying systems of all sizes. The company can tie components together to provide the best cost-effective solutions. They are the total package, "from system administration, network engineering security engineering, testing and training", they cover all of the bases. In the area of products, they have partnerships with Oracle/PeopleSoft, Microsoft, and SAP.

Varen's career recruitment team.

Their enterprise management specialties include "*Architecture Roadmaps, *Program Management, *Web Development, *Network Engineering, *Architecture & Sustainment". Varen is also frequently looking for those with the right skills to join them, so do check them out if you have skills in these areas.

#TeamVaren supporting Race For The Cure.

Thanks to information from this write-up on Varen Technology: http://www.varentech.com/software-and-it-solutions/; and the above link.

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An Assist For Those With A Disability In Uganda

A design in wiki sticks allows it to be "seen" by Alfred.

We're off to Uganda, the Amaru District of northern Uganda. After looking around awhile, we realize that the primary type of transportation is by motorbike. But that can limit those who are living with some type of disability.

That was the realization of Breanna Schuyler, a Peace Corps volunteer in the area. She had gotten to know Alfred Okello better (he was a former student) and they were discussing ways in which people with disabilities could become more independent and empowered. Alfred happens to be blind and he explained some of the difficulties with local transportation. In order to make longer trips, a person like Alfred has to walk or hire transportation via motorbike or car at considerable cost.



As Ms. Schuyler got to thinking about it while she was out on her bike, she realized that someone like Alfred has the physical ability to utilize a bike, but needs guidance about where to go safely. After getting together with Daniel Odoch, the head of the Special Needs Department, the twosome came up with a design, which they made with wiki sticks, so the blind students could "see" it. It involves converting a regular bicycle into a tandem bike, and adding a cart, so various items could be transported, too.

Alfred, who was a mechanic before he lost his vision, worked with a mechanic at the bike shop, who happened to be deaf. They were able to build the first prototype, which turned out to be a little wobbly. The second prototype corrected that issue and was sturdier. Word started spreading around, exciting the community, especially those with disabilities. With some support from various organizations, funds were starting to come in to make more of the bikes. The bikes cost $350 to make, but the ability to move around the area, with someone to navigate, is priceless. since both the navigator and the disabled person can provide physical power for the bike.

A regular bike is broken down before its remake.

Although these particular bikes were designed to provide assistance to blind people, Breanna has the hope that a similar idea can spread to others with disabilities. She carried the hope that "other communities will follow our example and build their own, modified specifically to their needs."

Spreading the word about tandem bike transport.

Thanks to information from this article on Adventures as a Science Teacher in Northern Uganda: http://malakwang.blogspot.com/2014/04/tandem-bike-project-part-i-conception.html; and this article from Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/brianna-schuyler-alfred-okello-tandem-bikes/.

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Deeply Rooted Problems For Ex-Inmates In The Workforce

Activists were engaged in various Ban The Box activism actions.

Some savvy members of the American public are aware of the difficulties that ex-inmates can have in obtaining a job after serving their terms in prison. There have been movements in the last few years to remove the box, the one that you check in response to whether you have ever been incarcerated. That box can lead to a huge barrier in being able to find work, and then a reversion to illegal ways of obtaining food, clothing, and shelter, and finally the door revolving back to imprisonment. This doesn't invariably occur for everyone who has served time, but overcoming these barriers does make life after prison quite difficult.



Recently, the UCLA LABOR CENTER, in collaboration with the UCLA INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, and A NEW WAY OF LIFE REENTRY PROJECT, issued a report, Get To Work Or Go To Jail: Workplace Rights Under Threat, that went beyond the discussion of the difficulties faced by former inmates in obtaining work and discussed the role of the parole system in adding to these difficulties. Because of the threats of returning to prison, ex-inmates, those on probation or parole, or even those under various court orders regarding repayment of debts or spousal/child support, can feel forced to remain in bad jobs; take any job offered to them, no matter how exploitive; or unable to challenge exploitive or questionable workplace practices. In essence, it keeps people who have found themselves in these circumstances imprisoned and in lock step in order to stay out of prison.

Among the findings noted in the report include: *About 5 million Americans and 400,000 Californians are on some type of probation or parole. *Many of these laborers have lost access to
standard labor protections, such as minimum wage and workers compensation. *On any one day, about 9,000 individuals are returned to prison for violating the parole or probation requirement to remain employed. *Each year in Los Angeles alone, 50,000 to 100,000 people are required to perform unpaid court-ordered community service. Some of those who are under some kind of court order regarding debt repayment work hundreds of hours of unpaid community service, equaling several months of fulltime work. *African-Americans or Latinos/as comprise approximately 2/3 of those incarcerated for violating conditions of parole or probation related to work or debt. *95% of fathers who were incarcerated for failure to pay child support had been employed. Of these employed men, 85% had earnings at, or below, the poverty level.

