Podcasts about cdfi

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations. I'm Mark, and today's episode will be a little different. I don't usually record podcasts like this, but sometimes you just need to talk through what's been on your mind. There's been a lot happening in the business lending world, and I've been reflecting on where things stand—what's working, what's shifting, and what credit unions need to be paying attention to right now. This is more of a pulse check, a chance to unpack the momentum and opportunities ahead. So, thanks for joining me for this more personal take—I'm looking forward to getting into it with you.IN THIS EPISODE:(00:00) Introduction(00:49) Mark shares what's on his mind in the credit union space(02:41) Business is up this first quarter(06:16) The shrinking base of credit unions and the pay-for-play model of conventions(12:17) The CFPB and the CDFI and the NCUA(17:11) The changing culture of the credit union and what can be doneKEY TAKEAWAYS: Business lending is experiencing a resurgence, with increased demand from small businesses and credit unions. It's proving to be a reliable income stream even amid economic fluctuations, offering more stability than consumer loans and mortgages, which have been impacted by interest rate volatility and market changes.There is a growing need for stronger portfolio management and compliance resources due to rising—though normalizing—delinquencies and heightened regulatory expectations. The competitive landscape is also intensifying, with more entrants vying for a shrinking pool of credit unions, leading to thinner margins and greater pressure on service providers.Industry conventions, especially larger ones, are becoming less effective for meaningful engagement. The consolidation of major trade organizations has shifted event participation to a pay-for-play model, limiting visibility for value-driven providers. This, combined with rising costs, is prompting a reevaluation of outreach strategies and event participation.RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter - WebsiteMark Ritter - LinkedIn

Send us a textDo you ever wonder what your bank is doing with your cash? They keep some of it in reserves, of course, in case you need to withdraw it. But they also make a lot of decisions- about who to lend it to, which companies and politicians to back, and where they will invest your cash to make their own profits.That's a lot of decisions! And it's possible that your bank isn't making decisions that line up with your values when it comes to the environment.Today's episode is a continuation of this month's climate series. Find out how to quickly find out if your bank is climate friendly and how to find a better option that is more aligned with your values.Are there any other topics you want to hear during this climate month series? Reach out anytime using the contact info below.Let's talk again soon!Links from today's episode:Mighty Deposits (find out what your bank is doing with your money and switch to a better bank)https://mightydeposits.com/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy:Episode#117 1% for the PlanetLove the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf:https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase.Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.Easy Ways to Support the Show1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow!2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show!//NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models//Support the show

Originally uploaded July 11th, re-edited April 22nd. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Elissa Sangalli, President/CEO, Northern Initiatives, Marquette, MI. Questions 1. Can you explain the significance of Michigan having the largest state-supported CDFI program in the nation? 2. How will the $19 million awarded in this second round of MEDC funding specifically impact Michigan communities? 3. How has MEDC's MI CDFI Fund impacted Northern Initiatives and other members of the coalition's ability to support underserved communities? 4. The FY2025 state of Michigan budget recently passed and the MI CDFI Fund was allotted $5M in funding. What specific initiatives or projects are expected to benefit most from this increased funding? 5. What role do you see CDFIs playing in the broader economic development of Michigan? $19 Million Awarded to 38 CDFIs to Support Underserved Borrowers Michigan Hosts the Nation's Largest State CDFI Fund, Granting Support for Underserved Consumers, Small Businesses, Affordable Housing, and Neighborhood Revitalization LANSING, MI, June 24, 2024 – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has awarded $19 million in grants to 38 Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFI) through the Michigan Community Development Financial Institution Fund Program (MI CDFI Fund Program). With this second round of funding, Michigan now has the largest state-supported CDFI program in the nation. In total, the MI CDFI Fund has awarded $84 million to 46 CDFIs. CDFIs are mission-based lenders that provide flexible and affordable financing to small and micro-businesses, first-time home buyers, affordable housing developments, and projects that revitalize neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and community spaces. CDFIs expand access to capital and the resources needed to grow communities by offering financial services, technical assistance, and more. The MI CDFI Fund is a grant program aimed at assisting CDFIs grow their lending capacity and meet the growing demands of underserved borrowers. To qualify for MI CDFI Fund grants, an organization must be a certified CDFI, in good standing with the US Department of Treasury, either be headquartered in Michigan or have a Michigan presence and commit to allocating no less than 80% of grant funds to support Michigan borrowers. “The MI CDFI Fund is critical to the loan programs our members provide throughout the state,” said Elissa Sangalli, Chair of the Michigan CDFI Coalition and President of Northern Initiatives. Michigan CDFIs have a big impact in communities throughout the state. According to MI CDFI Coalition research, Michigan's CDFIs have deployed more than $4 billion in loans in addition to accomplishing the following: Created more than 30,000 permanent jobs; Deployed $1.53B PPP loans to Michigan businesses and nonprofits, preserving 165,000 jobs; Developed or preserved over 14,000 housing units (72% affordable); and Supported over 7,000 small or micro-businesses. First-round funds from the MI CDFI Program are already being deployed into Michigan Communities. Chi Ishobak, Inc. has issued a loan to a tribal-owned small business in Fraser, Michigan to purchase equipment, allowing the business to increase production and boost revenue. Cinnaire created the Community Development Organization (CDO) Loan Pilot Program Second round MI CDFI Fund Program grants were awarded to dozens including: Cinnaire Lending Corporation Northern Initiatives Learn more about the Michigan CDFI Coalition and its members at www.micdfi.org and more about the MI CDFI Fund Program at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/services/access-capital/cdfi-fund/

