Month: July 2023

Originally published on Illumina News Center

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples asserts “the right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services.” When the 159-member General Assembly adopted the declaration in 2007, only four members voted against it: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

In the years since, all four countries have reversed their positions and now endorse it. Canada’s government even passed an act requiring its laws to be consistent with the declaration, emphasizing that Indigenous peoples’ free, prior, and informed consent be given for any decisions that affect them.

The dream of precision medicine is to tailor diagnoses and treatments to each patient based on their individual DNA and living environment. If a patient with a suspected genetic disorder belongs to an ethnic population that’s well represented in reference databases, their doctor can rule out the vast majority of their personal genetic variations that are common among that population and unlikely to be causing disease. But most of the genomic data currently available comes from people of European ancestry.

The lack of reference data for Canada’s Indigenous groups leaves clinicians with hundreds of thousands of variants of unknown significance, creating health care inequity as Indigenous patients face more difficult and uncertain paths to diagnosis.

Correcting this inequity is possible only through sustained, concerted partnerships between researchers, clinicians, and Indigenous communities across Canada, and the Silent Genomes Project, based out of the University of British Columbia (UBC), is forging those partnerships.

Indigenous governance over Indigenous data

The Silent Genomes Project launched in 2018, with Dr. Laura Arbour, Dr. Nadine Caron, and Dr. Wyeth Wasserman as co-leads.

Arbour, a professor in UBC’s Department of Medical Genetics, has been working directly with Indigenous communities for over 20 years to address the genetic component of health. She remembers that when she came to her first pediatric residency rotation in Nunavut, “there were assumptions that social determinants were causing all health problems, and that’s not so.”

Caron is a surgical oncologist and professor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Surgery, whose passion is for Indigenous health and Canadian health policy; she also holds the distinction of being the first female First Nations general surgeon in Canada.

Wasserman is a fellow medical genetics professor at UBC, a senior scientist in the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and a computational biologist—in his words, a “data geek”—who became involved in this work once his lab began applying next-generation genomic sequencing to identify the causes of metabolic disorders.

The Silent Genomes Project is organized around four activities—the first and most critical of which is ensuring Indigenous governance of, and community engagement in, the project itself.

Geographic conditions play some role in limiting Indigenous peoples’ participation in medical research—although 90% of Canada’s population lives within 160 kilometers of the US border, about 60% of its Indigenous population lives in rural or remote areas—but the most pernicious barrier is US and Canadian historical context, which is filled with shameful examples of authorities neglecting minority populations and knowingly inflicting harm.

The project’s non-Indigenous team members are constantly aware of how these failures work against their long-term efforts to build trust. “There’s an awful lot of people who step in and then step out,” Wasserman says. “Dr. Arbour brought me to a meeting of the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds early on, and I remember someone next to me said, ‘We welcome you here, but we’ll see if you’re still here in five years.’”

Arbour emphasizes that “our project could only be carried out with Indigenous involvement right from the start.” That involvement included Caron’s leadership role in the project; the International Indigenous Genomic Advisory Committee, composed of Indigenous scholars and scientists (from, incidentally, all four countries that originally voted against the UN declaration); communities with an interest in research, and a steering committee, whose members come from Indigenous communities across Canada.

The Precision Diagnosis Study and Indigenous Background Variant Library

The project’s second activity was a precision diagnosis study, which offered whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to 100 Indigenous families with a suspected but undiagnosed genetic condition. The families enrolled through referrals to one of 11 Medical Genetics centers across six provinces.

About a quarter of those patients have already received clear diagnoses from their WGS data, a few of whom have gone on to participate in larger projects to understand the cellular basis for their conditions. About 50% of variant information provided back to clinicians for their patients was uncertain. Arbour says that scientists would have a better chance to understand the variants if they had a more relevant Indigenous background variant library (IBVL) to reference them against—but no such library yet exists.

Creating that IBVL is the project’s third activity, which is still in progress. An initial set of 600 samples has been approved for sequencing. After communities approve participation, each DNA sample is given to the Silent Genomes project in a deidentified tube—no record of the individual or community name is provided, only a unique number. The data from the study will be available only in the aggregate (showing that a particular variant appears in X percent of the library) and only for clinical diagnosis, not as an open-source research repository.

