Immigrant Entrepreneurs Creating Jobs and Strengthening the U.S. Economy in Growing Industries

The focus of this report evolved from a 2010 conference at Babson College on "Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Massachusetts" sponsored by The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) from which two key ideas emerged. One is that there is an "immigrant entrepreneurship ecology" that includes immigrant neighborhood storefront businesses; immigrant high-tech and health science entrepreneurs; immigrant non-tech growth businesses; and immigrant transnational businesses. A second idea was that these growing, non-tech industries (including transportation, food and building services) have not attracted much attention. Interestingly, these sectors can be crucial to the expansion of the green economy. Within this context, The ILC decided to look at these three sectors in Massachusetts as well as in New York and Pennsylvania.Moreover, the report dramatically illustrates how immigrant entrepreneurs look for niches in underserved markets. For example, vans and other alternatives to mass transit serve unmet transportation needs in urban areas. Food intended to be a "taste of home" for compatriots in local restaurants and grocery stores becomes popular and influences the eating habits of other Americans. Workers who enter industries like landscaping or cleaning because they don't require much English gain experience and see opportunities to start their own companies. Businesses like these add value to American life by expanding the economy rather than taking away from native businesses

Circles of community and the decline of civil society

Thesis advisor: Michael MalecThis essay is based upon the results of an exploratory research project that explores the ways in which twenty-four (24) individuals, who self-identify as African Americans, define community and use those definitions to inform their perceptions and discussions about civic engagement, responsibility, and community memberships, key themes in the decline of community cultural critique. The research focuses on these themes because they are at the heart of the decline of civil society – individuals are becoming atomistic, alienated, and disengaged from social and interpersonal relationships with family members, neighbors and friends. This psychological and physical distancing leads to a lack of participation in community life and institutions and the loss of social and cultural capital. The structural-functionalist and systemic analyses, upon which much of the decline of civil society social commentary is based, incorrectly assume a linear continuum of human and societal development. When in fact social, political, and economic development actually occur at different stages and at times simultaneously. There is a false dichotomy between the macrolevel theories of urban-rural, folk-peasant, organic-mechanical, and instrumental-expressive models often used to explain and, or predict the nature of conditions under which social relationships and institutional dynamics occur. These macrolevel theories appear to ignore or at least minimize the significance of microlevel interactions. Microlevel interactions are formal, informal social and civic transactions that routinely occur in nearly every type of situation or setting. Virtually everyone who participates in society is a member of multiple communities, what is referred to in this study as circles of communities. These multiple communities offer researchers the opportunity to investigate why and how people place themselves in spatial, social, ideological, and experiential relationship or proximity to other community members and institutions. They are also where we are able to locate community despite the pace of change and transformation in contemporary society. The articulation of the decline of civil society as a social problem continues to privilege those with power and influence in American society. Academics, politicians, writers and editors, religious leaders, radio and talk show hosts and many others have been able to gain credibility, implement policies and impose normative standards for civic engagement. These standards are often used to identify insiders and outsiders in society. This research adds the voices of those who have been excluded from the discussion and recognizes them as experts both in terms of their own experiences and important contributors to the current body of social commentary and observations about community and associational living in modern America.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2008.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Sociology

Council housing sales in Great Britain : marginalization or cooptation

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1985.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCHBibliography: leaves 70-74.by Marlene L. Bryant.M.C.P

Recurrent meningitis in a case of congenital anterior sacral meningocele and agenesis of sacral and coccygeal vertebrae Meningite recorrente em um paciente com meningocele sacral anterior e agenesia sacral e coccigea

A rare case of recurrent meningitis due to congenital anterior sacral meningocele and agenesis of the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae is described. An autosomal dominant inheritance is demonstrated for lower cord malformation, and environmental factors (chromic acid or fumes) are discussed.<br>Um caso raro de meningite recorrente devido a meningocele sacral anterior e agenesia das vértebras sacras coccígeas é descrito. Herança autossômica dominante para malformação medular caudal é demonstrada e, possíveis fatores ambientais (ligados ao cromo), são discutidos