What do you do in the 21st century when war breaks out and you are not a soldier? If you “rethink your role as a citizen” as did Mark Nezvisky, you go to the virtual front-line.

“Not everyone can carry a gun,” explained Mark. “We didn’t want to simply head for shelter when the alarms started – we decided to use our connections in the cypto and NFT world. At least we could raise money for the war, for hospitals or other humanitarian needs.” He continues:

“It’s our way of contributing to the future of our country. It’s our digital front. We want to live in a free, independent country called Ukraine. We want to make our own decisions on what our country would be like. It’s our fight for democracy.”

The Result – and the Result-Makers

Mark’s “team” initially comprised himself, his wife, a sister and her husband to create a beautiful NFT collection available for purchase by people wanting to materially contribute to the Ukrainian army, their hospitals and much-needed help with essentials such as food and health goods.

At the moment, they have a telegram group with more than ten designers, some who have already contributed their artwork for the NFT collection while others have just started and are deep in that process.

“We also have a marketing specialist, Nazar Stepanyuk who joined us recently and we need many more with his skills to help us promote the collection. Although we did consult with 2 more marketing specialists on the best marketing strategies,” Mark explained, adding:

Everyone who’s contributing, whether designer, marketer or those spreading the word throughout the cyber community are highly motivated individuals and are true patriots of Ukraine.” He added for emphasis:

“We are all doing this on a pro bono basis.”

Where does this money go?

The group has raised over $911 USD so far by selling 9 NFTs from our CloseTheSky OpenSea account. Anyone with a cryptowallet such as Metamask can go to the activity tab of our collection on OpenSea and filter out by sales to see exactly which NFTs were sold.

That entire amount has been donated to comebackalive.in.ua which is a foundation datikng back to 2014 in response to that earlier Russian invasion started.

“It’s a reputable organization that receives donations not only from Ukrainians but people all over the world, including celebrities and business people in the U.S.,” Mark says. “You can visit their website to learn more how they distribute the funds that are being donated. We plan to expand the list of organizations we contribute to as our sales from the NFTs grow.”

Your involvement – heart and wallet

Whether you are a crypto enthusiast or someone who wants to step up to answer this humanitarian need, you will be purchasing artwork created by a group of nine designers who have donated their efforts for the sake of Ukraine. The designers adding their skill to the CloseTheSkyUA NFT collection are Den Matliak, Vlad Kornyuk, Artem Koliadynskyj, Roman Mamchur, Karina Kuts, Asya Pyatnychko, Anna Fedora, Lena Afanasieva, and Julia Lipa.

There are LOTS of things in this world that make the average person stop and scratch their head to wonder… "why exactly are we doing things this way?"

We all know that Electronic Health Records have made patients’ health records legible and readable--the days of illegible, one or two line patient notes written in doctors’ hieroglyphic “chicken scratch” penmanship are a thing of the past. As aptly described by Dr. Fred Pelzman, who writes often for www.kevinmd.com, electronic medical records were supposed to make our lives easier, communicate our thoughts in the moment of taking care of our patients, and leave a record that would help to make sure the next person taking up the care of that patient knows what came before.

But...the exact OPPOSITE is the net result across our nation. Electronic health records are one of the most commonly cited contributing factors that are thought to be a root cause of physician burn-out. Most Electronic Health Records produce a document that is very lengthy and detailed, but the resultant “note bloat” actually makes it more difficult to decipher what is going on with the patient.

Does that make sense??!! Of course, not.

We need sense-making in medicine and at Physician Outlook we are fortunate to be partnering with Let’s Rethink This, whose mission is to build and connect communities of like-minded individuals and organizations devoted to rethinking solutions to today’s biggest challenges. Through LRT I “met” a bright young entrepreneur and film-maker, Kistien Monkhouse, who is one of these ‘sense-making’ individuals.

Kistein Monkhouse, MPA, Founder of Patient Orator

Monkhouse is the creator of Patient Orator, an easy-to-use ”app” that helps ALL patients get equal medical treatment and facilitates care collaboration for patients,caregivers and he entire medical team AND she is also a film producer.

Humanizing Health Care is a narrativedriven emotionally paced documentary produced by Kistien Monkhouse about healthcare experiences in the U.S. The film explores deeply rooted systemic issues across the healthcare ecosystem and the barriers they present to people at each touchpoint in care delivery. By learning the history of institutionalized healthcare delivery, we can re-think how ALL Americans can work together to truly humanize healthcare.

Use code PatientOrator to view the film for free, and join us on the Let’s Rethink This platform for group discussions on how we can change physician and patient stories into solutions.

She is a Patient Orator who worked in the front lines of healthcare to help finance her education. While caring for underserved patients she identified a huge problem and came up with a solution. Patients of color from marginalized communities were not getting the same standard of care as other patients.

She is teaching patients (through the app) how to get equal medical treatment, how to record, track and share medical issues and social needs and how to better communicate medical symptoms. She also teaches patients how to get support with managing their health, connect to resources close to where they live, and make care collaboration easy for the patient, their caregiver and for the patient’s medical team.

