As pastor of City Covenant Church, a small church in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, Pastor Semmeal Thomas has previously had difficulty mobilizing resources to help his congregation and the community at large. Then, about ten years ago, Thomas started working with an organization called the Brightmoor Alliance. The collaboration would help her church community center, Mission: City, are taking their efforts to serve local residents to the next level.

“We are constantly working with the Brightmoor Alliance,” says Thomas. “If anyone needs a meal, they’ll refer them to City Covenant Church. They sent us funding sources. They sent us volunteers. They used their platform to market the things we did. have done. ”

The Brightmoor Alliance intends to ask how it can best serve the neighborhood and organizations like its own, according to Thomas. And the impact they have had is amplified by the thoughtful deliberations the alliance takes in doing its work. In 2012, the alliance carried out a needs assessment called Restore the ‘Moor which has helped City Covenant Church and other partners better target their support efforts.

“Often we don’t have data [about the neighborhood], and the Brightmoor Alliance brings these resources to our community, ”says Thomas.

This assessment helped Thomas broaden his knowledge of the neighborhood and develop new programs in areas such as financial literacy and career development.

Today, the Brightmoor Alliance and Mission: City are stronger than ever thanks to this work. And the coalition continues to work in partnership with local groups and residents to improve the local neighborhood, while undertaking a new community survey.

Gather Brightmoor

Founded in 2000 to address issues such as high crime and vacant land, the Brightmoor Alliance is now a coalition of over 50 local organizations dedicated to serving their local community. Rev. Larry Simmons, pastor of Baber Memorial AME Church is the organization’s executive director.

Now a predominantly black neighborhood, Brightmoor is a place foreigners sometimes associate with rusting, high crime and abandoned homes. With a average household income slightly above the poverty line at $ 36,135 (according to 2010 census estimates) residents faced both negative associations and income challenges. To help address these concerns, the Brightmoor Alliance acts as a facilitator and gap filler that connects the neighborhood to resources.

“Our driving ethic is that people have power. Not that they are given power, but they are power, ”says Simmons. “We facilitate and recognize the use of this power.”

One of the ways the alliance helped facilitate this neighborhood power was to form a gardening network. In collaboration with 31 neighborhood club partners, he identified people interested in being part of the network and distributed materials for the construction of raised beds as well as flower and vegetable seeds. Today, the gardening group is responsible for 135 flower gardens and nearly 40 community gardens.

Trena Ross is one of the block club leaders who have been involved in the gardening effort. A resident of the neighborhood since 2012, she began attending Brightmoor Alliance community meetings soon after moving to the area. After finding out that the alliance was helping to create block clubs, she decided to start one in her own block.

“The Brightmoor area where I live had a lot of vacant lots and a lot of run down houses, so I thought it would be good to come together to get things done,” says Ross.

Her positive experiences in this community work with the Brightmoor Alliance eventually led her to join the staff of the organization as a Community Organizing Specialist. She is now heavily involved in the alliance’s monthly food distribution program, which takes place at Gompers elementary-middle school and helps organizations like Mission: City feed hundreds of people each week.

Walk the wisdom of Brightmoor

However, the Brightmoor Alliance does not rest on its achievements alone. He also looks to the residents to see how he can improve his job. In an effort to capitalize on the impact that Restore the ‘Moor had about the community in 2011, the Brightmoor Alliance is currently conducting a new community survey called the Brightmoor Wisdom Project.

“This is part of our work at the Brightmoor Alliance and others who want to help the community concentrate its power,” said Simmons.

The new investigative effort focuses on four main areas: food, which deals with both quality and availability; shelter, which will cover both access to land and peace in the community; Clothes; And hope. Since April 2021, the alliance has been recruiting volunteers, consulting with the community, and researching Restore the ‘Moor, which they call “revisiting the vision”. The main objectives of the Wisdom Project are to identify the activities that the community identifies as essential and to help the community to “concentrate its power”. This is something that the organization certainly has previous experience with.

For example, a few years ago the community recognized that a lot of school-aged children were in the neighborhood during the day when they should be in school. Brightmoor Alliance took this information and worked with 482 Forward, a Detroit-based educational justice network, to organize and advocate at the city and state levels for the issue of chronic absence in Brightmoor.

And at a community meeting at Leland Baptist Church, residents discussed their concerns about early childhood development, saying they wanted to be more active in their children’s developmental growth outside of school. . Brightmoor Alliance has launched the ‘six a day’ project, which targets six things parents should do with their children every day: cheer and hug, read and talk, sing and play.

“Someone informed me the other day that he was now being promoted overseas. In Germany, they took over the six-a-day project and they are reproducing our six-a-day in German, ”explains Simmons. “It started in Brightmoor… that’s why Project Wisdom is so important; it stems from our consultation and interaction with the community.

Volunteers working on the Brightmoor Wisdom Project were divided into teams based on one of the four areas of the survey. They collect information, or “wisdom,” in a variety of ways, including social media posts, resident interviews, and public meetings. Other tasks include: writing grant applications, arranging meetings, and inviting others to participate. Volunteers do not need to be residents, as the alliance is also open to help from community allies.

At present, the progress of the Brightmoor Wisdom Project has been delayed since early November, in part due to the sudden death of local community leader Jonathon Clark. But surveying efforts are expected to resume this month.

Based on the alliance’s tentative timeline, a project-based report is expected to be completed in April this year. Simmons is looking forward to this moment, so he and other local leaders can learn more about what concerns residents.

“The community has wisdom,” he says. “And if leaders and decision-makers just consulted the wisdom of the community, it could go a long way.”

Resilient Neighborhoods is a feature story and engagement series that examines how Detroit residents and community development organizations work together to strengthen local neighborhoods. This is made possible by funding from the Kresge Foundation.

