WASHINGTON – On Saturday, December 16, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)and the voice in President Biden’s cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, will visit a local holiday market pop-up to promote the SBA’s Season of Small Business campaign. Amid a historic small business boom under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA encourages all Americans to shop small throughout the holiday season.   

Administrator Guzman will stop by multiple small businesses at the pop-up to shop and learn more about the different small business owners’ products and experiences as entrepreneurs. She will highlight the importance of shopping small and supporting small businesses during the holiday season.  

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“This potential partnership represents a monumental step forward in promoting the values of peace and equality that both Gandhi and King championed,” said Sravan Natakala, Gandhian Society board member. “By showcasing their shared message of nonviolent resistance and social justice, this museum would serve as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.“

The proposed museum would be a first-of-its-kind institution, offering a unique platform for education, dialogue, and action. It would delve into the remarkable lives of Gandhi and King, highlighting their unwavering commitment to justice and their transformative impact on the world stage.

“We are honored by the City’s enthusiastic support for this important initiative,” said Bhadra Butala, founder of the Gandhian Society. “A permanent museum in New York City would not only celebrate the legacies of Gandhi and King but also inspire future generations to embrace their principles and strive for a more just and peaceful world.”

Both the Gandhian Society and New York City officials are committed to moving forward with this ambitious project. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to finalize the details of the collaboration and set the stage for the museum’s development.

The Gandhian Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the principles of Mahatma Gandhi in the United States. Through education, dialogue, and community service, the Society fosters understanding and appreciation for Gandhi’s message of nonviolence, truth, and social justice.

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The President also addressed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and thanked the partners in the region, particularly Qatar, for their support in facilitating the departure of American citizens. He expressed his administration’s commitment to working nonstop to get Americans out of Gaza as soon and as safely as possible.

President Biden highlighted the economic practice of trickle-down economics, which he said hit rural America especially hard, hollowing out Main Street and telling farmers the only path to success was to get big or get out. He noted that tax cuts for big corporations encouraged companies to move jobs and production overseas for cheaper labor, undercutting local small businesses.

The President also pointed out that corporations that sell seed, fertilizer, and even farm equipment used their outsized market power to charge farmers and ranchers unfair prices. He said that over the past four decades, America has lost over 400,000 farms, and over 14+ million acres of farmland and that family farms have struggled to make the math work, with the promise of keeping the farm in the family slipping out of reach for so many across America.

President Biden said that his administration is growing an economy from the middle out and bottom up, instead of the top down. He emphasized that when the middle class does well, the poor have a way up, and the wealthy still do very well. He said that when rural America does well when Indian Country does well, we all do well.

The President also spoke about the historic legislation passed by his administration, which has created new and better markets and new income streams so that generations of rural Americans can begin to thrive again. He cited the clean energy initiatives contained in the Inflation Reduction Act, which is investing nearly $20 billion to help farmers and ranchers tackle the climate crisis through climate-smart agriculture and cover crops, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, and storing carbon in the soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving the overall health of the soil and the water.

President Biden said that under his plan, farmers can diversify and earn additional income just by selling into the local markets. He noted that when a farmer sells locally, the farmers can get anything from 50 to 75 cents for their same product, in addition to what they have to do now, depending on one income stream and being at the mercy of the commodity markets and the big corporations.

President Biden said that his Bidenomics agenda is just another way of saying “the American Dream.” He said that his plan is rooted in investing in America and investing in Americans, no matter where they live in rural communities, Tribal communities, suburbs, or cities. He emphasized that a president is supposed to represent all American people, not just some Americans. He urged the country to unite and make sure that those who want to stay on the farm can stay as long as they want because they make a good, decent living.

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The evening started with a red carpet welcome for all the guests, with a vast backdrop featuring the Mandir logo set up at the entrance. The program formally began with an auspicious Diya Lighting Ceremony, amidst chanting of mantras by the Mandir priests. The entertainment programs included classical dance, Bollywood singing, Rajasthani folk dance, and Punjabi Giddha, among others. The star singers of the evening were Pratibha Jairath and Dr. Pradeep Sood, who enthralled the audiences with their melodious songs.

Anil Saxena, Chairman of Fundraising, outlined the purpose of the evening and gave a brief update on the ongoing project from 2022 – Hanuman Murti. He shared the progress made on the project from last year and the remaining funds required for completion. Vipan Wadhera, President of the Executive Board, emphasized the significance of the temples today as a source of preserving our roots of Indian spirituality, values, heritage, and culture.

The fun-filled evening concluded with a sumptuous dinner and open dance floor, with the President thanking all the donors and announcing the success of the evening target collection. The event was a grand success, with the target collection achieved, and a big thank you to all for attending.

The annual fundraiser dinner hosted by Hari Om Mandir was a grand success, with patrons, founder members, devotees, and community leaders coming together to raise funds for community services, growth, and future expansion projects. The event was a showcase of Indian culture and spirituality, with a variety of entertainment programs and a sumptuous dinner.