She has developed a tool that is improving care coordination, empowering the voice of the patient and reducing the documentation burden of the clinician. Frustrated with a healthcare system that consistently placed value on profits above patients, she decided to do something about it.

She founded a company that has created an easy way for patients and providers to have meaningful conversations. Their team of experts have standardized how patients identify their health concerns, care preferences, and social needs. They are aligning social care organizations and medical providers with individuals to improve patient and community engagement, leveraging technology to improve health outcomes.

To learn more about the app, which is currently in development, visit Patient Orator.

When Let’s Rethink This (LRT) was forming around our core work – which is to locate the changemakers of this world (searchlight), put their talents and solutions on full display (spotlight) and then see to it that their important contributions would attract and engage investors and partners (ignite), we weren’t alert enough to notice that one such rethinker was already one of LRT’s co-creators.

Dr. Adel Elmessiry, Ph.D.

Actually, we should have guessed from his modest pronouncement on LinkedIn: “…to build the next financial technology ecosystem that will empower the global economy” that he was up to some good. We just didn’t know how good.

Translated through his DLN (Distributed Lending Network) design, Adel’s approach to interest-free microfinancing has the potential to rewrite the rules of that industry. The secret sauce – other than making friends-and-family loan risk free – is his application of blockchain. 

It is quite clear that people in the lower socio-economic rung throughout the world are carrying debt. It is also clear that in all too many cases they lack resources to pay even the interest accruing. Which of course, calls for another loan. (The accompanying cartoon shows the tragic cycle entrapping our world’s poor…to the delight of the “pigs and sharks.”)

“Dr. DLN’s” super solution: a fintech ecosystem secured by blockchain in which lenders are family and friends assured of not incurring a loss. More than that – they would be rewarded. 

LRT approached Adel with these questions:

LRT: When did you “rethink” micro-financing, and how did this come about?

DLN: When the pandemic started back in March, 2020, I started thinking of the costs and inadequacies of what is presently in place. By the summer, I had the basic structure designed and began circulating my ideas.

LRT: What qualifies you to bring about this change?

DLN: I have a Ph.D. in Computer Science, have authored award-winning papers, have a proven track record in starting successful companies and have a deep knowledge of blockchain.

LRT: What exactly is a Distributed Lender Network and what role does blockchain have in this? 

DLN is a framework that is now being deployed to develop a wholly inclusive ecosystem that provides Microfinance Institutions with new tools to scale and meet more of the needs in the communities they serve. Importantly, in a jurisdiction compliant manner. DLN utilizes the power of blockchain smart contracts to provide a social stacking smart contract that unifies community resources within and for the community.

LRT: How is the lender indemnified from loss?

Because the social stacking smart contract organizes the lending process among the individual and their friends and family, it leverages the social ties to hold each party responsible. In micro lending, the repayment rate is shown to be 98%.

LRT How is the lender rewarded?

The main innovation is that DLN invests the otherwise dormant collateral, in blockchain based decentralized finance (DeFi), which generates enough yield allowing all participating parties to be rewarded.

LRT: Why is a Distributed Lender Network needed?

DLN: There are so many factors, not the least being the fact these countries are facing a debt crisis. The IMF estimates low-and-middle income countries have more than doubled their debt between 2008 and 2018 from $3.4 billion to $7.8 billion. Debt servicing in French-speaking countries (largely in Africa) have a debt service burden of 40% of their budget revenues. Even then, these loans seldom reach to the bottom of the pyramid where it is needed

“When current forms of direct micro-lending is used, interest comes into play as well and makes the payback longer and more painful,” Adel says, adding,” This is NOT sustainable development.”

And then, there is the COVID-19 factor. According to a report in late 2020 by UN women, 96 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty by 2021 – 47 million of them women and girls. Adel centers his attention on their plight.

“It is particularly important for us to provide support for women-owned and led businesses who have limited access to subsidized and state-backed loans,” Adel says. “When you add the interest factor you are adding another hurdle…” his voice trails off.

LRT: Who would find your form of distributed lending by way of blockchain to be objectionable?

DLN: Corrupt systems and shark lenders.

LRT: Who are your allies?

DLN: The MFI (microfinance institutions), CDI (community development institutions and NGO’s.

LRT: What is your intended outcome?

DLN: To elevate the global economy to make it top-to-bottom inclusive with universal access – especially for those brave and capable people at the edges who have yet to benefit from an interest-free lending system. The what-makes-this-different edge that we feature in a distributed ledger system that only blockchain can provide.

He takes a deep breath. “The deference between light and leaser is that the later photons are in sync and in phase. Ergo, the power. Following that analogy, DLN is the synching of a community’s financial photons. Light shows us the poverty. “Synched light will burn it away.”

“In this day and age, high-quality internet service is a necessity, not a luxury,” said NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio when he announced this month a major milestone in the city’s effort to bring new internet connectivity options to its residents.

“By investing in broadband infrastructure” the mayor declared, “we drive forward a recovery for all of us – both by delivering much-needed resources to NYCHA families and making significant progress on our commitment to close the city’s digital divide.”