Marie brownhill

“… But to connect” serves as a sort of midseason finale as Discovery will be on hiatus until February 10, and the episode is almost painfully self-aware. It ends with an unsurprisingly cliffhanger ending, but despite its obviousness, what’s interesting about “… But to connect” is what it has to say about the larger thematic arc of the game. community of the season and how those ties affect the way the Federation handles a crisis. In this sense, the episode not only sets up the main plot challenge, but also reinforces the main metaphor of the season – DMA as a replacement for the pandemic. I suspect resolution will be everything Trek, but the growing rift between Book and Burnham troubles me. Will we see Burnham lose Book because of his need for revenge? Will she be able to persuade him to understand the Federation’s position? At this point, only time will tell, but judging by the social media divide over the past couple of years, I’m not sure I have any hope.

Plot Ahoy!

“… But To Connect” challenges our characters to explore what it really means to be a community, and it does so by juxtaposing the Federation conference with Kovich’s investigation into Zora’s sensitivity. . Interestingly, the authors chose to pit the macropolitics against the intimately personal, but the final conclusions here are mostly the same.

Diplomacy and DMA

While the Discovery is undergoing repairs following the events in the Subspace Rift, President Rillak has appealed to heads of state across the quadrant to come to Federation headquarters to discuss what to do do about DMA. She tempts them with the tantalizing information that the Federation has the coordinates of extra-galactic origin for DMA, and most of the necessary parties agree to participate. Rillak also asks Burnham to be there to represent what Rillak’s really best interests are since she has to remain impartial for political reasons.

The usual suspects make the usual arguments. Earth united with Titan under a single government organization after the events of last season, but their newfound peace did not dampen Earth’s paranoia at all. Earth is arguing for the creation of an armada to combat what is clearly a hostile threat. Ni’Var President T’Rina argues for a diplomatic approach given that no one really knows what DMA really is. She argues that it is entirely possible that Species 10C did not create DMA to be a weapon, and even if so, there is no guarantee that their technology would place the races in the Alpha quadrant advanced enough to pose a real threat to a species that has created a deadly anomaly.

As talks continue, Ruon Tarka walks up to a book bubbling with rage that delegates seem to be considering diplomacy and reminds him to pick the right time to try and convince them otherwise. When the assembly meets again, Tarka listens for a few moments and then proposes his own solution. Tarka explains that he has a way to destroy DMA, but that method requires the use of an isolytic burst, which is a type of artillery prohibited by the Khitomer accords due to the damage it causes to the sub -space. Tarka shrugs his shoulders in characteristic boredom and Burnham expresses his horror.

Rillak requests a break during which Book chats with Tarka who reveals that he wants the DMA power source in order to jump into universes to join a friend from his Emerald Chain lab. Tarka reminds Book that he has emotional capital he could spend to change some hearts. Book takes up the suggestion, and once recess is over, he begs them as the last survivor of Kwejian to destroy the DMA. However, Burnham’s counter-argument turns out to be more effective and the assembly votes in favor of attempting peaceful first contact with 10C species.

Zora and Stamets

A board Discovery, Kovich is investigating Zora’s sensitivity. As Adira and Gray plead with her to stay aboard the ship, Stamets reacts with deep suspicion, citing her experiences with Control. He explains that he cannot trust Zora not to put his interests above those of the crew. He stresses his refusal to give up the original contact details as proof. Zora offers a compromise and creates a fail-safe device that will effectively kill her in the event the switch is flipped. Everyone in the room but Stamets reacts with almost visceral disgust. Stamets seems ready to accept his offer, but Culber tells him that he cannot hold the life of another sentient being above them for cooperation.

Stamets talks to Zora, explains her fears to her, and between them they decide that trust will be needed. However, this trust must be extended to each other, so Stamets destroys the safety net. Zora reveals the contact details and agrees to join Starfleet and abide by the same hierarchy that governs everyone on the ship. Stamets asks Kovich what he would have done if Stamets hadn’t overcome his fears. Kovich shrugs and tells him that he would have transferred Stamets out of Discovery, and Stamets agrees that would have been the right choice.

With everything seemingly resolved, Burnham goes in search of Book but finds Grudge in his quarters with a note from Book. Book left with Tarka to destroy DMA, betraying Burnham. He asks her to take care of his daughter.

To analyse

“… But to connect” is a lot, but it is not subtle. At one point, the episode cuts between Burnham and Stamets making their respective arguments, almost finishing each other’s sentences. This is really the heart of the episode; the assembled delegates as well as Stamets and Zora agree to move forward together in peaceful cooperation. Because it is Star trek, we know this is the right choice for everyone involved, but Discovery does not allow this choice to be inconsequential. Burnham makes his point knowing that Book won’t agree with her, but she always does so in the hopes that he will understand. Book, however, isn’t sure they can ever overcome this particular difference of opinion, and the episode leaves them in very different places, literally and metaphorically.

Burnham insists on adhering to the principles of the Federation, but more importantly, she reminds delegates that these ideals encourage them to be the best version of themselves. In this case, that means not acting out of fear and lashing out just because they have been injured by DMA. It means trusting diplomacy and science to help them get through this crisis. The book sits on the opposite end of the spectrum. He is crushed under his grief and guilt, and the destruction of the DMA not only means that he will avenge his losses as culturally appropriate, but also that no one else will suffer the same devastating losses as him. Therefore, for him, the decision to destroy the DMA, to hell with the consequences, is an easy decision. Additionally, the episode means for us not only to understand why he makes the choice he makes, but also to empathize with his impulse while remaining aware that it is still the wrong choice.

