President, Todd Nicholson, convened the Hybrid Inspiration Lounge meeting with a welcome to all.  Todd thanked the tech team (Matt Magers), in-person greeter, (Dick Nicholson), online greeter (Ellen Kennedy) and scribe (Linda Boss); and he then led the members in reciting the Rotary 4-Way Test. 

 

Dick Nicholson called for introductions of visiting Rotarians and guests.  A new member, Sarah Guy-Levar, introduced herself. She is a Rotarian transferring to Club 10 from Ely, Minnesota.

 

Beth Naughton introduced the program speaker, Enrique Blanco, the Director of Operations for LEDC: Latino Economic Development Center, a community-based Community Development Financial Institution serving Minnesota’s Latino and immigrant communities since 2003. 

 

Enrique moved to Minnesota from his dual hometowns of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas in 2012 and currently lives in Minneapolis.  He holds an MSc in Security Technologies with a minor in Cybersecurity from the University of Minnesota and, prior to joining LEDC, worked as an advisory professional with global firms serving Latin American clients.

 

Enrique spoke enthusiastically and with a sense of pride about the work of LEDC.  He grouped LEDC’s services into four general categories. Business Development which focuses on helping new Latino entrepreneurs and existing businesses with specialized technical assistance.  During the pandemic and civil unrest of the past two of years LEDC provided member businesses with pandemic-related technical assistance, emergency loans and grants.  Agriculture which focuses on USDA technical assistance to new and existing Latino-owned farms and improving market access for Latino grown produce.  Employment and Training which focuses on providing employment guidance, business and certification classes, English classes and personal coaching.   Lending which focuses on providing capital to Latino entrepreneurs and business owners often not available through traditional sources.  Enrique closed by describing LEDC’s development in the Payne/Phalen area where it purchased a building that now serves as its headquarters as well as spaces for Latino businesses.

 

Todd asked members celebrating birthdays in February or March to stand and be acknowledged.  Christopher Taykalo and Michael-jon Pease (February birthdays) were greeted with a round of applause.

 

Todd then announced the next Hybrid Signature Lunch Meeting on March 8 with speaker Paul Mooty, Vice Chairman and Partner at Faribault Woolen Mill Company and an update on Camp RYLA.

 

Following the announcements, the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted by Linda Boss