Investing In The Community

The principles on which the coop is based. 

Sometimes investment organizations can do more than just make money for its members or clients. Sometimes they can act to revitalize a community by pooling the money of a group of people who buy shares that can then be used to purchase properties that can then be used to benefit everyone. Of course, somewhere in there, the investors earn money, but even more, the community stops using property for unneeded goods and puts that property to much better use.

Towards the end of 2011, this group of like-minded individuals officially became incorporated as the NORTHEAST INVESTMENT COOPERATIVE (NEIC). The following year, the organization, already comprised of 90 investors, purchased two Minneapolis properties, one under their name and one under the name of Recovery Bike Shop. In 2013, demolition work began on the NEIC property, and the number of investors climbed to 175, as others learned about the plans for the properties.



Construction was completed in 2014 and three businesses opened on the new site, providing 25 jobs that weren't present previously. By 2015, NEIC had developed a sustainable business model that had turned a profit, and members received a return on investment, based on the type of shares bought. Before the year ended, a McKnight Foundation Grant was awarded to help defray startup costs for their next project.

After much research, NEIC purchased their second property, and was able to start on the next project, a new building located on a corner property, that converts the previous building into a lighter and brighter site for businesses. Like any other company, members get a voice when they buy into the coop. It's one member - one vote, promoting investment in the community. Because they invest in the properties, members maintain a relationship of success with the businesses on site, since the success of the business means success for the cooperative.

Before and after construction on the building at the 2nd property.

Now that NEIC's second property is ready to begin leasing, there was a gathering at the property last month for a tour and to provide information for those interested. Besides potential interested businesses, a number of potential investors showed up. This event allowed them to see the transformation of the property, along with how the cooperative operates. In addition, their newest project on another property was presented and those interested were able to find out how they could participate.

The transformation of the first building.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NEICoop/about/?ref=page_internal; this article from NEIC: http://www.neic.coop/our-story/; this article on NEIC: http://www.neic.coop/properties/; this page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1992859614280087/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D; and the above link.

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PCI Strategic Management Performs Critical Work For The Government

Some of the golfers at this year's PCI golf event.

A small business located in Columbia, MD, a management consulting firm, works with the Department of Defense, along with the intelligence community, to help them execute their strategic vision. Most of their clients are senior-level managers, who are responsible for making decisions for their organizations. PCI STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT also has the distinction of being veteran-owned and employs more than 150 professionals who hold top security clearances.

Besides their business functions, PCI also takes seriously its mission of corporate responsibility by supporting several charities. Among them is Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for military families close to where loved ones are receiving medical care. In fact, PCI has had such a commitment to Fisher House that the company has provided $120,000 through the previous seven years of holding their annual charity golf event.



This year's golf event was held at The Woodlands and Diamond Golf Courses in Baltimore County on June 8. As luck would have it, the weather was beautiful and provided inspiring conditions. After the last ball had been teed and everyone completed the course, a total of $20,000 had been raised for Fisher House. Great work, PCI!

Let's take a look at one of the contracts PCI has, in this case, with Homeland Security. The Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions II (EAGLE II) is an agreement to provide IT solutions for a wide range of support services. The company must test solutions to make sure they fit the high standards required by Homeland Security. Fortunately, PCI is quite experienced with the types of testing and quality assurance standards. But there must also be independent evaluation of the solutions to perform the same checks. While PCI can't validate their own testing and solutions, they can certainly do so for solutions and testing by other companies.

PCI hands out holiday turkeys to employees for Thanksgiving.

Under the EAGLE II contract, PCI has been tasked with evaluating the Emergency Notification System. This system is critically needed to activate teams and spread information for both FEMA and Homeland Security during local and national emergencies. This enables both agencies to make quick decisions based on the best information available, helping to relieve the affected populations in a timely manner. Just this one task award gives you the idea of the importance and scope of the work PCI performs for federal agencies. Of course, that is only one small aspect of EAGLE II, and the work of PCI.

Honoring those who have worked for the company for five years.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/PCISM/about/?ref=page_internal; this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/PCISM/photos/a.251292414949482.59819.225482504197140/1350930938318952/?type=3&theater; this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/PCISM/posts/1302404039838309; this article on PCI: http://www.pci-sm.com/contracts/eagle-ii/; this page, Task #HSFE50-13-0462: http://www.pci-sm.com/contracts/eagle-ii/task-orders-awarded/; and the above links.