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The event started with a Bharat Natyam dance by Board member Bharatnatyam exponent and choreographer Pika Munshi. Then Sunil Shah & Vinita Gulabani were invited for a welcome address. The program included a musical extravaganza, the Sahir Ludhianvi Show, Directed by Milind Oak facilitated by Madan Kulkarni, and produced by Niche’ Entertainment during the second half, post a sumptuous and delicious dinner.

The FIA team created an atmosphere of patriotism with an India-centric program that enthralled the attending guests during the first half. The event was attended by over 550 people, including dignitaries such as Scott Wehrli, Mayor Naperville, and FIA Advisory Board members. The FIA Community Leadership Awards were presented to Vinita Gulabani, Chintan Patel, Pinkyben & Dinesh Bhai Thakkar, Santosh Kumar MAFS, Dr Asha Anil Oroskar with OROCHEM, American Dog Movie/Neil Khot, Rajeev Sharma, Dr Alamdar Badar, Jane Lee Remax, Venkat Talari, Eggholic Bhagyesh Patel & Lav Patel, Brij Sharma, Dr Bhupinder Beri, Sona Shah, Harry Mohan, Syed Hussaini, Ajeet Singh IABC, Manoj Mulki Rani Foods, Sanjay Vishnu Panjwani/All About Furniture, Global Eye -Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, DABUR/BADSHAH- Rickie Singh.

The event also included an FIA team recognition ceremony where all the hardworking FIA team members received a Medal of Excellence and an Appreciation Certificate. The auspicious tradition of lamp lighting ceremony was also held by the FIA Leadership and the entire Board, along with Larry Herman and other dignitaries present.

The event concluded with a medley of patriotic songs presented by the talented FIA singers and the Sahir Ludhianvi Show, a tribute to the legendary Bollywood poet and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, a show directed by Milind Oak, narrated by Nachiket Devasthali and supported by the amazingly talented singers: Abhilasha Chellam, Rasika Ganoo, and Dhawal Chandwadkar, along with their team of musicians. The event was well attended and praised by everyone present, and the FIA would like to thank all the vendors who set up booths and provided food samples.

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The highlight of the event was the honoring of heroes for their immense bravery, dedication, and service to the community. Among the veterans and law enforcement officers honored were Mr. Raj Pillai, US Navy Veteran, Mr. James Mendrick, DuPage County Sheriff, Mr. Kevin Coyne, Founder and CEO of Safe Suburbs USA, Mr. Mike Geiger, Naperville Police Officer, Mr. James “Casta” Castaneda, US Marines Veteran, Mr. Michael Tellerino, Founder and CEO of K9’s for Veterans, and Mr. Jerome “Sonny” Zdancewicz, US Army Veteran (7th Cavalry Regiment).

The event was graced by dignitaries from the Chicagoland area, including Consul Mr. Vinod Gautam, Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, FIA Founder/President Mr. Sunil Shah, Vandana Jhingan Ji, Mrs. Meghna Bansal -Trustee, Wheatland Township, Mr. Ajit Pant, Mr. Rakesh Malhotra, Mrs. Madhu Uppal, Mr. Haribhai Patel Ji, Dr. Umang Patel Ji, and Mrs. Neel Patel-Assistant Director, Ray Graham Association.

The event also featured mesmerizing performances by Udaan Entertainment from Mumbai, whose orchestral performance was beyond excellence and touched everyone’s heart. The evening started with the Indian and American National Anthems sung by Nipa Shah and Samaira Bongale, followed by colorful cultural performances by children paying respect to both countries and cultures.

The program ended with a vote of thanks by Treasurer Richa Pal, thanking all the sponsors and donors who supported IACA’s mission in the community. The evening wrapped up by expressing gratitude to the community for their continued support.

In conclusion, the IACA Gala Event was a celebration of cultural pride and diversity, honoring heroes for their immense bravery, dedication, and service to the community. The event also marked the formation of the Youth IACA Club, aimed at educating children about Indian and American cultures and involving them in volunteering services in the community.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced today that it has approved the application submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the Automotive Industries Pension Plan (Automotive Industries Plan). The plan, based in Dublin, California, covers 23,687 participants in the transportation industry.

The Automotive Industries Plan will receive approximately $1.1 billion in special financial assistance, including interest to the expected date of payment to the plan. The plan was projected to become insolvent and run out of money in 2033. Without the SFA Program, the Automotive Industries Plan would have been required to reduce participants’ benefits to the PBGC guarantee levels upon plan insolvency, which is roughly 50 percent below the benefits payable under the terms of the plan. SFA will enable the plan to continue to pay retirement benefits without reduction for many years into the future.

“Millions of people work for years, looking forward to the day when the promise of a secure, dignified retirement is kept,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Today, the Biden-Harris administration is delivering on that promise for 23,687 workers by providing Special Financial Assistance in the Automotive Industries Pension Plan that ensures they can retire with the dignity they deserve.”

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