I mentioned above that this season is treating DMA as a metaphor for COVID, and “… But to connect” really doubles the comparison. We know that AMD is deadly, unpredictable and devastating. It arises out of nowhere and affects a large number of beings and accumulates an obscene number of deaths in its wake. The parallels to the virus spell out on their own, but for the first time, we’re really starting to see the characters break down into all-too-familiar lines. Burnham and the Federation want to pursue an information-based community strategy to deal with AMD in which everyone is doing their part. Book and Tarka reject this approach and prefer to act on their own instincts and information.

Trek as a franchise has a long, long history of using the metaphor to explore not only current events but difficult moral topics as well. From “A Private Little War,” which commented on the Vietnam War, to “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” describing the self-defeating nature of racism, to “Past Tense,” which served as a scathing commentary not only on racism, but also the criminalization of homelessness. Discovery follows in an august, albeit imperfect, tradition in using allegory to explore such a sensitive subject. While so far the allegory has been mostly painted with a wide brush, the writers really want to leave the audience something to think about during the hiatus, and I think they’ve succeeded. Plus, I especially like that they have skillfully woven into the thematic fabric of the season the tools with which the characters can address DMA, and those tools are firmly intertwined with Trekcommunity focus and DiscoverySeason four emphasizes connection.

Evaluation:

Three cups full of Earl Gray tea, a saucer and a refill

Stray thoughts from the sofa

1. You all. Book left Grudge with Burnham. He has no plans to return after destroying the DMA. On the one hand, it’s really, really stupid, but on the other hand, I appreciate that even though he doesn’t know where their relationship is at, he loves her enough to leave Grudge with her.
2. A note on Tarka, his motives are as selfish as expected. Of course, I think for him that the Emerald Chain probably killed his boyfriend, so he wants to escape his universe and all its evils. There is just something so inherently weak about jumping into a universe in order to avoid dealing with its issues.
3. Stamets shows remarkable personal growth here, and I love that he understands how to trust Zora. I like it even more that they conclude that Zora is less of an AI and more of a whole new life form. I also really liked that she didn’t turn out to be Skynet but instead created her own guidelines to look after her family. It’s a nice way to flip the trope on his ear.
4. I also loved how the episode brought back a lot of familiar faces, not just from this season but the last. General Ndoye was a nice touch, even though she was as hawkish as one might expect.
5. T’Rina continues to be the best. That’s all.

Related

Shirley Sessions

Mayor, Town of Tybee Island

“The only constant is change… Whether it’s changing from 2021 to 2022 and beyond, the only thing we are sure of is that there will be change. I learned the importance of adapting to this change and making it work in a positive way and recognizing that you can only change yourself. You can only change the way you react to other people and situations. This is something that I hope to do better in 2022.

“In 2020, we were all so excited for the New Years… Then the pandemic happened and everything in our lives changed. We had to realize that we had no control over anything but how we adapt to change and how we accept it. We have learned to embrace change and how we view challenges. Personally, I have learned to see challenges as opportunities. Because that’s what I saw in 2020 and 2021, opportunities that we had to create for ourselves. And in 2022 there will be new disguised opportunities and new challenges. ”

“I look forward to days like this (wonderful day on CoCo’s patio in Lazaretto Creek). I can’t wait to do what I can to encourage people to be positive and instead of focusing on what they don’t have. And I’m a big believer in trying to be the change you want to see. When I hear growls, even on Tybee, I try to encourage people to look at all we have and look beyond the Lazaretto Bridge. What can you do to make Tybee better, to make Savannah better, to make our country better. And sometimes it’s a change in your own attitude.

“I can’t wait to listen to music and be able to listen to live music outdoors and look forward to having lunch with friends and family again and looking forward to traveling again.”

“There is a lot to look forward to! Here on Tybee, we’ll be celebrating our 135th anniversary as a city. I look forward to working with the board, our staff and our residents to plan a big party for Tybee in October. So I look forward to the parades and look forward to the rallies and look forward to having fun again. We’ve taken it for granted for so long and now we’re slowly going back and hopefully 2022 is wide open for fun and festivities, safely celebrated with our new normal.

Van johnson

Mayor, City of Savannah

“I look forward to Savannah finally overcoming COVID and restoring our new normal and can finally evolve in our new environment. I think we have been changed forever. I think hand sanitizer and masking to some extent will forever be a part of our vernacular along with booster shots and vaccinations…… But I also hope we pay more attention to our health and to our safety and I look forward to it. . ”

“From this (pandemic) we’ve learned what Savannah Strong really is. We have seen people do wonderful things, take care of their neighbors and that is what Savannah is all about.

“I look forward to the third year of my first term as mayor. We did some great things in the first couple of years, even in the midst of a pandemic and I just can’t wait to be healthy, stay calm, keep my peace and really move forward. . ”

“And I can’t wait for people to be nicer. I think (because of social media) people have gotten mean and we don’t have to be like that. I think the new seat at our table should be filled with kindness, respect and empathy. And I also hope to add these seats.

Rebecca Benton

Mayor, City of Pooler

“I hope the city will continue to move forward with all of our projects. And that the One Chatham haulage tax will be passed in the spring for necessary road improvement projects. Without it, there won’t be a lot of money to work on road projects. And that the city continues to progress as it has.

“I have been a member of city government for 18 years, 16 on city council and two as mayor and we have the best employees we’ve ever had in Pooler. I hope we can keep these great employees.

“I hope we can all work together. We just need to be united as the United States and to work together for a common goal for all. Most people respect the rights of others… We only see the bad side in some media… ”

“I’m ready to get COVID under control… And I can’t wait to travel again. I planned a trip to the south of France with the South Carolina ETV. I’ve done some of the best trips with ETV and hope COVID is under control (in 2022) and we can travel again. ”

Read more stories from 2021 here.