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Closing Ceremony For Fellows In Pratiti Program

Poster for the launch of a Pratiti program.

In India, there has been an ongoing problem that has been receiving more media notice in recent years. That is the issue of gender-based violence, primarily focused on women. With so many men feeling entitled to sexually abuse/rape women, there is a need to focus on how to change that culture. PEOPLE FOR PARITY is one organization that is focusing on women's rights and violence against women, particularly since the fatal assault on a young woman in Delhi, and the several publicized cases since.

Pratiti addresses gender-based violence with young adults and youth through a fellowship program, which trains young people as leaders, while providing a safe learning environment for learning more in-depth about this issue. Every year this program awards fellowships to young adults and older adolescents, who apply, desire to learn more about gender-based violence, prevention efforts, and also interact with youth through workshops and programming.



Last year, thirteen fellows spent six months working with five different organizations in Jaipur. The closing event, held on June 15, 2016, celebrated the accomplishments of the fellows. Each fellow created a colorful display, which conveyed what they learned and accomplished, in his/her stall area. The stalls provided an exhibit area, where members of the audience could view the fellows' depiction of their experiences, along with being able to interact and ask questions.

In addition, two groups hosted special events. The Magic Bus team presented a street play (Nukkad Naatak), while the Vishakha team presented a puppet show. Two female cab drivers, recipients of services from Azad Foundation, presented their stories, and that, like them, the women and girls present could overcome any barriers placed in their way. Two elder women from the Smile Foundation sang songs calling for equality between genders.

The Pravah Jaipur team at their stall, in discussion with an audience member.

The Guest of Honor was Manju Sharma Ji, a prominent social worker and advocate, who had also served as Councillor for the area. In addition, many prominent members of the community were present in the audience, showing a strong community presence and commitment. At the end, the fellows shared their personal stories to the acclaim and recognition of the audience members.

Thirteen Fellows with certificates of completion.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/PeopleForParity/about/?ref=page_internal; this blog post on People For Parity: http://the-pratiti-journey.blogspot.com/2016/07/pratiti-in-jaipur-closure-event.html; and the above link.

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Bring Your Imagination To Kids Discovery Museum

Mother and child engaged in an art project.

Do you have children? Have you ever wanted to take them on a trip to a land of imagination, a land where they can explore the way the world works and have fun doing it? If you happen to live on Bainbridge Island in the State of Washington, you've probably heard of KIDS DISCOVERY MUSEUM, and you may actually have visited.

If you like sharing learning opportunities with your children, love to see that smile and laugh of delight on his/her face, seen that lovely moment when he/she "gets it", this is a match for you. Even for children with special needs, this is a place that considers what your child needs.



For instance, the museum opens specifically for children with autism between 10 and 11:30 AM, before the museum is open to the public. That way, these children, who can be easily overwhelmed and overstimulated, can visit when the museum is quieter and staff have the time to be more supportive. The museum does ask that you call ahead, since they admit only a certain number of individuals for the program, if you want to be assured of being able to enter when you go, but if there is room, you are welcome to join.

Sensory Sunday, planned by Magnolia Behavior Therapy will be held on Sunday, June 25. Again the museum offers the same conditions as for the early opening for children with autism. At those times children with sensory disorders and autism will be able to benefit, in addition to the quieter atmosphere, from additional therapist guidance.

Do you like bees? Are you curious about their behavior and how they work together? Charles Schafer, a beekeeper is at the museum, also on Sunday, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM, to give you and you children a closeup look at what bees do in a beehive. And, have your children write down any questions, because Mr. Schaefer will be answering them, too. Find out how vital those pollinators are to plant life. Without them, there would be very little plant life.

Do your children have a passion for art? Then save Saturday, July 8 from 10 AM to 2 PM to bring the entire family to the plaza between Kids Discovery Museum and the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. You can choose from a wide variety of art activities, ones you can do together, or ones that you can watch your child engage in. And if you haven't visited the museum before, you might be able to check it out, since admission is free all day.

