Boston Ujima Project

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we interviewed members of our Ujima Good Business Alliance. Sydney Janey Design is a boutique design agency owned by Sydney Janey (the founder, creative principal, and strategic director) and has a unique voice that speaks to the world that we live in, prioritizing fresh and clean visual communication. A graduate from both the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Sydney is a passionate maker and a neighborhood shaker, engaged in volunteer work and service alongside a multitude of civic organizations and nonprofits. Sydney Janey Design is a state- and city-certified woman-owned, minority-owned business (M/WBE), and offers services including Brand Development, Brand Management, Marketing, and Graphic Design. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

Join the #NextEconomyMBA from Lift Economy starting September 17th to transform systems and build new ones in a supportive community! Don't miss our final intro sessions on August 8th and 20th—free opportunities to see if this is the right fit for you. Use promo code BOSTONUJIMAMB@ for a 10% discount on tuition, and equity pricing is available for BIPOC participants. Register now for a complimentary seat in Cohort XIII with code KEYPARTNERMB@! Learn more and sign up for a free intro ➡️ https://lnkd.in/edsAabUa

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we interviewed members of our Ujima Good Business Alliance. The Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust (BNCLT) describes themselves as "community activists, supporters and residents of the CLT who are committed to breaking down racial inequities and housing injustice by putting affordable housing into the hands and control of the community"–and this is borne out in the projects they take on as a nonprofit, working to keep rental homes affordable in the long-term and ensuring that people can stay in their own neighborhoods. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we interviewed members of our Ujima Good Business Alliance. Hillside Harvest (@hillsideharvestsauce), a sauce and marinade company, strives to, "continue the tradition of introducing people to unique flavors and recipes;" founder Kamaal Jarrett brings Caribbean inspiration from his Jamaican upbringing and heritage, along with business acumen and small business partnerships (including with Nubian Markets), to bear on Boston's local gastronomy and economy. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we interviewed members of our Ujima Good Business Alliance. Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (@dsniorg) has long offered a nationwide model of community control. From its roots in grassroots community organizing, gathering folks in Roxbury and North Dorchester to address illegal dumping in their neighborhoods in 1986, to the launch of its community land trust in 1988, to gaining the power of eminent domain in the Dudley Triangle neighborhood (allowing DSNI to consolidate land to build housing), to its current role as an executor of community will on its land trust, DSNI has had to adapt its strategies and actions to meet community needs. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we spotlight our legal technical assistance partners at Morgan Lewis. As a practicing lawyer with 40 years of experience, Carl Valenstein specializes in domestic and international corporate and securities matters, mergers and acquisitions, project development, and transactional finance. For more than 20 years, Carl has provided legal assistance to microfinance institutions and assisted public charities, foundations, social enterprises and entrepreneurs, impact investment venture capital funds, and other impact investors. He is a founding member of the Impact Investment Lawyers Legal Working Group, which holds annual conferences. In 2023, he was recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for his recent pro bono efforts across the region. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we spotlight our legal technical assistance partners at Morgan Lewis. Benjamin Stein, a partner in Morgan Lewis's Boston office, represents public and private companies in a variety of corporate transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt financings, and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered securities offerings. He counsels public companies with respect to securities disclosure issues, corporate governance matters, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq compliance issues, and reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ben also has experience representing both companies and underwriters in a variety of capital markets transactions. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we interviewed members of our Ujima Good Business Alliance. Shanti, derived from the Sanskrit word for 'peace,' aims to provide guests with a tranquil dining experience through its ambiance and its cuisine. Beyond traditional Indian dishes, Shanti offers a taste of Bangladeshi-style cooking known as Bhuna. Founded by owner Solmon Chowdhury in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1999, Shanti has since expanded (in collaboration with Solmon's wife and business co-owner Rokeya Chowdhury) to locations in Roslindale (2013) and Cambridge (2016). Recognized as 'Boston's Best' Indian cuisine by various publications, including Improper Bostonian and Boston Magazine, Shanti prides itself on offering a diverse menu with ample vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

☀️ In this edition of the Spring/Summer 2024 Investor Report, we spotlight our legal technical assistance partners at Morgan Lewis. Ashley P. Keenan, an associate with Morgan Lewis, represents developers, lenders, equity investors, sponsors, and utilities in connection with project development, project finance, and general corporate transactions related to electrical generation and infrastructure projects. Ashley also represents companies in corporate and finance matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and debt and equity financings. Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/ewC5WNf

August is a yearly rest month for Ujima. We will revise, reflect, and plan with each other to ensure that the rest of our year together coheres and expands. We will have no #UjimaWednesday programming, Ujima Cafe or member team meetings this month, as we use this time to collect ourselves. Check out our events page to see upcoming community events! See you in September! And have a great summer ☀️