Twenty-five peace officers from Bexar County’s two largest law enforcement agencies were arrested in 2021, marking an increase from the previous year, according to records compiled by KSAT 12 Defenders.

The tally, which includes BCSO deputies and SAPD agents arrested out of duty or charged after their dismissal by their respective agencies for the incidents, was 20% higher than in 2020. That year, a total of 20 law enforcement officers from the two agencies faces criminal charges.

The charges ranged from a DWI offense to inappropriate behavior while working in prison to more serious offenses such as possession of child pornography, sexual assault and aggravated assault by a peace officer.

SAPD

A total of 11 SAPD officers have been charged with criminal charges this year, up from seven in 2020.

SAPD Agent Erik Rodriguez had a flurry of legal trouble starting in January, when investigators accused him of accepting money in exchange for providing information to the suspect in a domestic violence case.

A d

Rodriguez, who resigned from SAPD after being suspended indefinitely in March, was charged at the end of January with corruption, abuse of public information and possession of child pornography.

Rodriguez is free on bail pending trial in all three cases, court records show.

Officer James Nicholson was charged with DWI and illegal handgun carrying in late January.

Nicholson, who is free on bail in both cases, is due in court next March. It was suspended indefinitely by SAPD this summer.

A d

Officer Dezi Rios, who has a documented history of road rage, resigned from SAPD last month as he faced charges of a hit-and-run accident this summer.

Rios, 39, had been suspended without pay following the July crash, in which he was accused of fleeing the scene and then assaulting the driver of the vehicle he crashed into.

The man suffered a broken nose, significant trauma to his face and injuries to his shoulder, elbow and knee after being struck by Rios – according to the man’s count – between 20 and 25 times.

Rios faces pending charges from DWI and failure to arrest and provide information, but has not been criminally charged with assault, court records show.

A d

Officer Marshall Shepard was suspended without pay in April after a grand jury charged him with assault and official oppression.

Shepard is accused of repeatedly punching a suspect in the face and injuring him after the man resisted arrest in May 2020.

Shepard is free on bail pending trial, records show.

City officials confirm Shepard remains suspended without pay.

Former SAPD officers Thomas Villarreal and Carlos Castro were charged last week, nearly two years after being charged with assaulting a man inside his home following an attempted traffic stop.

Villarreal and Castro, who were fired by SAPD in July 2020, face first-degree felony charges of aggravated assault by an official.

A d

BCSO

Arrests of deputies at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office increased slightly this year, from 13 to 14, after sworn staff members were arrested on charges ranging from domestic violence to touching a cadet and sexual assault.

Deputy Gérard Mamorno was arrested in January for aggravated sexual assault on a child, after investigators said he sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl several years ago.

Mamorno, who had worked intermittently for BCSO as a bailiff, resigned weeks after his arrest while he was still under administrative investigation. Mamorno is free on bail pending an indictment, according to court records.

Trial Assistant Abigail Colbert was fired in March after being charged with DWI.

The arrest of Colbert, the seventh of a BCSO deputy in the first 10 weeks of 2021, has enabled the agency to make more than 30 arrests this year. Arrests of deputies, however, occurred much less frequently thereafter.

A d

Colbert’s charge was dismissed last month, after a quashing motion was granted in his case, court records show.

Danilo Molina, a jailer who had worked in the sheriff’s office for about 30 years, was charged in January with forging a government document.

Molina retired last year, shortly after a deputy told her supervisor Molina would ask inmates to check the cells, Sheriff Javier Salazar previously said.

As part of the alleged scheme, Molina is said to give her hand-held sensor to the inmate, who would use it during cell checks to show that an assistant was checking the cell. Molina would then falsify the records, indicating that he was checking the cells himself.

Molina pleaded without question in May, in exchange for two years of probation and payment of $ 1,355 in fines and court costs, according to court records.

A d

Maverick MP Moreland was charged with assault, domestic violence and criminal mischief after an incident at a North Side bar in January involving another deputy on leave with whom he was dating.

Moreland, who was fired by BCSO in September, succeeded in having both criminal charges dismissed in late October.

Prosecutors cited insufficient evidence as the reason for the dismissal in the assault case, and the plaintiff withdrew prosecution in the criminal mischief case, records show.

Assistant BCSO Firearms Instructor Toribio Gutierrez was arrested in May for indecent assault and official oppression, after being accused of groping at least one cadet through her clothes during training.

Gutierrez also made inappropriate comments, asking the cadets for their personal information on social media, BCSO officials said.

A d

When he was dismissed, Gutierrez reportedly replied, “You want to graduate, don’t you,” Sheriff Salazar said in May.

“This, frankly, is infuriating for me to hear,” Salazar said.

Since the launch of the investigation, Salazar said a total of five female cadets have come forward to report Gutierrez’s behavior.

Gutierrez, who is out on bail, is awaiting indictment in the official oppression case.

He is then due to appear in court in the indecent assault case in early February.

Gutierrez retired from BCSO at the end of June, while he was still under investigation by the agency.

Copyright 2021 by KSAT – All rights reserved.

“Ressa, Ressa,” di ka nag-iisa “, sing Filipinos from all walks of life in Oslo

The following photo report originally appeared in The Oslo Desk.

Filipino journalist and co-winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, Maria Ressa, met leaders of the Filipino community at the Grand Hotel in Oslo just after delivering her inspirational speech at the award ceremony that took place is held at Oslo City Hall on December 10.

Ressa gave a shorter version of her speech at the awards ceremony to the delight of community leaders who had waited hours to see her at the Grand Hotel.