“Many Indigenous people are concerned about open data because of concerns that genomic information could be used against them, or that their data will benefit others, leaving Indigenous people with continued health disparity,” Arbour explains. “And that’s not going to change just because open data is a mainstream standard of practice. All that does is prevent people from participating. Unless we start to really change the way we do things, there’s going to be continued inequity.”

Justice matters

The project’s fourth activity will be to look at the big picture, assessing the economic impact of precision diagnosis for Indigenous children. Although the impact of the IBVL data can not yet be assessed, the team members’ anecdotal experiences paint a promising picture.

“In ending the diagnostic odyssey, you also have a chance to build community,” Wasserman says. Once families have that diagnosis, they often connect with other families around the world who share it. Older children can lend their insights on what to expect from treatment. “It makes the world a little smaller.”

Matching funding for the project’s second and third activities was provided in part by Illumina. “Illumina is the engine by which clinical diagnosis of rare disease is carried out around the world,” Wasserman says. “Particularly in Canada, almost all the clinical samples are being applied to Illumina platforms, and the data’s coming off Illumina systems. The Illumina team’s enthusiasm to find a way to make this work from the very beginning was clear and outstanding.”

Arbour acknowledges the ambitious scope of the project and that much work remains to be done, but they’ve already made substantial progress thanks to the years they’ve invested in building community partnerships. “The Silent Genomes Project has exposed what we need to do better,” she says. “It was a good start, and if we can spend a bit of time using our individual expertise to open doors, that’s going to make a massive difference. We need to consider who’s being left out and why. Justice matters, and when people are being left out and we have the ability to open doors, we have an obligation to do so.”

Learn more about how Illumina is working to increase genomic data diversity here.

Originally published on U.S. company blog

Four U.S. Bank clients had a special reason to celebrate this year during National Small Business Week. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named them Businesspeople of the Year for their contributions as entrepreneurs and small business owners who are creating thriving businesses and helping their community by doing so.

National, state and territory award winners are celebrated during National Small Business Week during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Abdirahman Kahin, Afro Deli & Grill 
National Small Businessperson of the Year, National SBA

For Abdirahman Kahin, the owner of Afro Deli & Grill in St. Paul, Minnesota, the recognition of being named the National Small Businessperson of the Year by the SBA and meeting with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman in Washington, D.C., in May is proof of one thing.

“It shows just how important small businesses are for the economy of this country,” said Kahin, whose Afro Deli & Grill fast-casual restaurant serves fresh African cuisine.

Kahin, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1996, said he “had a dream and an ambition to grow the business and that came from a lot of sacrifice throughout the years.”

Kahin opened his first Afro Deli & Grill in 2011, and today operates four brick-and-mortar locations along with offering grab-and-go products at more than a dozen other locations in the Twin Cities area. Kahin employs more than 70 people and provides home-delivered meals to vulnerable community members in partnerships with Meals on Wheels and Kitchen Collision.

“In the beginning, my challenge was how to convince non-Africans to eat African food,” Kahin said. “It was new ground for most Minnesotans. They didn’t know what to expect. I am thankful to those who trusted me and tried my food for the first time.”

When asked about his relationship with U.S. Bank, Kahin said that “we’re neighbors, the bankers are always helpful, and I can say nothing but good things about the partnership I have with U.S. Bank.”

Taveesak “Dang” Chanthasuthisombut, Dang Thai Cuisine and Mr. Dee Sushi Bar 
Idaho Small Businessperson of the Year, SBA Idaho

Chanthasuthisombut, whose restaurants are located in Hailey, Idaho, was named Idaho Small Businessperson of the Year. He was nominated by Benjamin Mitchum, SBA business development officer for U.S. Bank.

“Dang embodies the pursuit of a dream and the tenacity to achieve one’s personal and professional goals,” Mitchum said. “As a first-generation immigrant to the United States, Dang brought his hopes and dreams for what his new life would be. He set a goal to own his own restaurant within five years of arriving here and coming from a rich food culture, he brings something special to the tables of his customers every time.”