Beekeeper Charles Schafer coming to the museum on Sunday.

As you can tell, the Museum has a calendar full of activities for children and their parents. But this is not all they do. There are exhibits designed to engage the attention of children of various ages, and even parents, too. So, if you're in the area, come on down, and make sure to bring the children. It's bound to be a great experience for all!

Story time at the Museum.

Thanks for information from this page on Charter For Compassion:  https://www.charterforcompassion.org/kids-discovery-museum; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/142910826275301/?ref=3&action_history=null; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1431176446926357/?ref=3&action_history=null; this announcement on Kids Discovery Museum: http://www.kidimu.org/event/family-art-day-free-3/; and the above link.

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CCBC Strengthens Its Humanities Program

CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis (left), with major donors, Eleanor and Robert Romadka, at the dedication for F. Scott Black Theatre on the Essex Campus.

Community colleges - These are the two-year programs that grant a degree or certificate, indicating education beyond high school and frequently providing entree into highly skilled fields. They can also give those who attend a boost into a four-year college; some have agreements with four-year colleges that can even place a graduate into the third year of a four-year program.

But many community colleges offer even more, from helping to complete high school, to providing college credits to savvy high school students, to providing educational enrichment to local adults who may be looking to increase their knowledge or learn a hobby. That is the rich and diverse role that many of these colleges fulfill.



All of this and more, are part of Baltimore County's COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY (CCBC), which has campuses in Catonsville, Dundalk, and Essex. Extension locations can be found in Hunt Valley, Owings Mills, and Randallstown. Why so many locations? Baltimore County covers 682 square miles, with more than 831,000 people residing in it. So, the County's only community college has to be accessible to its residents.

So, it's no surprise that CCBC gets its share of recognition. Recognition in the form of a grant is very welcome, especially when it comes from the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. A $1.725 million combined grant was awarded by the Foundation to CCBC and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for their Humanities curriculum. CCBC's portion of the grant totals $980,000 and goes to enriching students' academic experience. The reason that both institutions won the grants is because they have been collaborating on their Humanities For All initiative to provide a more dynamic learning environment and make the transition between the two-year program and the four-year program smoother.

Not only is course content enriched, however, but the funds will also be used to help in recruitment, retention, and transfer. Some other features of the grant's use will be in strengthening the connection between the faculty of both programs and provide more incentives for CCBC students to join CCBC's Honors Program, which boasts higher graduation and transfer rates to four-year programs among its enrollees. A new addition will be a Mellon Scholars Program, which will provide more research opportunities and increase the opportunites to interact with JHU's faculty and graduate students.

According to CCBC's President Sandra Kurtinitis, "Thousands of CCBC students will benefit from Mellon's recognition that the democratization of the Humanities in America does indeed begin with the community college. And, the enthusiasm of the faculty involved in developing this program has been inspiring. They all bring a profound commitment to students."

Some of this year's CCBC graduates.

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels commented, "This great partnership reflects Johns Hopkins' sustained commitment to building bridges so that all students have access to the transformative power of higher education. Creating academic and experiential opportunities that deepen engagement in the humanities and position students for transfer success - whether at Johns Hopkins or other four-year institutions - is critical to ensuring students can reach their full potential."

You might notice these signs around the various CCBC campuses - in celebration of CCBC's 60 years.

So, starting this fall semester, CCBC Honors program students will be paired with JHU graduate students for deep reading exercises and a Topical Lecture series by a visiting JHU professor.

Thanks for information from this page on CCBC: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/about-ccbc/locations; this page on CCBC: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/About-CCBC/Newsroom/news-articles/2017/06/19/15/25/Mellon-Foundation.aspx; and the above link.

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First Women's Crisis Center In The Middle East

Advocacy training session by WCCI in Bahrain.

Although one might not know it from viewing a photo of her, Mary-Justine Todd has been working in the field of women's rights and women's health for more than ten years. In 2013, she took that background, plus her education, and founded WOMEN'S CRISIS CARE INTERNATIONAL (WCCI). Based in the US, this organization provides the first and only domestic and sexual violence crisis intervention program in the Middle East. Through collaboration with the AMERICAN MISSION HOSPITAL in Manama, Bahrain, the organization can provide the physical care needed, as well.