In her signature gesture with folded hands, Ressa pleaded with the leaders of the Filipino community to do their part to fight misinformation in social media and spread the message of truth despite threats and harassment online. She asked them cryptically what she said she had asked herself so many times before: “What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?” “

While addressing the community, Ressa would at times look up as if trying to recapture moments when she stood in front of the audience that awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, searching for words to convey her important message to those in the audience. want to hear it.

Ressa raises her hands animatedly while trying to make a point about “surveillance capitalism and how everyone needs to hear its impact on their lives and global democracy”.

Ressa has captivated the community with her exhortations on what she can do to help restore trust in social media, fight lies and defend democracy.

“Build ‘communities of action’, Ressa challenges the Filipino community in Oslo, saying that they are expected to be high since they live in a democratic country where ‘most things work’.

“In a world ruled by the rule of law, the cyber defamation case should have been dismissed,” Maria told leaders of how she was persecuted by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. She also laments the fact that there is so much poison in social media that it is getting harder and harder to tell the truth from the lies. “Once you’re angry you can believe anything” is how she explains why there is so much hate and misinformation.

“You are not alone, this is what the Nobel committee says, this is what I heard from them,” she told the leaders.

Ressa listens intently to a leader’s question, only to be told that she can be compared to Filipino national hero Jose Rizal. She blurted out in return: “Don’t say that, he was shot!” to everyone’s laughter.

A place of honor is at the center of the Filipino community. Ressa happily poses with the assembled leaders in his honor and on his behalf.

Christmas glitter along the route of the Torch Parade in Karl Johan Street to honor this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

“We are Filipinos and tonight we are proudly walking along Karl Johan Street wearing the national colors in honor of the country’s very first Nobel Laureate.”

Not without controversy, a banner carried by a group at the Torch Parade asks, “Where’s Assange?” while at the same time declaring their support for Ressa and Muratov.

Filipinos rallied under one flag, braving the wintry night of December 10 to show their support for Maria Ressa.

Flags and cheers greeted Maria under the balcony of the Grand Hotel as Filipinos from all walks of life await her appearance. Some wear the color pink, a symbol of hope.

“I’m here,” Maria could have told the crowd as she stepped out onto the balcony with Russian journalist Dmitrij Muratov, co-winner. The Filipino crowd goes into a frenzy shouting, “Ressa, Ressa, ‘di ka nag-iisa (Ressa, Ressa, you are not alone). ” – Rappler.com

The Whole Foods saga is perhaps the most revealing and surprising expression of this spirit. In 2013, the grocery chain shocked the city by announcing that it would be opening a store in Englewood, and I covered the story for Chicago’s public radio station, WBEZ. No one had seen it coming – an expensive organic store in a much maligned and very poor neighborhood. Cruel comments quickly surfaced on social media: “Chicago will have the healthiest gangbangers in the country. “Whoever thought of this must be drugged.” And then there were blacks – often not residents of Englewood – who predicted that Whole Foods would descend like a gentrified spaceship and that its reverberations would shift blacks to the new white owners.

This does not happen. Throughout the process, Whole Foods listened to residents’ requests not to make it a “half food”. As a reporter covering the South Side, I know Englewood well. My office was once located there and I live in the nearby Park Manor. So I attended community meetings where residents helped design the store, telling business leaders what they wanted on the shelves and on the walls. After the store opened in 2016, Whole Foods has become a gathering place for hot food and conviviality in an area devoid of sit-down restaurants. My mom and I would meet there for the Friday night special – five wine tastings and five appetizers for five dollars. My 2 year old daughter danced in the bread aisle while a DJ was spinning records and once at another show she even sat on a singer’s lap as a live band stood behind her. People were dancing in a line and jumping on hip hop.

Five years after Whole Foods started in Englewood, the neighborhood is still dark, still facing a volatile housing market and still trying to reverse divestment and displacement.

I’m telling this story not to promote Whole Foods, but to illustrate that the residents of Englewood – and other residents of Black Chicago – are not passive renters and owners. All over the neighborhood, homeowners are buying vacant lots on the blocks to beautify them, like Tina Hammond in West Englewood. She and her husband bought a lot for $ 1, decorating it with flowers and a wooden dance floor.

Academics say Chicago is the only city in the country with block club signs at the start of the streets, small pieces of painted public art demonstrating civic pride and educational behavior: no strolling, no car washing, no loud music. Powerful neighborhood clubs are proliferating in Englewood, as well as other black neighborhoods in Chicago, countering the stereotypical behavior of residents of those neighborhoods. A few years ago, bloc presidents sought to update the placards to honor elders or to convey a warmer and less reprimanded message: we promote laughter, peace, love, respect and community. . But the intention around the expectations of the community remains the same.

Technology and coffee, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Chickadee Coffeehouse & Deli, Barnum. Barnum Community Education is hosting the free event. Community members can come to the site for help with their cellphones, e-readers, tablets, laptops, social media platforms and more. Community education staff and Nathan Rimolde from RTS will be on hand to answer questions.

Free Chili Food, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Notre Rédempteur Church, 515, boul. Skyline, Cloquet. The Cloquet and Fond du Lac police departments are sponsoring the free meal event as part of the Maison du Père Noël for the Holidays.

Open doors of the library, 4 pm-6pm, Cloquet Public Library. Enjoy holiday crafts for all ages and refreshments. Story time with Santa Claus is at 5 p.m.

West End Open House, 4 pm-6pm, historic west district of Cloquet. Stroll through the historic West Cloquet district and enjoy the open house festivities at local businesses.

Photos with Santa Claus and dinner, 4.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m., Reine de la Paix, 102 4th street, Cloquet. A spaghetti dinner will be served. The cost is $ 10 for all ages 13 and over, $ 5 for children ages 3 to 12. Photos with Santa Claus by Alan Johnson Photography are included with meal purchase. The event also includes a holiday shop and Christmas crafts.