Five ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) were awarded executed license agreements to bring this into being. Silicon Harlem and its CEO, Clayton Banks, received one of these coveted licenses.

“Silicon Harlem applauds New York City for taking a bold Broadband commitment to ensure everyone is connected,” Clayton said in acknowledging the contract.

“We must continue to break down barriers to broadband access for lower-income communities, knowing that doing so will enable multiple generations of all New Yorkers to become more fully engaged in the world. Silicon Harlem is thrilled to provide new and innovative ways to deliver the internet to every home without having cost being a barrier,” he added.

It was a long and winding road that brought Clayton to this high point.

From growing up on military bases where his Marine Corps father was stationed to graduating from a California state university with a double major in communications and business administration to landing his first job at Showtime and becoming an executive there, working at Sega Channel, on to Comedy Central where he teamed up to launch South Park, an entrepreneur stint in technology and finally starting Silicon Harlem (SH) in 2014. Phew!

In the years since Clayton has taken this dream of an educational and data center and brought it into reality. At this point, SH is recognized as a major center for uptown technology and innovation.

And now, a Super Hero in his own right

Thanks to Ted Schulman, one of LRT’s co-creators, a meeting was arranged between Clayton and Jerry Ashton in the spring of 2021. They realized they shared the same vision – a world in which technology would become the sustainable engine of community.

Clayton set about to open a presence on the LRT site and the two looked for other ways in which to attract the attention – and the capital – that would be required to help fund the task of installing broadband and other services in Harlem and beyond.

The fruit of that collaboration is the very first LRT “Rethinking” Hero realized in a comic panel featuring Clayton as a Hero in his community. The strip was created by another LRT discovery, Victor Guiza of Mexico City who brings to the table a long and successful career as an illustrator and comic strip artist. Even that introduction was created by an LRT co-creator, Cary Harrison who is Vic’s agent and himself a successful radio personality.

All of this, discovery, revealing, and propelling people to unexpected successes exemplifies the LRT main drivers to bring attention to our featured partners and communities: Searchlight. Spotlight. Ignite.

Per our formula, Clayton and Silicon Harlem have been searched out and now in the spotlight…can Ignition be far behind? Stay tuned. This story is a page-turner.

Who doesn’t love cartoons? Who doesn’t love Superheroes (and Sheroes)? Who doesn’t love what has evolved into a modern day marriage of art and social consciousness now called “graphic novels?”

Therefore, who wouldn’t love LRT’s “Impact Artist” for July, veteran cartoonist Victor Guiza who is a newly-added member of LRT’s Co-Creators?

If you are from Missouri (the Show Me state for our younger readers – you know, the ones you have to prove things to?) and are reserving your opinion, today’s publication of LRT’s very first Rethinking Superhero featuring Clayton Banks of Silicon Harlem should provide reasons for your approval.

Everyone knows the basic plot of a comic or graphic novel. There is a s/hero, a wrong that needs to be righted, and an outcome that only superpowers could possibly bring about. This very first rendition of today’s s/heroes into visible, colorful panels which both delight as well as instruct follows that theme.

Why did we choose Clayton to be the hero on cartoon strip #1? He is doing what heroes do. What is the wrong that needs to be vanquished? The digital divide. The hoped-for outcome our hero will deliver? Bringing affordable broadband and Internet access to Harlem today where at least 40% of the population cannot afford to get online.

The costs of not having access are painfully immeasurable. First, education. Especially during COVID, youngsters and families could not keep up with schooling. Then, health. In today’s world of medical care it is almost impossible to get good information, updates as to COVID-19 protections and even making doctor’s appointments without broadband.

Lastly, community. For all its faults, sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and all the social media apps (and our own site, of course) make it easier to connect and to share our thoughts and our answers.

Thanks to the dedication and perseverance of Clayton and his team and supporters at Silicon Harlem – and people or organizations that will bring with them the financial support these efforts deserve – those arid days will be in the past. Not a connection too soon.

That’s where Impact Artist Vic comes in

Armed with close to 40 years of combined experience as a Creative Designer in Comics, children’s books, advertising, illustration and animation and sporting clients and employers and brands from 17 countries, he is unusually equipped to immediately “see” his clients and their work as graphic art; their work as heroic.

Who would agree as to his ability to bring people or ideas into graphic reality?

We can start with Disney, The Simpsons (Bongo Comics), Marvel Comics/Upper Deck and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Not to mention the different awards earned for his work as a children book illustrator and the fact that Vic holds a Master of Product Arts from Disney Consumer Products.

And now, he has made a home within the LRT community.

LRT can thank one of our Co-Creators and Vic’s agent for this introduction and employment, Cary Harrison. It was Cary who saw LRT as a natural evolution for Vic’s continued growth as a respected comic artist.

Will you agree as to the importance of this new approach to rethinking? Kindly check out the ‘toon as well as listen to this Zoom interview and draw your own conclusions.

Vic is looking for a new, progressive audience of change-makers. Let’s show him some love.