From the CEO:

Today, our hearts go out to MSU and we hold the students, their families, and the entire MSU and East Lansing community in our hearts. (At the time of writing) The past 24 hours have been incredibly difficult for me personally. We are all feeling broken by this now all too familiar experience of bullets and bloodshed in our schools and campuses. MSU is part of me. As a student, I attended many classes in Berky Hall, a few in the same classroom where this senseless tragedy took place. These were students sitting in history class on a Monday night. As I watched the pain and panic on students’ and families’ faces on the campus that I know so well, it’s difficult to convey just how badly it hurts. It is challenging in these moments to not feel powerless. 

 

Thoughts and prayers are not enough to keep our students, educators and families safe. Thoughts and prayers are simply empty words. We must do more for our children and our communities. Gun violence in our schools and places we should inherently feel safe has become a staggeringly common experience and the solutions we have tried are insufficient. I am not a proponent of excessive restrictive gun control laws, but it is time we do more than send our thoughts and prayers, and take serious steps with common-sense reforms, beginning with red flag laws and robust background checks.  

 

Throughout the pain and powerlessness I felt last night and today, I have also been moved by the heart and humanity our MSU community showed as it came together in response to the tragedy. Hundreds of law enforcement officers and first responders gathered from across the state in a deeply complex operation. I continue to be inspired and grateful to be part of this strong Michigan community. Today, we grieve the senseless loss of life with our neighbors at MSU and send our profound condolences to those affected by the tragedy. I hope that change and action come about to honor their legacy. Today we are all Spartans. 

 

Spartans Will.

 

Mark S. McDaniel 

 

About Cinnaire

Cinnaire is a non-profit financial partner that supports community and economic revitalization initiatives through creative investments, loans, and development services. Since 1993, Cinnaire has invested $4.7 billion to develop 811 housing communities in 10 states, providing 49,700 affordable apartment homes for more than 100,000 individuals and families, and has provided community development loans to support the creation/retention of more than 187,000 square feet of commercial, mixed-use, and community space. In its mission to change lives and transform neighborhoods into thriving communities, Cinnaire has helped to create or retain over 76,000 jobs and spurt $7.9 billion in economic impact. www.cinnaire.com