The ELP Exchange: August 2009

2002

Annis Gill-Miller wrote Preparation leads to better chances for a business loan in the July/August 2009 edition Women's Business Boston. Read article.

The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine reported a story, Young, Black and Running. The story features ELP Alum Chip Greenidge of the National Black College Alliance, and also mentions ELP Alum Robert Fortes, and ELP nominee for the 2010 cohort, Tito Jackson in their bids for City Council.

Excerpt: The young's criticism of their political elders extends beyond age. Politically active members of Generation X suggest the current officeholders are too given to confrontation, particularly along racial lines. "I think we're faster to collaborate and reach consensus," says George "Chip" Greenidge, 35, executive director of the National Black College Alliance, which takes high school students on tours of historically black colleges, helps them apply to institutions of higher learning, and during the past year has sponsored intergenerational dialogues. A master networker, Greenidge has more than 3,000 friends on Facebook.

For the first time, black candidates for at-large council seats are stacked up, though it remains to be seen how many make it past the September 22 preliminary, which will winnow the field to eight for the November 3 election. If elected, Pressley would be the first African-American woman on the council. Ezedi would be the first with African immigrant roots (his father is Nigerian). The other African-Americans in the citywide race are Scotland Willis, Robert Fortes and Tito Jackson, all Generation Xers. Jean-Claude Sanon, a boomer, would be the first of Haitian descent. Read article.

Note: see also Marc Lucas (Brockton), and Greg Wilmot (Randolph) below.

2003

John Heffernan is quoted in the Boston Business Journal, A bitter pill: Massachusetts' stringent health care gift ban is putting a major crimp in doctor's ability to network, by Mary K. Pratt, page 28, August 14-20, 2009. "It limits what they can do as far as when they can meet, where they can meet," said John Heffernan, vice president of policy and external affairs at the nonprofit Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. "It's definitely going to affect how companies market their products, and they might even cut back on their work force - which means jobs in this state."
Read more (requires paid subscription to the BBJ to read the full article).

Eduardo Tobon is a participant in a Harvard program called Next Generation Executive. Nearly 30 minority executives from around the country were invited to be part of the first class and spend a week attending intensive sessions at the school aimed at helping them advance even higher. Tobon is quoted and pictured in a Boston Globe article about the program.

2004
Edwin Asamoah of City Year received a certificate in Facilities Management from Northeastern University this past June.

Lisa Davis reports she welcomed her daughter, Simone, on December 9, 2008. Also, she will be relocating to New York City on September 1. She can be reached at lisandavis@yahoo.com.

Georgianna Melendez' Op Ed about the Gates incident appeared in the Boston Globe, June 22, 2009, titled The unfinished work of equality. Read article.

2005

Ron Bell (far right)and Devin Cole (2009 fellow, second from left) were pictured in the Bay State Banner, August 13, 2009, page 2. Bell headed the Young Adults Forum aimed at keeping young people in Massachusetts on August 5. Also pictured far left, Tito Jackson, ELP nominee for the 2010 cohort.

Paul Francisco, as president of the Boston chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), was quoted in the Boston Business Journal, August 3, page 4, Meeting highlights Hub's stature in Latino group, by Mary Moore. Read more (requires paid subscription to the BBJ to read the full article).

Marc Lucas of NStar is running for City Councilor At-Large in his hometown of Brockton, MA to fill a vacancy. People can follow the campaign or get involved by visiting www.lucas2009.com. They can also read his ideas for the city by visiting www.thebrocktonplan.com. He would welcome any support from ELP cohorts.

Greg Wilmot is running for Councilor At-Large in the Town of Randolph. For many years, he has been active in the Town of Randolph and other Greater Boston neighborhoods, serving as an officer, volunteer, or supporter of a number of local organizations and initiatives committed to serving our community. To learn more about his campaign, visit http://gregorywilmot.com/.

2006

Deb Fournier has left AIDS Action Committee to become a Senior Policy Analyst at the Office of Medicaid. She can be reached at debfour@gmail.com.

2007

Jos�Alberto Betances and his wife, Michelle, welcomed their first child, little miss Amara Solina Marie, on June 27, 2009.

Francois Fils-Amie is the METCO Director for the Marblehead Public School System. METCO stands for Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity. He will be working with communities from Boston and Marblehead to ensure the academic and social success of the students of Boston take place.

Wendy Lement is developing a new interactive play for elementary school students about the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912. Produced by Theatre Espresso, American Tapestry: Immigrant Children of the Bread and Roses Strike, will be in residence at Lawrence Heritage State Park starting in fall 2010. Wendy will serve as a panelist at the 2009 American Association for Theatre in Higher Education Convention in New York. The panel is entitled, "DARE! DARE TO RISK! Arts Education Leaps into Higher Ed and the Community at Large: New Findings." On a personal note - some of you may remember that Wendy's boyfriend Howard Paisner was in a near fatal car accident on Valentine's Day during the ELP in 2007. Wendy and Howard were just married on May 31 and are living in Jamaica Plain.

Jason Schupbach, MOBD, is featured in the July 27 Boston Business Journal article: Mass. Making its pitch for more commercial shoots, by Lisa Van Der Pool. "We're trying to grow the talent pool here to help the local film and television industry grow. A key piece of that is to encourage more commercials to be shot here in the state." Read more (requires paid subscription to the BBJ to read the full article).

2008

Michelle Caldeira, Pine Street Inn and Cedric Sinclair, Boston Architectural College have been tapped by The Committee to Elect Tito Jackson (ELP nominee for the 2010 cohort) for the Boston City Council At-Large race. Michelle has accepted the role of Director of Fundraising and Cedric has joined the team as Director of Communications in addition to their continued responsibilities at the Pine Street Inn and the Boston Architectural College. For more information on Michelle Caldeira and Cedric Sinclair's work with The Committee to Elect Tito Jackson please contact titojacksonforboston@gmail.com or visit www.titojacksonforboston.com.

Stephen Roger of First Marblehead received an MBA from Babson College.

Shak� Sulikyan has accepted a new position as the Director of Annual Giving at Harvard Medical School and will be leaving Pine Manor on August 28. Her updated email is ssulikyan@hotmail.com.

2009

On August 3, Boston World Partnerships celebrated their first six months of progress on making Boston the first city in the world to implement a global alumni strategy as a high-powered, cost-efficient tool for creating economic growth. Attendees included members of the 2009 cohort: Lenna Bablouzian, Jesse Wong, and Monica Kachru (pictured).

More about the BWP event >>

A few pictures >>

Brad Davenport is leaving EMC to pursue an MBA at MIT's Sloan School in the fall. His updated email is bradleysdavenport@gmail.com.

Lauren Jones, formerly of the MOBD, is now the Assistant Director of Policy and Communications in the Office of Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray.