Municipal Electric Corp. brings power to homes in the Navajo Nation
The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) sent four lineworkers (two from the Town of Smyrna and two from the City of Milford) to the Navajo Nation to power homes that have never had electricity.
DEMEC is joining crews from other community-owned electric utilities across the nation in an effort known as “Light Up Navajo.” This is a pilot initiative of the American Public Power Association to support electrification efforts by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, the public power utility serving the Navajo Nation.
“We are proud to help power homes in the Navajo Nation on behalf of our community as a part of this historical initiative. Our members were eager to help when they heard about the situation,” said Kimberly Schlichting, chief operating officer, Power Supply for DEMEC. “That is the true spirit of public power — helping each other in times of need and powering communities together.”
Of the 55,000 homes located on the 27,000 square mile Navajo Nation (roughly the size of West Virginia), approximately 15,000 homes do not have electricity. the represent three-fourths of all U.S. households that do not have electricity.
Volunteer utility crews from across the country will travel to the Navajo Nation and help build power lines from April 6 to May 18. DEMEC’s crew arrived at the Navajo Nation on Saturday, April 13th and returned home on April 20th.
Lineworkers that donated their time away from their families and communities: Joshua Little, Town of Smyrna; Zack Nellams, Town of Smyrna; Gary Johnston, City of Milford; and Rob Palladino, City of Milford. Former State Sen Gary Simpson of Milford and the IBEW made donations to the effort.
Comcast Cares coming in early May
On May 4th, three local organizations will receive volunteer support from hundreds of local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their family, friends and community partners as part of the 18th Comcast Cares Day.
Members of the community are invited to join us as we “make change happen” in our local communities. Those interested in learning more about any of the local projects (blurbs noted below) and registering, can visit https://www.comcastinthecommunity.com/.
The first project with Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans at The Pearl Center, their facility for homeless veterans, is being co-led by David Pinder. He is the employee who launched an American flag replacement program he founded at Comcast, known as the Freedom Flag Program
Also, a part of the event is the Latin American Community Center, Wilmington.
On Comcast Cares Day, volunteers – including members of Comcast’s Hispanic employee resource group UNIDOS – will beautify the playground area, paint fencing and an outside mural, clean book shelves. and construct garden planters.
Volunteers will be at the YMCA Hanby Outdoor Center with YMCA of Delaware, Wilmington.
The Hanby Outdoor Center is located in North Wilmington and offers a variety of programming. On Comcast Cares Day, volunteers will assist the Outdoor Center with its preparations for summer. Projects include painting picnic tables, clearing trails and landscaping.
This year, the company expects more than 100,000 volunteers from Comcast, NBCUniversal, and for the first time Sky, to participate in projects across the country and around the world.
Cinnaire named to Best Nonprofit to Work For
Cinnaire, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides creative loans, investments and development services to support healthy neighborhoods, was recently recognized as a 2019 Best Nonprofit to Work For by the Nonprofit Times.
The Times is a leading business publication for Nonprofit Management. This is the fifth time Cinnaire has been selected for this prestigious list, with a 2019 ranking of #31 of the top 50 Best Nonprofits overall and #17 on the Best Medium Nonprofits (50-249 employees).
Cinnaire is based in Michigan and has an office in Delaware.
The annual report is compiled with the help of Best Companies Group. The firm conducts a thorough organizational assessment. Cinnaire team members completed a questionnaire and a confidential survey. Board members, investors and development partners provided insight to assist the Best Companies Group in analyzing Cinnaire’s workplace environment.
Cinnaire provides all full-time employees with an unlimited paid time off policy, weekly organic fresh fruit deliveries, an employee wellness program, on-site fitness center at company headquarters, company paid cell and wireless services, onsite dry-cleaning pickup and delivery and a comprehensive benefits package.
In 2017, employees launched Cinnaire Cares, a companywide staff funded and driven charitable program that provides every team member an opportunity to make an impact by donating to staff nominated charities. All team members are encouraged to take time during business hours to volunteer within their own communities.
Since 1993, Cinnaire has invested $4.2 billion to revitalize communities, resulting in more than $7.3 billion in community impact.