Mitchum also said he admires the way that Chanthasuthisombut supported his employees through the pandemic.

Chanthasuthisombut is a first-generation citizen, having immigrated to the U.S. from Thailand in 2000. In addition to operating two restaurants in Hailey, he has also built strong community ties.

He said he didn’t expect to be nominated. “I was very surprised; I just do my job and what I can for my community and the people of Hailey. But I’m really happy.”

Of his experience as a U.S. Bank customer, Chanthasuthisombut said that the bank treats him like family.

“Everyone has been really nice, and when I have a question, they always try to find an answer,” he said.

Kenny Blakeslee, APEX Site Solutions 
Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year, SBA Sacramento District Office

The SBA Sacramento District office honored Apex Site Solutions, founded by former United States Navy avionics technician Kenny Blakeslee, as the Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year. Blakeslee, who co-owns the Elk Grove, California, business with his wife and business partner Brooke Blakeslee, has grown their wireless telecommunications services company to employ more than 100 people.

Their business focuses on the evolving needs of carriers, tower owners, building owners, public safety radio users and any other sector requiring wireless solutions – from building towers, coverage testing and troubleshooting network problems to improving cellular and two-way radio coverage inside buildings.

At the heart of their business is putting people first – including on-the-job training and career development opportunities to empower their employees and help them succeed to his community-focused work in the industry and within their hometown.

“Kenny is a second-generation tower climber who fondly remembers joining his father on the job during Take Your Child to Work Day, his first taste of the tower construction life,” said Louis Lane, a U.S. Bank SBA business development officer who nominated Blakeslee for the recognition. “The business he has built out of his passion and commitment to create meaningful jobs and successful careers in the Sacramento area is inspiring.”

The Blakeslees also became active and involved in a local nonprofit focused on preventing human trafficking after a local incident of child trafficking rocked their tight-knit community. Together, the Blakeslees work with the 3Strands Global Foundation to develop key initiatives and free training and certification courses to mobilize communities to combat human trafficking through prevention education and reintegration programs.

Apex Site Solutions hosts an annual fundraiser to support the nonprofit’s mission and programs.

Lane and seven other U.S. Bank colleagues joined Brooke Blakeslee during a special recognition event as part of the Capital Region Small Business Week in Sacramento.

“We appreciate U.S. Bank for their scale and scope because it allows us to live our value of ‘better every day,’ Kenny Blakeslee said. “Having access to world-class banking products, infrastructure and experts for a business of our size has really helped us improve our financial processes and risk management.”

Denise Cotter and Michelle Marino, Houndstooth House 
South Dakota Small Business of the Year

For Denise Cotter and Michelle Marino, destiny brought them together hundreds of miles from their hometowns to start Houndstooth House, their growing interior design and retail store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

While Cotter and Marino grew up just 90 minutes from each other in Kansas, they didn’t meet until they were working at a mall in Sioux Falls.

“We then had three kids each and, when we were ready to go back to work after having them, we decided to start a business that would be flexible enough that we could continue to put our families first,” Marino said.

Marino and Cotter have grown Houndstooth House in the last 20 years from an independent interior design firm to having a 10,000-square-foot building with retail space and eight employees.

“Really, the changes happened fast these last five years when we were selected as the preferred designers for a four-story, multi-use development downtown,” said Cotter, who added that both Houndstooth House and her family have business and personal banking accounts with U.S. Bank.

“We built out 17 $1-million condos on top of keeping our day-to-day business going with other clients.”

Within the last six months, they opened their new retail space. As they look toward the future of their business, they are focused on growing that arm of their business and hiring top talent to support their thriving business.

“A couple of years ago, we told people we were the up-and-coming interior designers in Sioux Falls,” Cotter said. “I feel like we put it out into the universe and now look at where we are today.”

 

CLEVELAND, July, 18 2023 /3BL/ – KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) provided $9.9 million in low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity to finance the conversion of the Margaret Wagner Senior Apartments in Cleveland Heights, OH to 80 low-income housing senior units (62+). This development will create 20 new apartments through the adaptive re-use of the first floor of Margaret Wagner House and preserve 60 apartments on the upper floors.

