Yesterday I visited with Jonathan Peerboom – Program and Development Director of Next Step of West Michigan (Next Step) – a faith-based nonprofit employing people coming out of prison or rehab and providing them with a community of support that will help them integrate into the workforce, regain hope and empower themselves to create aContinue reading “Community Spotlight: Next Step of West Michigan – walking alongside the most vulnerable”
Tag Archives: Social Enterprise
Grand Rapids Social Enterprise, L3Cs and a Call to Community Partnership.
Yesterday I visited with Dr. Justin Beene – Founder of Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation (GRCCT) – a collective of non-profit/for-profits working to see flourishing in Grand Rapids for all. GCCT is essentially a hub for social enterprise, for the common good of the Greater Grand Rapids Area. GRCCT states on its website thatContinue reading “Grand Rapids Social Enterprise, L3Cs and a Call to Community Partnership.”
Today OCC Begins Accepting National Bank Charter Applications From FinTech Companies
It’s Tuesday in Grand Rapids. Beautiful mid-70s, a bit overcast and if you look carefully you can see the reflection of my shirt as I took the photo from my office window… Today, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced it will begin accepting applications for national bank charters from fintech companies.Continue reading “Today OCC Begins Accepting National Bank Charter Applications From FinTech Companies”
Detroit Startup Week Kicks Off – Schedule Now Available, Includes Legal Workshops
Today starts art festival in Grand Rapids – I took this photo just minutes ago. Summer is coming fast and so is Detroit Startup Week. Scheduled from June 18-22. According to its website, Startup week is: “A week long celebration of Detroit’s entrepreneurs. Volunteer-led and completely free for attendees, we are aiming to create a communityContinue reading “Detroit Startup Week Kicks Off – Schedule Now Available, Includes Legal Workshops”
Small Businesses and Startups: What you Don’t Know Can Hurt You.
It is truly starting to feel like summer in downtown Grand Rapids! This was the scene today from my office. Summer is coming fast and so is Detroit Startup Week. Scheduled from June 18-22. According to its website, Startup week is: “A week long celebration of Detroit’s entrepreneurs. Volunteer-led and completely free forContinue reading “Small Businesses and Startups: What you Don’t Know Can Hurt You.”
Michigan is Back Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: April 24, 2018 Benefit Corporation Legislation Proposed.
Good morning! Downtown Grand Rapids is starting to look and feel like spring. The trees are just starting to get their leaves – I can’t wait for West Michigan to become green once again. Speaking of new life – the legislature has breathed new life in the possibility of benefit corporations (“Bcorps”) becoming a viableContinue reading “Michigan is Back Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: April 24, 2018 Benefit Corporation Legislation Proposed.”
Real Estate Law Update: Evictions, Affordable Housing, Harassment provide an Opportunity for Investors to Shine Brightly.
I wrote my last post right before leaving for a week on the beautiful, warm beaches of Destin, Florida. We came back to snow. In Spring. Michigan has experienced some awful weather in the last week. I hope today is the turning point. Most of the snow is melting, as you can see from today’sContinue reading “Real Estate Law Update: Evictions, Affordable Housing, Harassment provide an Opportunity for Investors to Shine Brightly.”
Fintech Startup “Lemonade” Latest $120 Million Round of Funding – Following Through on Its Purpose Driven Mission.
“The key to disrupting a billion-dollar industry is ‘ignorance” check out this recent article on “Lemonade” via BusinessInsider In the past I have posted on Fintech Companies – and highlighted a few. One of those in particular is “Lemonade” a disrupter in the urban rental and home insurance industry. Check out an update onContinue reading “Fintech Startup “Lemonade” Latest $120 Million Round of Funding – Following Through on Its Purpose Driven Mission.”
Grand Rapids Combats Affordable Housing Crisis – Eviction Prevention Program
Updated: I posted a few years back about Kent County’s Eviction Prevention Program. I just saw this article about Muskegon’s Eviction Prevention Program. Check it out. It is good news to hear that there this program is achieving some success, keeping people out of homelessness. There is definitely more work to be done… You knowContinue reading “Grand Rapids Combats Affordable Housing Crisis – Eviction Prevention Program”
Today I was confronted with the Need For Affordable Housing in Grand Rapids.
Today I did what I routinely do on Thursdays around noon time – I visited the school where I mentor a student. I walked to the classroom and talked with his teacher who told me that this student was no longer enrolled in the school. Just like that, a relationship that I had developed overContinue reading “Today I was confronted with the Need For Affordable Housing in Grand Rapids.”
Purpose Driven General Counsel 