• http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/34/FISb.St.138.jpeg|440
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Shah Alam, new branch manager for the Grameen America Charlotte branch, salutes the audience as he is introduced by Larry Clark, Grameen America Launch Consultant for Charlotte (background). Micro finance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch made its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/34/xB4C2.St.138.jpeg|525
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Micro-loan recipient Gladys Rivera (right) applauds as she is the first recipient called up to receive her $1,000 check as micro finance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch made its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/33/rJX4V.St.138.jpeg|414
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Micro-loan recipient Perla Perez and her baby Jamie Perez, 9 months, (center) in the crowd as microfinance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch made its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/33/JlL0d.St.138.jpeg|428
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Micro-loan recipient Perla Perez holds up her $1,000 check after it is presented by Shah Alam, new branch manager for the Grameen America Charlotte branch, and Patrick Chang (PBH Cultural Competence Practice Manager, and one of the people who has been working to help bring a branch of Grameen Bank to Charlotte). Perez was one of the recipients as micro finance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch made its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/33/14lt62.St.138.jpeg|431
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Micro-loan recipients in the first two rows applaud each other as micro finance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch makes its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/33/1eu1iB.St.138.jpeg|390
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Micro-loan recipients in the first two rows applaud as micro finance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch prepare to make its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. L-r in the first row are Lourdes Zuniga, Gloria Turcios, Nanci Martinez, Sandra Machuca and Gladys Rivera. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/33/189fya.St.138.jpeg|464
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Dunia Chacon, one of the micro-loan recipients, holds her check for $1,000 as microfinance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch made its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/28/16/33/IRluN.St.138.jpeg|497
    Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
    Micro-loan recipient Perla Perez and her baby Jamie Perez, 9 months, are congratulated by friend Tomas Rubio as microfinance bank Grameen America's new Charlotte branch made its first micro-loans to low-income entrepreneurs Friday afternoon at the International House. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
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