Letter from the Executive Director
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If the Pilgrims had been Italian, we'd be dining much better on Thursday...homemade pasta with pesto, mozzarella-in-carrozza, lasagna, cannoli, affogato. Yes, I risk offending devotees of Anglo-Saxon/New England cuisine, although I suspect they are few as evidenced by the lack of Queens restaurants specializing in green bean casseroles with limp onion topping. The point is that any cuisine is probably tastier than what we have inherited from those early settlers to Cape Cod. (Cod, another bland fish. Couldn't they have taken the lobsters from the bay and done them in a spicy fra diavolo sauce?)
Despite their food choices, we honor those refugees from England (and they were in fact refugees) not for their cooking abilities, but their forbearance under less then desirable conditions. They certainly were not perfect -- and this country's record toward natives to our land leaves a great deal to be desired -- but showing gratitude is noble. It's great to reflect on as we commence the holiday season.
It's hard these days to scan the headlines or peruse network feeds. Politically, there's a lot to be frightful for -- disenfranchisement of so many; meanness and bullying emanating from the highest levels of government; and a disintegration of social norms. So what can we be thankful for? Let's consider significant, life-affirming events that don't make the headlines and people who may not be considered "important."
A few weeks ago, JetBlue announced that an Entrepreneur Space client, Luv Michael, had become a partner in the BlueBud mentoring program. This will enable the organic, gluten-free granola makers to grow their business, but Luv Michael does not just make granola. The company trains, educates, and employs adults on the autism spectrum. Those who work for Luv Michael might not be considered "important," but in my mind, they are invaluable to our society.
I'm also thankful for my niece, Marla, who in fact cooks a terrific turkey with all the classic side dishes. Her green bean casserole has crispy onion topping! It will be enjoyed by our ever-growing brood, though I suspect we'll end up somewhere in Queens over the weekend to enjoy some more great food that has a little more spice!
Sincerely,
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News You Can Use
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Help for Doing Business with the Government: Learn how to get certified as a Minority/Woman Business Enterprise with New York City and New York State. Learn how to obtain government contracts and how to leverage the certification to get more private sector business. Free at the Entrepreneur Space, Thursday, Nov. 30, 10 am to noon.
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Women's Power Networking Breakfast: Technology and Your Business Food, fun, interesting people, and a presentation by Anita Srivastava, co-founder of FHL Enterprises, a women-owned technology and procurement company, and the director of product for Biscuit & Chai, a mobile and web app development company. Anita will discuss ways to advance a business in a tech-savvy world. Expect her to emphasize how mobile and web development will improve operational efficiency, increase customer engagement, and grow sales. Free at Queens Borough Hall, Thursday, Dec. 14, 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Free.
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QEDC is raising the bar for local products via the Made in Queens brand, which is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. If you manufacture in Queens, we can help you get MiQ® certification if your product meets the three pillars of this brand: unique, quality, and local. Adding the MiQ® logo to packaging will tell consumers your product is authentic and top-notch.
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QEDC acknowledges the support of the following: Astoria Bank, BNB Bank, Board of QEDC; Capital One Bank, Citi Community Development; Citi Foundation; Coffeed; Con Edison; Courtyard LaGuardia Hotel; Courtyard LIC Hotel; Delta Air Lines; Emily Lin + Associates; Fairfield Astoria Hotel; Farrell Fritz; Holiday Inn LAG; Holiday Inn Manhattan View; Hollis Center Mall; IBEW Local 3; Kaufman Astoria Studios; LaGuardia Partners; LaGuardia Plaza Hotel; Lawyers Alliance; Local Tastes; Marriott LaGuardia Hotel; NYC & Company Foundation; NYC City Council, NYC Department of Small Business Services, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and the Queens Delegation; NYC Economic Development Corporation; New York Community Bank Foundation; New York Daily News; NYS State Assembly Members Catherine T. Nolan, ; NY Mets; New York State Empire Development Corporation; NY Sci; Nomad Bicycle; Office of the Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz; Queens Botanical Garden; Queens Center; Queens Historical Society; Queens Museum; People's Bank; Plaxall; Resorts World Casino New York City; Sholom & Zuckerbrot Real Estate; Signature Bank; Silvercup Studios; Small Business Administration; Square Wines & Spirits; TD Bank Foundation; The D&F Development Group; The Driscoll Group; The Mattone Group; The NYC District Council of Carpenters; The Port Authority of NY & NJ; The Queens Tourism Council; The Shops at Atlas Park; The USTA; United Customs Services; USDA; Vass Development; Webline Designs; and
Wyndham Garden Long Island City Manhattan View.
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