ReMo

We had the pleasure of working with Hannah Xu on the development of our MSBA app. Hannah was there for the initial design and build, and she was instrumental in helping us develop the demo we shared at the Reading Roundup Conference. She wrote of her experience, we "embraced humanitarian values to improve youth literacy. The mission aligns with my passion for education and creating positive social impact." Her book recommendation to our readers is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, noting "Aurelius was surrounded by temptations and challenges that come with immense authority. Yet, his personal writings reveal a man deeply committed to self-discipline, kindness, and virtue. In today's fast-paced, often self-centered world, Aurelius' timeless wisdom offers a refreshing perspective."

It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on a new school year... but before we begin our Back-to-School activities, we want to take a moment to thank Shreya Venkataraman. She is an undergraduate at Northeastern University studying Computer Science and Design and worked as a Co-Op at ReMo from January to May. Shreya helped us develop our MSBA app and utilized her coding and UX/UI skills to create an interface we can't wait to share with all of you. Her parting gift is a wonderful book recommendation: What You Are Looking For Is In The Library. She explains, "It's a wonderful short story book where all of the characters start off with not being where they want to be in life, and the steps they take to get to where they want to be." We wish Shreya nothing but the best as she starts her fourth year of studies!

We are proud to share our Founder and CEO Michelle DeBlois won second place in the 2024 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards, supporting students, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University Founder Residency program and alumnae from the Northeastern University community. ?? Michelle was awarded in the Powering Social Impact Award category. "For nearly 10 years, Women Who Empower has been building a global, inclusive and dynamic community through events, scholarships, mentorship programs and entrepreneurial initiatives." We are delighted that ReMo's work and educational impact is being recognized in a field of hundreds of incredibly driven and talented entrepreneurs. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epGpa3Gt

Our ReMo Team is taking a quick summer break...to take a breather after a busy school year, review student and educator feedback, set our next milestones, and also get a jumpstart on our summer reading! Need some suggestions for your summer reading list? Here are some picks from students we partnered with for Prashant Mittal's NLP course at The Roux Institute this Spring. ?? Krutik Bajariya: The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. This classic book offers timeless wisdom on value investing by teaching readers how to make smart financial decisions and build long-term wealth. Perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of finance! ?? Rahil Jhaveri: The Psychology of Money by Morgan House This is the first personal finance/self-help book I have read, and I learned a lot from the 20 chapters! ?? Yasha Chaurasia: It has to be the Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling for me! ?? Jiajun Guo: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck. This book explores the concept of "fixed" versus "growth" mindsets, and how embracing a growth mindset can lead to greater success in nearly every aspect of life.

In the past, we have worked with college students who are interested in working on an aspect of ReMo for their small-group or individual class projects. This is the first time that all of the students are working together on one, whole-group project for ReMo. Molly Domino's CS 5500 class at The Roux Institute at Northeastern University has taken on the committee side of our Maine Student Book Award application. We are so excited to be collaborating with Robert Collins, Connor Sabia, Alex Corcoran, Jovienne Trotta, James (Jim) Davis, and Cody Snow this summer. Their curiosity and energy have inspired us as we continuously engage with them throughout the development process.

Our University of Maine capstone for the spring semester wrapped up at the end of April -- here are some book recommendations from Team Won! ?? Tyler Walker: Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It's a stellar book that focuses on numerous perspectives ranging from love to loss of a child and focuses on humanity's need to expand. ?? Nicholas Tassinari: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink to learn how to become not only a strong leader, but a strong-minded individual as well. ?? Anthony Attaya-Harris: Just about any Stephen King book...if you like feeling unsettled! ?? Michael Lally: The Heir Chronicles by Cinda Williams Chima for fantasy fans. ?? Ayan Tariq: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's a classic about personal struggle and happiness. Reflecting on their experience with ReMo this semester, Nicholas Tassinari summed it up by saying, "Working on a product that is actually going to be used by a company is something that a lot of us had yet to do. [We] learned how to better communicate with team members in a work environment."

For more than a decade, Women Who Empower has been bringing together and elevating diverse and inclusive communities to better our world. I'm honored to be chosen as a finalist for this year's cohort! Their network comprises strong, aspiring, and distinguished women and others dedicated to fostering positive environments, building lasting connections, and providing meaningful experiences where all people can thrive equally. The organization empowers individuals and communities through events, scholarships, entrepreneurial initiatives, mentorship programs, ambassador opportunities, and more. I am thrilled to have been nominated for a Women Who Empower Innovator Award along with these seven other experienced alumnae: Melissa LaCasse of Tanbark Molded Fiber Products, Rachel Cossar of Virtual Sapiens, Ashley Cummings of Natural ASH, Kaitlin McCarthy of Ionic Development Company, Marissa Mullen of That Cheese Plate, K. of Wishing Well, and Meaghan St Marc of Rev’d. I was honored to hear their amazing stories about how they are changing the world and contributing to Northeastern University's vast entrepreneurial ecosystem. Learn more:

Clara, Mike and Roger are three Northeastern University graduate students we had the pleasure of working with this past spring semester. Clara wrote, "Working with ReMo has been a deeply enriching journey for us. Joining this project offered a unique lens into the impactful ways technology can streamline processes. Our learning journey highlighted OCR technology's capabilities and limitations, revealing the complexities of applying such technologies in real-world settings. This insight spurred innovative thinking around problem-solving and the practical use of technology. Moreover, the project ignited a valuable brainstorming dynamic within our team, pushing us to look beyond our immediate tasks towards the potential for startup ideas. This process wasn't just about ideation - it was a practical exercise in innovation and entrepreneurship. It encouraged us to envision practical applications of our learnings and how they could shape future technology-driven solutions. This experience has not only broadened our understanding but also inspired a deeper appreciation for the intersection of technology, innovation, and impactful work." What books inspire them? Take a look at their recommendations! ?? Clara Yeung: I May Be Wrong: And Other Wisdoms From Life as a Forest Monk by Bj?rn Natthiko Lindeblad ?? Mike Qiao: Letters Home of Zeng Guofan ?? Roger Leung: The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

Juan Martinez worked with us this past spring in his last semester at Bates College studying psychology. His research focused on shaping identities through reading, and we are so glad that he had a positive experience while supporting ReMo's mission. In his project recap, he wrote, "I had the pleasure to learn about the public school system in Maine, was able to learn more about the community of people that live in Maine, and had the opportunity to learn about what ReMo does and how beneficial it has been." Juan's book recommendation to ReMo is Six Records of a Floating Life by Shen Fu because he was moved by the struggles that Shen Fu faced in his lifetime. Check out this beautiful collection about Shen Fu's life.

Students from The Roux Institute at Northeastern University's student-led organization, Data For Social Good, are helping with the development of our new Maine Student Book Award App. This free, web-based app for educators, librarians, and students will be a game changer around readership and voting for the Maine Student Book Award. Sena, Rashaad, Jianye, and Zhouming are all intelligent, eager learners ready to lend their expertise to our ReMo team. Our shared dedication to causes that make a difference is nurturing and spurring on our work together. We cannot thank them enough for taking on for this project!