Besides providing treatment for those most affected, WCCI also provides professional training and community education. Their staff have been able to consult with local hospitals and medical centers to provide the caring treatment that the women need. Ms. Todd explains that "helping women to recover from domestic or sexual violence, one by one, assists in promoting overall health and happiness around the world....Just as many women throughout the Arab world are veiled, so too is violence against women."



For Ramadan this year, WCCI held "Rama'dame: Women in STEM" honoring Muslim women who are making contributions in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. Dr. Sameena Shah, Director of Research at Thomson Reuters in NYC. She specializes in computer engineering and scientific research.

Dr. Shah was educated in India, where she was born and raised, completing her Ph.D at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. Her thesis proved to be award-winning, as she won awards from both Google and Microsoft. Currently at Thomson Reuters, she is on a research review panel for several major journals, has published a paper on stock prediction, and holds one patent in her name.

Another honoree is Dr. Rafia Ghubash, President of the Arab Network for Women in Science and Technology. She earned her bachelor's degree at Cairo University and her Ph.D. at the University of London. She continues to practice psychiatry and was previously Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at United Arab Emirates University. Another accomplishment was opening Bait al Banat, the first museum in the UAE dedicated to the accomplishments of local women.

Today's honoree is Mishaal Al-Shemimry, president and CEO of Mishaal Aerospace in Miami. Florida, founded by her in 2010. The company makes launch vehicles and develops rockets for space applications.

A way of getting the word out about their services.

From Saudi Arabia, this young woman earned her bachelor's and master's degree from Florida Institute of Technology. Her current expertise is in the areas of aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, vehicle design, predictive simulation and analysis, and rocket stage-separation analysis.

One of this year's Rama'dame honorees.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/mary-justine-todd-womens-crisis-care-international-wcci/; this page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/womenscci.org/about/?ref=page_internal; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenscci.org/photos/a.633313836729057.1073741829.632434250150349/1430392833687816/?type=3&theater; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenscci.org/photos/a.633313836729057.1073741829.632434250150349/1429431767117256/?type=3&theater; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenscci.org/photos/a.633313836729057.1073741829.632434250150349/1431438220249944/?type=3&theater; and the above links.

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Bringing The Voting Voice Back To The People

One of the fundraising posters used to provide funds for Free Speech For People's litigation.

Ever since that day in January 2010 that the Supreme Court recognized corporations as people, free to contribute exorbitant amounts of money to political campaigns, various organization have formed to fight back, in various ways. One of those organizations is FREE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE.

Essentially, Free Speech For People exists to challenge corporate monetary power within politics, while trying to bring political power back to the people. The group is involved in legal advocacy, reducing the exemptions that corporations claim from the law, and developing ways to hold the corporate world accountable to the public.



Free Speech For People has been taking a lawsuit against ten Super PACs through the court system after the case, SpeechNow.org vs. FEC, in which the creation of super PACs was permitted, essentially putting even more money into the political system. Specifically, this lower court case decided that no limits could be imposed on these large independent political committees, because setting any limits would violate the free speech rights of wealthy donors.

In the belief that there was obvious vulnerability in the lower court decision, if it was taken into a higher court, Free Speech For People has pursued court cases, so there are various cases available for the highest court to review.

The first step was filing an administrative complaint with the Federal Election Committee (FEC), asking it to enforce the previous limits against super PACs. The goal was for the FEC to issue a ruling after the SpeechNow.org decision, so the case could then be brought before the Supreme Court. But what happened was that a decision was dragged out, essentially providing no on-the-record decision.

A meeting in Boston to discuss concerns of LGBTQ individuals.

 As a result, the litigants then took the case to court to sue against the delay. Finally, the decision came down, affirming the SpeechNow.org decision of no limits on individual super PAC contributions. Now Free Speech For People can take that decision into the next higher court, on the way to reaching an ultimate decision by the Supreme Court.

Participants in the March For Truth last weekend.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/FreeSpeech4People/about/?ref=page_internal; this blog article: https://freespeechforpeople.org/moving-next-phase-lawsuit-end-super-pacs/; and the above link.

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