Pancake lunch, 8 am-10:30am, Churchill Elementary School, 515, rue Granite, Cloquet. Boy Scout Troop # 171 is sponsoring the Pancake Breakfast. The cost is $ 5 for people 13 and over, $ 3 for children 3 to 12. Please enter Arthur Street.

Holiday Expo Crafts Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Churchill Elementary School. Admission from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. is $ 5 per person and free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes entertainment and craft vendors.

Wood City Motors Holiday Event, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Wood City Motors, 701 Washington Ave., Cloquet. The event includes a magic show, holiday hay rides and live reindeer sponsored by MCCU.

Rings of Fire and S’mores, 4 p.m., Fire station in the Cloquet 1 sector, 508, avenue Cloquet, Cloquet. The Cloquet Educational Foundation is sponsoring the event featuring foyers and s’mores. Entertainment includes madrigals and Christmas carols. Hot chocolate will also be served.

Santa’s house for the holiday parade and fireworks, 5 p.m. The parade will move downtown on avenue Cloquet. The parade line starts at 4 p.m. The fireworks will begin immediately after the parade.

Copper Street Brass Holiday Concert, 2 p.m., Moose Lake Community School Auditorium. Agate Encores Community Concerts and Essentia Health feature the performance with everything from traditional Christmas carols to holiday rock tunes, from The Nutcracker to the Grinch! Tickets cost $ 5 for students and $ 15 for adults and can be purchased online at agateencores.org, from any board member, or at the door. Customers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable item for the food shelf. For the safety of users, masks are compulsory.

Digital wellness for teens, tweens and caregivers, 6 pm-7:30pm, Municipal Library of Cloquet. The Carlton County Youth Collaborative will discuss digital wellness. Caregivers can attend with their child or come alone. A light meal will be served and a babysitting service will be provided for younger siblings or family members.

Health insurance fraud awareness and prevention course, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., virtual. The Senior LinkAge Line will offer courses to help people discover the detection, prevention and reporting of Medicare fraud; avoid potential frauds and scams related to COVID-19; as well as other scams targeting the elderly. Participants will also learn to read and understand their Medicare Summary Reviews and other Medicare related documents. The course takes place online through the Microsoft Teams meeting platform. To register, visit https://www.arrowheadaging.org/classes-workshops-trainings or call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433.

Pioneers of County Carlton 55+ (formerly the Retired Men’s Group), 11 a.m., Cloquet VFW, 210, rue Arch. Social hour will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a meal at noon. Meatloaf, baked potato, a vegetable and dessert are on the menu. The cost is $ 10 per person. The guest speaker will be Holly Hansen, Director of Development for the Town of Cloquet. Members of the public are welcome.

COVID-19 Reminder Clinic, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Memorial community hospital, Cloquet. The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 booster will be available to anyone 18 years of age and over, provided six months have passed since your second dose of Moderna or Pfizer or two months since your dose of Johnson & Johnson. Please call (218) 879-1271 to register. The clinic will not accept an appointment.

Bethlehem Christmas Bazaar, sale of brunch and pastries, 9 a.m. to noon, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright.

Storybook walk, Barnum High School Nature Center. Barnum Community Education runs the walk, where participants can walk the trail in the center of nature and enjoy a story. The October march will take place from December 23 to 31 and will feature the book “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg.

Bell Al-Anon, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 am-11am, 103 10th rue, Cloquet. Closed meetings. The only requirement for membership is that a friend or relative has a drinking problem. Call 218-879-9884.

Clothing store, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., R-Tech Insulation Building, Minnesota Highway 73, Cromwell. No large loads will be accepted until further notice because the warehouse is full.

Cribbage, Thursdays, 6 p.m., Wright Seniors.

Anonymous players, Mondays, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 5 p.m. Lutheran Church of our Savior, 615 12e avenue, Cloquet. Use the entrance to the parking lot. For more information, call (855) 222-5542.

Bereavement support group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Pine Room at Community Memorial Hospital. This is a general grief support group that is best suited for adults. The group will be moderated by Peggy Maki and questions can be directed to 218-879-4976.

Narcotics Anonymous, Wednesdays from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., Alano Club, Cloquet. Call 877-767-7676 or visit naminnesota.org.

Riverview Toastmasters, Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., Cloquet. For more information, visit 5429.toastmastersclubs.org.

Wright Elders, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., seniors’ building.

Community tree lighting ceremony and cart ride, 4 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright.

Community listening session, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Carlton County Government Services Building, 1307 Cloquet Avenue, Cloquet. County Carlton has partnered with the Center for Public Impact to learn more about how government can support rural residents. The county is looking for 25 community members to share their expertise. They will be rewarded with a $ 25 gift card from the Center for Public Impact. Any member of the community living in rural areas of County Carlton like Holyoke, Barnum, Cromwell, Wrenshall, Kettle River, etc. are welcome to join us. Registration is compulsory. To register, contact Emily Rish at 218-900-7206 or emily.rish@co.carlton.mn.us.

Community listening session, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Virtual. County Carlton has partnered with the Center for Public Impact to learn more about how government can support rural residents. The county is looking for 25 community members to share their expertise. They will be rewarded with a $ 25 gift card from the Center for Public Impact. Any member of the community living in rural areas of County Carlton like Holyoke, Barnum, Cromwell, Wrenshall, Kettle River, etc. are welcome to join us. Registration is compulsory. To register, contact Emily Rish at 218-900-7206 or emily.rish@co.carlton.mn.us. Rish will email virtual participants information on how to connect.