Trainees benefit from Southwest Carpenters Trainee Fund.

As can be seen, many of those who return to the work force after prison continue working at low levels of income. Yet the expectations of parole and probation can be so high that many cannot meet them, particularly if those individuals lose those jobs. Thinking back to how many people were adversely affected by the recession, one can see that high numbers of ex-inmates had even more difficult issues. And the ones most affected were members of minority groups and low income workers.

A criminal justice symposium aids in access to information about challenges ex-prisoners face.

Thanks to information from this article by Peter Theony on UCLA Labor Center: http://www.labor.ucla.edu/publication/get-to-work-or-go-to-jail/; and the above links.

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Bilingual Vegetarian Organization in Montreal

AVM's information kiosk at this year's Expo Manger Santé.

Montreal is a city of two languages. Although the official language is French and is spoken by 56.9% of the population, about 16.5% speak English. However, Montreal is, even more, a city of bilingualism, with about 56% of the population able to speak both languages.

The imprint of bilingualism is upon many of its organizations, including the Montreal Vegetarian Association, or Association Végétarienne De Montréal (AVM), whose President is Sameer Muldeen.
When you live in a bilingual city, publications, internet posts, and speech, is frequently conducted in both languages. And for those who are language-challenged, like me, the Google translate service provides access to all of the information.



In order to reach the maximum audience, AVM leaders were aware of the need to translate the literature into the official language of their city. One of their projects was translating a popular outreach booklet, Even If You Like Meat. This, plus other educational materials were shared at the Expo Manger Santé, a largely attended healthy lifestyle gathering, in 2014. AVM has continued to be associated with this event since then.

The group's website provides information about news of interest to the vegan community, including local festivals and exhibitions. Various participatory activities are sponsored by AVM, some charging a fee and others without one. There are vegan recipes, articles about the lifestyle, and more in depth treatment on the topics of the environment and animal ethics. There is even a directory of  vegan and vegetarian restaurants. There are opportunities for those interested in helping with their cause, as volunteers with their projects and working at their informational kiosks. They also accept donations.

A group relaxing at La Panthère Verte.

For those who are following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and also join AVM as a member, there is also a list of businesses in Montreal that provide discounts, such as yoga centers, restaurants and eateries, even catering and clothing stores. As for upcoming events, there is a maple sugar tapping outing that occurs on April 23 at Maison Smith; it's written in French, so I'm not sure about details.

One of the presentations at a conference, called "Food As Medicine"; graphics provided by AVM.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/sameer-muldeen-leafleting-of-vegan-outreach-booklets-at-expo-manger-sante/; and the above links.

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Bringing Life Back To An Older Island Home

A brickworker recreating steps based on period designs.

Ever wonder how some of those older dwellings on an island nation, such as Jamaica, come to be in such pristine condition, shining in brilliant colors? In some cases, it can take a lot of work, especially if that older building has sunk into a state of disrepair. That's where an organization like FALMOUTH HERITAGE RENEWAL (FHR) focuses its efforts. By repairing and reviving older buildings in a state of disrepair, this organization helps to brighten up the community, provides comfortable dwellings for citizens, trains youth in job skills, and preserves area historical heritage, since some buildings are more than two hundred years old.

One of the largest projects that they have undertaken is the restoration of an historic home at 6 King Street. This project was so large that it utilized an entire team of master craftsmen and apprentices to preserve in minute detail the historic features of this house. Before work was able to start, FHR sent experts to evaluate the structure, building techniques, and various architectural features. They were able to place the first phase, under the large hip roof, as dating from the period 1815 to 1835.



As more detailed assessments were made when more areas of the building became exposed, it was determined that structural integrity was already compromised. That meant a painstaking process of dismantling sections of the building entirely, utilizing pieces that were intact and reconstructing pieces that were damaged. By using photographic evidence and written documented plans, plus measuring the building before tear-down, the team was assisted in the process of reconstruction.

As with any effort that goes through a process of dismantling the old structure, pieces had to be labelled meticulously, so that the undamaged pieces could be returned to their places in the reassembled structure. It was found that out of 15 original windows, only three needed complete reconstruction due to damage or missing sashes. From a total of 16 doors, only three needed complete replacement from damage or being missing. Actually most of the doors surprised the team by being in good condition and requiring minimal work.

6 King Street was in a state of disrepair before the start of reconstruction.

Interestingly, the timber used in the damaged areas came from another home from the same period that had to be demolished. So, all of the wood still comes from the same time period, but now represents the legacy of two different homes.

The work is coming to an end; outdoor lighting creates a beautiful atmospheric touch.

