Membership Booklet

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Shaw continued from page 31
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without being forced to relocate, which
will increase retention of minority employees
in the Corridor area.
re must be elevated positions
within those companies where people
can achieve in the corporate environment
without having to leave this local
area for advanced career opportunities
elsewher he says.
transcends a profession, a
business and a r says Shaw. is
a state of mind where people are trying
to raise the collective body. Dont window
dress it it is necessary for the col-
lective good such that everyone benefits
from diversity and inclusiveness, with
the anticipated result that many of the
ills we have will be
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Applying life lessons through law
Shaw recognizes that the practice
of law can be at odds with his personal
mission of rying to help people at
whatever stage re but he is insistent
that it doesnt have to be the case.
He continues to practice the lessons
instilled in him by his mother and late
pastor. is possible to a case by
maintaining decorum and integrity and
doing it in such a way that neither party
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
feels that they he says.
am a reflection of each of my
says Shaw, noting the common
issues that people face include caring for
aging parents and budgeting time and
resources to give back to the community.
He approaches each case by determining
quickest resolution that takes the
sting believing it is the best and
most efficient way to problem solve.
application of the law and a
persons response to the application of
the law can make you question humanity.
But the favorable resolutions the
nuggets of success make the practice
of law much easier
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Vasquez continued from page 33
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small businesses get over obstacles and
hur says Vasquez. He also notes
that partnerships with educational institutions
like Augustana College in Rock
Island and Western Illinois University in
Macomb have helped individuals learn
about the funding and marketing needs
of a small business.
Vasquez is careful, however, to point
out that while the GQCHCC has panic
in its title, it is an organization
committed to the overall success and economic
development of the areas it serves.
thinking is that we serve two
different he says. We
offer information for the Hispanic population
and its small businesses. But if our
assistance helps just one small business
add one person to the workforce, then it
is a success. Helping the Hispanic community
grow and succeed in turn helps
the larger community gain economic
power and gr
The Hispanic population in the Quad
Cities and surrounding Illinois areas
has increased steadily in recent years,
leading to an increase in informational
requests to the GQCHCC.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau,
in 2010, 16 percent of Americans selfidentified
as being of Hispanic or Latino
origin, compared to only 13 percent of
the total population in 2000. Vasquez
notes that Scott County in Iowa has
seen a 40 percent increase in Hispanic
residents and Rock Island County has
experienced a 30 percent jump.
Quad Cities has a robust number
of different organizations working
with the Hispanic population to offer
pr says Vasquez.
As the only Hispanic chamber of
commerce between Chicago and Omaha,
the need for services is increasing.
We are starting to get interest from
folks in the Corridor says Vasquez.
driving force is that people see
growth in the Hispanic population and
the economic development issues that
come along with it, and businesses start
to see the power of our or
Vasquez notes that the board of
directors is currently reviewing options,
but may consider offering programs and
other assistance in the Corridor area or
regionally, as need demands.
As The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce considers additional
programmatic areas, you can bet
Vasquez will spearhead the expansion
with his trademark positive attitude.
We are extremely excited about doing
more in the Corridor he says.
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Statistics Report:
Economic
Development
100
The numbers of targeted small
businesses in Linn and Johnson
counties.
A target small business is a certified
business owned by women,
people of color and person with
disabilities.
66,270
The number of women
working self-employed
businesses
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Inclusive Communities 37