Technology and coffee, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Chickadee Coffeehouse & Deli, Barnum. Barnum Community Education is hosting the free event. Community members can come to the site for help with their cell phones, e-readers, tablets, laptops, social media platforms and more. Community education staff and Nathan Rimolde from RTS will be on hand to answer questions.

Free Chili Food, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Notre Rédempteur Church, 515, boul. Skyline, Cloquet. The Cloquet and Fond du Lac police departments are sponsoring the free meal event as part of the Maison du Père Noël for the Holidays.

Open doors of the library, 4 pm-6pm, Cloquet Public Library. Enjoy holiday crafts for all ages and refreshments. Story time with Santa Claus is at 5 p.m.

West End Open House, 4 pm-6pm, historic west district of Cloquet. Stroll through the historic West Cloquet district and enjoy the open house festivities at local businesses.

Photos with Santa Claus and dinner, 4.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m., Reine de la Paix, 102 4th street, Cloquet. A spaghetti dinner will be served. The cost is $ 10 for all ages 13 and over, $ 5 for children ages 3 to 12. Photos with Santa Claus by Alan Johnson Photography are included with meal purchase. The event also includes a holiday shop and Christmas crafts.

Pancake lunch, 8 am-10:30am, Churchill Elementary School, 515, rue Granite, Cloquet. Boy Scout Troop # 171 is sponsoring the Pancake Breakfast. The cost is $ 5 for people 13 and over, $ 3 for children 3 to 12. Please enter Arthur Street.

Holiday Expo Crafts Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Churchill Elementary School. Admission from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. is $ 5 per person and free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes entertainment and craft vendors.

Wood City Motors Holiday Event, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Wood City Motors, 701 Washington Ave., Cloquet. The event includes a magic show, holiday hay rides and live reindeer sponsored by MCCU.

Rings of Fire and S’mores, 4 p.m., Fire station in the Cloquet 1 sector, 508, avenue Cloquet, Cloquet. The Cloquet Educational Foundation is sponsoring the event featuring foyers and s’mores. Entertainment includes madrigals and Christmas carols. Hot chocolate will also be served.

Santa’s house for the holiday parade and fireworks, 5 p.m. The parade will move downtown on avenue Cloquet. The parade line starts at 4 p.m. The fireworks will begin immediately after the parade.

Copper Street Brass Holiday Concert, 2 p.m., Moose Lake Community School Auditorium. Agate Encores Community Concerts and Essentia Health feature the performance with everything from traditional Christmas carols to holiday rock tunes, from The Nutcracker to the Grinch! Tickets cost $ 5 for students and $ 15 for adults and can be purchased online at agateencores.org, from any board member, or at the door. Customers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable item for the food shelf. For the safety of users, masks are compulsory.

Digital wellness for teens, tweens and caregivers, 6 pm-7:30pm, Municipal Library of Cloquet. The Carlton County Youth Collaborative will discuss digital wellness. Caregivers can attend with their child or come alone. A light meal will be served and a babysitting service will be provided for younger siblings or family members.

Health insurance fraud awareness and prevention course, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., virtual. The Senior LinkAge Line will offer courses to help people discover the detection, prevention and reporting of Medicare fraud; avoid potential frauds and scams related to COVID-19; as well as other scams targeting the elderly. Participants will also learn to read and understand their Medicare Summary Reviews and other Medicare related documents. The course takes place online through the Microsoft Teams meeting platform. To register, visit https://www.arrowheadaging.org/classes-workshops-trainings or call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433.

Bethlehem Christmas Bazaar, sale of brunch and pastries, 9 a.m. to noon, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright.

Storybook walk, Barnum High School Nature Center. Barnum Community Education runs the walk, where participants can walk the trail in the center of nature and enjoy a story. The October march will take place from December 23 to 31 and will feature the book “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg.

Bell Al-Anon, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 am-11am, 103 10th rue, Cloquet. Closed meetings. The only requirement for membership is that a friend or relative has a drinking problem. Call 218-879-9884.

Clothing store, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., R-Tech Insulation Building, Minnesota Highway 73, Cromwell. No large loads will be accepted until further notice because the warehouse is full.

Cribbage, Thursdays, 6 p.m., Wright Seniors.

Anonymous players, Mondays, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 5 p.m. Lutheran Church of our Savior, 615 12e avenue, Cloquet. Use the entrance to the parking lot. For more information, call (855) 222-5542.

Bereavement support group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Pine Room at Community Memorial Hospital. This is a general grief support group that is best suited for adults. The group will be moderated by Peggy Maki and questions can be directed to 218-879-4976.

Narcotics Anonymous, Wednesdays from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., Alano Club, Cloquet. Call 877-767-7676 or visit naminnesota.org.

Riverview Toastmasters, Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., Cloquet. For more information, visit 5429.toastmastersclubs.org.

Wright Elders, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., seniors’ building.

LONDON, November 15 2021 / PRNewswire / – Digivault, a leading provider of digital asset custody and Active Reality, the world’s first end-to-end solution to recover, manage and realize seized crypto assets, today announced a new partnership to make the digital asset ecosystem more secure by helping global enforcement agencies law and victims of cybercrime to recover their assets.

Soaring crypto prices and bullish market sentiment have increased participation to over 221M users around the world, however, the industry remains vulnerable to hacking and phishing events that exceed billions of dollars in losses each year. Secure storage of digital assets is an important last line of defense given the challenges associated with recovering assets once a breach has occurred.

With these factors in mind, Digivault and Asset Reality have teamed up to combine their unique industrial capabilities to help law enforcement agencies mitigate damage and loss to victims. Investigating and recovering crypto assets is a very complex task. As part of this partnership, Digivault will support Asset Reality law enforcement clients by providing them with their best secure storage for seized digital assets.