Thanks for information from this newsletter published by FHR, on page 3: http://www.falmouthjamaica.org/Home_files/FHR%20Newsletter%20Fall%202015%20-%20US%20-%20Jamaica%20sidebar.pdf; and the above link.

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Just One Act Leads To Much More

Erin Cummings, who started a nonprofit from a simple act of kindness.

Her day job may be as an actress, leading to a successful career, with a role in the Mad Men series, but her role in the series Detroit 1-8-7, brought Erin Cummings into contact with a city that has both high points and low points.

We all know about the Detroit Tigers, the baseball team that is the home team of this complicated city. Ms. Cummings got a personalized view of the mixture that characterizes this city when she met some distant cousins and stayed with them. It was on Halloween that the family was handing out treats, when one of the costumed little girls began crying. She had lost her glove on a cold and windy day. Her cousin Kathi came to the rescue with a new pair of gloves that fit perfectly.


That was when an idea was born. Erin continued, "I was so touched by this simple act and how it acknowledged a basic human need. I couldn't stop thinking about how easy it could be to remedy discomfort, even if in a relatively small way." Although she was involved in local fundraising, she felt that it was capitalizing on her fame, so it felt empty..

But it was a whole different story with forming this nonprofit, MITTENS FOR DETROIT, that became involved in filling a basic need. This organization was built from the ground up, including recruiting volunteers, building a website, and acquiring the necessary supplies. Ms. Cummings said, "Over the first four months, we collected almost 10,000 pairs of new gloves. And it was all done with in-kind donations, not monetary ones."

Beginning in October and running through January, Mittens For Detroit distributes collection boxes to retail stores throughout the area, including about 100 Starbucks locations. The group asks that donations of gloves be brand new in order, as Ms. Cummings said, to provide these items to people who "may not have owned brand new mittens or other articles of clothing, and the newness is a respectful and dignified way in which to give these pairs."

This has been the sixth year that Mittens For Detroit has run it collection drive. In total, more than 165,000 mittens have been collected. While the gloves are being collected, the group holds a Big Sort, in which volunteers sort out the gloves by age group, gender, and distribution site. They are then sent on to schools, homeless shelters, and other nonprofit organizations.

A driver from Greening Of Detroit is all set to deliver some needed gloves.

By the way, for those who are handy at crafting, the website has patterns for mittens and a video for converting that new sweater, which is one too many for you, into mittens, with decorative enhancements. There are also other ways to be involved, even if you don't live in Detroit, including sponsoring an event and purchasing jewelry specially designed for Mittens For Detroit.

A social event planned for making mittens.

Thanks for information from this article on the Point Of Lights blog: http://www.pointsoflight.org/blog/2016/03/31/actress-erin-cummings-warms-hands-and-hearts-mittens-detroit; and the above link.

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Filling In Safety Net Gaps

School supplies gathered at a table for distribution.

Many people might know areas of Louisiana from the mention in news stories about how the area has been affected by nature's disaster. My thoughts especially return to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when this entire nation became aware of how easily an area in the midst of disaster could be abandoned by those in the business of government disaster relief.

In 2008 a piece of a local safety net was built in the form of OUTREACH SERVICES NORTH LOUISIANA, founded by Yolunda McGee, a woman with a big heart and experience with nonprofit family services. This organization fills much of the need that was neglected for days back in 2005, providing assistance to those who have lost their homes through natural disasters or have hit a period of financial hardship. Serving the Shreveport-Bossier City area of Northern Louisiana, this organization focuses on providing assistance to families with low to moderate incomes.



According to Ms. McGee, the goal of Outreach Services is to "provide a service to individuals truly in need and [give] them resources that will make them stronger individuals to become better parents and citizens." The organization has developed partnerships with a local high school, a temporary housing shelter, and a mental health program.

Families in need can contact Virginia Donie, the volunteer coordinator, and they can fill out the application that she provides. The family is contacted after the application has been reviewed for approval. In order to assist families with completing that application, Outreach Services provides yearly Family Workshops.

Some of the programs and services provided by Outreach Services include educational resource tools, through which school supplies are provided; temporary emergency resources, which are particularly useful for families that have just experienced a fire, natural disaster, or sudden financial hardship; an anti-bullying initiative for students in middle grades and high school; summer enrichment activities for children age 4 to age 18; and financial planning initiatives, which provide financial education workshops four times each year along with health care services and workshops. Partnerships with various organizations add to the services that are offered.

Sometimes a caravan of help is needed to help a family with home repairs.

One could say that Outreach Services North Louisiana has filled the need for support services within its service area. Because of this group, the safety net available to people in need has gotten larger and fills in the gaps that were revealed during a disaster more than ten years ago. And that's a good thing!

A moment captured from Basketball Youth Camp.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/yolunda-mcgee-youth-and-family-outreach/; and the above link.

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