Built in 1960 as a nursing home by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, the facility offers HUD 202 PRAC subsidy for 100% of its units. In addition to creating 20 new one-bedroom units, the project will renovate existing units with updated kitchens and bathrooms, improved accessibility, central air conditioning, elevator modernization, new roofing, and site improvements.

The project’s total cost is $18.7 million. Other financing sources include a HUD 202 Capital Advance, Cuyahoga County HOME and Affordable Housing Gap funding, Affordable Housing Program Grant funding through Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and seller financing.

The project is being co-developed by CHN Housing Partners (CHN) and Benjamin Rose, both organizations are headquartered in Cleveland, OH. Margaret Wagner Senior Apartments will provide much needed senior affordable housing in a market where demand far outstrips supply.

For more than a century, Benjamin Rose has been providing care for Cuyahoga County’s senior population, and, in partnership with CHN, will continue to manage the property and provide supportive services to its residents. A service coordinator will meet with each new tenant during orientation and offer to discuss the individual’s needs with emphasis on behavioral health, preferences for socialization activities, linkage to community-based partners, and primary health care providers when appropriate. Benjamin Rose has also coordinated with the City of Cleveland Heights Office of Aging to provide low-cost transportation for seniors within a 5-mile radius.

“Affordable housing development is never easy, but a strong development team allowed us to overcome the many challenges we faced while getting this project to the construction stage, and we are particularly grateful for KeyBank’s financial support,” said Mike Bier, Senior Project Manager for CHN Housing Partners. “The Margaret Wagner facility has a storied past in Cleveland Heights, and CHN is glad to be a part of its revitalization.”

“Since our founding in 1908, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging has worked to ensure that older adults have a place to call home,” said Orion Bell, President and CEO, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. “Margaret Wagner House has been part of that legacy since 1960 and we are excited to see the property evolve to meet the changing needs of the people we serve and the neighborhoods in which they choose to live. We are grateful for KeyBank’s investment in this project and the community.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Benjamin Rose and CHN Housing Partners to provide affordable housing for our seniors,” said Derek Reed, Vice President, KeyBank CDLI. “KeyBank is committed to the communities we serve, and this investment is a key part of our efforts to build on the success of our National Community Benefits Plan.”

Derek Reed structured the tax credit equity investment and Tara Miller served as the Underwriter for the transaction.

About Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

Founded in 1908, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging is a Cleveland-based nonprofit whose mission is to support caregivers and empower all people to age well through research, consumer-responsive services, and client advocacy. Our work is accomplished by deepening the understanding of their evolving needs in a changing society; developing and delivering innovative, high-quality solutions; and promoting effective public policies. The following programs and subsidiaries operate together to fulfill our mission: Eldercare Services Institute, LLC; Rose Centers for Aging Well, LLC; Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP); Margaret Wagner Apartments; Center for Research and Education; and Community Advocacy. For more information visit:www.benrose.org.

About CHN Housing Partners

Founded in 1981, CHN Housing Partners is a large-scale affordable housing developer, housing service provider and residential lender that works with its partners to solve major housing challenges for low-income people and underserved communities in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. CHN partners with utility companies, financial institutions, and public agencies to manage and deliver large-scale housing resources. CHN also partners with people—low-income individuals, families, seniors, the disabled and the homeless—to improve their housing stability. CHN’s impact in Cleveland includes 3,200 new homeowners, the housing stability services it provides annually to more than 50,000 individuals, and the development of 7,000 new homes. CHN is a chartered member of the NeighborWorks America network. http://www.chnhousingpartners.org   

About KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) finances projects that stabilize and revitalize communities across all 50 states. As one of the top affordable housing capital providers in the country, KeyBank’s platform brings together construction, acquisition, bridge-to-re-syndication, and preservation loans, as well as lines of credit, Agency and HUD permanent mortgage executions, and equity investments for low-income housing projects, especially Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing. KeyBank has earned 10 consecutive “Outstanding” ratings on the Community Reinvestment Act exam, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, making it the first U.S. national bank among the 25 largest to do so since the Act’s passage in 1977.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $198 billion at March 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.