Digivault, as a member of the Nasdaq-listed EQONEX group (Nasdaq: EQOS), has been uniquely designed to provide the industry’s most secure and compliant custody solution for holders of digital assets. In May 2021, it set the standard, as the industry’s first registered stand-alone FCA custodian. It also complies with all institutional level security certification standards.

Launched in 2020 by a seasoned team of crypto asset recovery practitioners, Asset Reality was created to help law enforcement agencies as well as public and private sector clients navigate the complex process of asset recovery, including the investigation, management and realization of seized digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Speaking on the partnership, the CEO of Digivault Robert cooper said: “Digital assets and the technological infrastructure that supports them represent huge opportunities for the financial sector and investors. store their belongings. “

“This partnership with Asset Reality reflects our deep commitment not only to resolving security threats, but also to working across the industry to provide solutions that can help victims of crime and law enforcement. follow the recovery process with confidence. ”

Co-founder of Asset Reality Aidan Larkin said, “The rapid development of the digital asset space has created unforeseen challenges for global law enforcement agencies, which are grappling with varying levels of regulation, unscrupulous players and a community of new users. who may not be aware of the risks. While blockchain analytics tools have helped build confidence in blockchains, clients in the public and private sectors are now struggling to manage foreclosed assets like cryptocurrencies. “

“It was through the lens of this emerging challenge that we were able to see that an industry specific solution simply did not exist. By combining our internal experience in crypto investigations and asset forfeiture with strategic partnerships between industry leaders in investigation, analysis and custody, we move forward in Asset Reality’s mission to make cryptography safer and fairer. Partnering with companies like Digivault and benefiting from the expertise they bring to the table, makes our mission much easier.

As part of the partnership, Digivault and Asset Reality will also work together to raise awareness of industry threats and advocate for reasonable industry compliance standards.

“We are looking for partners who share our philosophy and our goal, so that together we can play a vital role in the advancement of the industry. Digivault, as a member of the EQONEX group, provides a crucial element in our efforts to help victims of crime and law enforcement, and we are delighted to expand our efforts to jointly educate and defend the means to ‘improve the industry,’ said Hugo elliot, co-founder of Asset Reality.

About Digivault

Digivault provides digital asset custody that integrates physical and virtual security, providing institutions with tangible solutions in a rapidly changing world. We offer a powerful custodian that combines multiple layers of protection, eliminating the need to trust a single person or a group of people. As a member of a company listed on the Nasdaq, we are accountable to the SEC, which means increased regulation. However, we eliminate the need for trust through our processes and technology, providing our customers with peace of mind. For more information visit: www.digivault.com

Digivault operates to the highest security standards in the industry, using FIPS140-2 validated Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). Digivault’s portfolios are Cyber ​​Essentials Plus accredited (an accreditation designed by the Department of Defense) and have recently been certified to ISO27001. Helios (hot solution) and Kelvin (cold solution) are both penetrated in accordance with CREST certification standards.

Follow Digivault on social networks on Twitter @Digivaultglobal and on LinkedIn

About EQONEX

EQONEX is a digital asset financial services company focused on equity, governance and innovation. The group includes the EQONEX cryptocurrency exchange as well as an over-the-counter trading platform. It also offers an integrated front-to-back trading platform, Access Trading, securitization advisory service EQONEX Capital, Digivault, the leading hot and cold market custodian, and asset manager Bletchley Park.

For more information visit: https: //.group.eqonex.com.

Follow Eqonex on social media on Twitter @eqonex, on Facebook @eqonex, and on LinkedIn.

About Asset Reality

As the multi-trillion crypto industry continues to grow, law enforcement, regulators, and the industry have no way of dealing with seized or illicit crypto assets. Asset Reality’s team of experienced crypto asset recovery practitioners has launched the world’s first end-to-end solution to recover, manage and sell seized crypto assets. Partnering with the world’s leading blockchain analytics companies and digital custodians, their platform will save time, reduce risk, and dramatically increase revenue from the sale of foreclosed assets. As part of the Techstars 2021 program, Asset Reality is creating solutions to make crypto safer for everyone.

This press release is provided by Diginex Limited (“Eqonex”) for informational purposes only, is a summary only of certain key Eqonex facts and plans, and includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, the press release does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in connection with any securities or other regulated products or services or to use any services provided by Eqonex, and neither this press release nor any of its elements will form the basis of any contract or commitment whatsoever. This press release has not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are beyond Eqonex’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: Eqonex’s limited operating history and history of net losses; Eqonex’s ability to execute its business plan; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Eqonex’s products; failure to obtain the required licenses and regulatory ratings or to partner with entities in certain jurisdictions to meet regulatory requirements; changes in laws or regulations; litigation and regulatory risks; Eqonex’s inability to successfully identify, hire and retain qualified individuals; competetion; Eqonex’s inability to successfully develop technology to serve its lines of business and keep pace with rapidly changing technology and customer or regulatory requirements; the risks of cyber incidents; dependence on suppliers and third party service providers; the inability to protect or preserve one’s property rights and the risk of infringing the intellectual property rights of others; potential conflict of interest resulting from the management of different business sectors; the risks of employee misconduct and manipulation of distributed ledger networks and smart contract technology by malicious actors; the risk that Eqonex will lose access to its private keys or the loss of data relating to its investments in digital assets; Eqonex’s ability to grow and manage its growth profitably; general economic and market conditions affecting demand for Eqonex products and services, other industry specific risks and other risks and uncertainties included in Form 20-F of Eqonex filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 30, 2021, including those mentioned under “Risk Factors” and in documents subsequently filed by Eqonex with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

In addition, all forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on what Eqonex believes to be reasonable as of this date. Eqonex makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required by law.

Copyright (c) Diginex Limited 2021.

SOURCE EQONEX