Number 159 February 25, 2021 St. Louis
Justine PETERSEN Launches “Paradigm Inverting” buddyFINANCE
You should never be alone. Be it scaling a mountain or building financial assets. Wedding core principles of international microfinance with the fundamental need for humans to collectively solve problems, Justine PETERSEN is proud to launch buddyFINANCE, a human-centered and human-reliant methodology and pedagogy in financial asset building that harnesses the spirit, strength and endurance of human relationships. buddyFINANCE motivates the individual to “find his or her asset building soulmate,” so that that their collective asset building trajectory is forever supported and bolstered by qualities that only humans can offer to one another. An “about-face” to asset building practices that are solely platform driven, buddyFINANCE by contrast is a “face-to-face” mutual asset-building experience that inverts the contemporary paradigm where the human element is divorced from the primal need to communicate, interact and collectively problem-solve.
buddyFINANCE: Everybody needs a buddy.
To learn more contact Galen at ggondolfi@justinepetersen.org or call 314.533.2411 x132.
The Future of Partnership Post-Black History Month
Penned by Shawna Collier, Chief Partnership Officer at Justine PETERSEN, this is the final installment in a four-part series that has run each Friday in The JP UP date during Black History Month.
So here we are, approaching the close of Black History Month, and I ask: “Where do we go from here?” Each week in The JP UP date I have discussed, recognized and celebrated partnership, but what about what lies next? What does the future of partnership look like so that we all continue on a concerted journey to realize economic prosperity?
I think it starts with committing to contributing, on a daily basis, to efforts that narrow the racial equity gap and benefit all. It translates to real action in real time. Pausing to reflect during Black History Month is a constructive exercise, but we must ensure that our willingness to chart a new future transcends 28 days, that the role of partnership must not only continue to grow, but along the way bear fruit.
My challenge to my peers, colleagues and fellow community members is to embrace the power of partnership every day of the year, every day of our lives. And to remain committed to each other regardless of what each day may bring in terms of new and seemingly formidable obstacles.
We can do this. I know we can.
JP Participates in 33rd Annual Illinois Rural Community Economic Development Conference
For the fifth consecutive year, Justine PETERSEN has presented at the annual Illinois Rural Community Economic Development Conference facilitated by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University in conjunction with the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council. Titled “Repositioning Rural for Economies of the Future,” this year’s conference put front and center the state of rural micro-economies after suffering through two years of the pandemic. JP staffer Galen Gondolfi presented along with representatives from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and USDA Rural Development, discussing the wide array of Covid-recovery programs available to small businesses across the state.
Kickin’ *%&!
Justine PETERSEN is the proud sponsor of the Hartwig F.C. soccer team which includes JP staffer Ivo Vukomanovic as a team member. On the field and in the office, Ivo is a stellar team player. Over the past 20 years, the team has won 15 championships as part of a local indoor amateur soccer league!
Pictured above is Ivo with Mike Hartwig, the captain, namesake and founder of the soccer club.