Glen speaks with Frank Diekmann, Founder and Publisher of the newly minted The CU Daily, about his latest venture and the need for “hard news” reporting in the credit union space. Also- a ray of light for CDFIs, grandstanding against paper checks, and splitting hairs on CBDCs.   Links related to this episode:   The CU Daily: https://thecudaily.com/   The CU Daily's article on Treasury's CDFI response: https://thecudaily.com/facing-budget-axe-from-wh-exec-order-treasury-says-cdfi-programs-should-remain/   Last week's discussion with Jason Stverak on tax status and CDFIs: https://www.big-fintech.com/defending-and-debunking-credit-unions-tax-status/   Trump's Executive Order supposedly eliminating paper checks from/to the Federal Government:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/modernizing-payments-to-and-from-americas-bank-account/   Reuters on World Liberty Financials proposed USD1 Stablecoin: https://www.reuters.com/technology/trumps-world-liberty-financial-crypto-venture-says-it-will-launch-stablecoin-2025-03-25/   Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday April 9 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

This week, the team is back from a much-needed break and ready to break down the big news in Madison and across Wisconsin.

Richard Trent, the Executive Director of Main Street Alliance, joins us to discuss small businesses, startups, and the importance of research for long-term success. He also shares insights on CDFI loans and the counselors available to assist in developing your small business. Richard and Earl talk about former president Biden who had programs to help small business entrepreneurs grow and receive funding. Earl inquires about how today's small business owners can gain advantages from Main Street Alliance, particularly regarding the observation that women are often more inclined to take entrepreneurial risks compared to their male counterparts. Callers highlight that the failure rate in business stands at 90%, which discourages individuals from getting involved due to the high risks, high daycare cost and insufficient support for sustainability and growth. The Earl Ingram Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 8-10 am across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with Earl and the show! Guest: Richard Trent

The Trump administration unexpectedly targeted the Community Development Financial Institution Fund, touching off concern among bankers and their representatives that the bipartisan program could be eliminated. Ryan Tracy, who covers financial regulation and banking for Capitol Account, explains what happened, why, and the future of CDFIs. We also discuss the latest legal maneuvers surrounding the CFPB, what Fed Gov. Michelle Bowman's nomination as vice chair for banking supervision means for community banks and more.

Send us a textHopeful.Determined.In a conversation with Renee Sattiewhite, the CEO of the African American Credit Union Coalition, she came across as both hopeful and determined.  And she believes there still is work to be done and she definitely is not giving up.  Definitely she knows the landscape in today's Washington DC is dramatically different but she does not see that as a call for waving the white flag of surrender.Along the way you'll hear mentions of some of the great heroes of AACUC such as Bill Porter and Bert Hash Jr. and Bill Bynum.  But you'll also hear the names of many very successful women.The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said you can't step into the same river twice, change is our constant. So it definitely is today and Renee Sattirewhite is determined to contribute her views on the kinds of changes we need to be making.Listen up.Like what you are hearing? Find out how you can help sponsor this podcast here. Very affordable sponsorship packages are available. Email rjmcgarvey@gmail.com  And like this podcast on whatever service you use to stream it. That matters.  Find out more about CU2.0 and the digital transformation of credit unions here. It's a journey every credit union needs to take. Pronto

Glen connects with the Defense Credit Union Council's Jason Stverak to discuss the dual threats- not-for-profit tax treatment and CDFI designation- facing the industry, and the bizarre misrepresentations surrounding each. Also- Klarna's IPO parade, and an acclaimed entry in the Credit Union Film Festival.      Links related to this episode:   The Defense Credit Union Council: https://www.dcuc.org/   Jason's CU Insight article on the tax issue: https://www.cuinsight.com/banks-tax-hypocrisy-will-hurt-main-street-not-credit-unions/   CU Strategic Planning President Stacey Augustine's article on CDFIs: https://thecudaily.com/cdfis-the-impact-is-obvious/   Don't Tax My Credit Union website: https://www.donttaxmycreditunion.org/#take-action   This month's GAC interview with Americas Credit Unions' Economic Team: https://www.big-fintech.com/a-taxing-week-in-washington/   “The Barber of Little Rock”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1amOPUn49aM   Fintech Business Weekly's coverage of Klarna's IPO filing: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/p/klarna-files-ipo-paperwork-puts-pr    Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday March 26 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This session will feature cyber defense evangelist Roger Grimes on quantum computing and his latest book about combating social engineering/phishing. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  Join us on Bluesky!   @bigfintech.bsky.social  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen)  @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Send us a textThis week let's chat about a wonderful new book by Jasmine Rashid, “The Financial Activist Playbook.” The book covers 8 strategies for everyday people to flex the power of their wallets. The book covers banking, shopping, donating, investing, and earning in ways that can feed our collective well being.Tune in to hear more about the book and find out how to get your own copy today.Links from today's episode:The Financial Activist Playbook: 8 Strategies for Everyday People to Reclaim Wealth and Collective Well-Being by Jasmine RashidLink to purchase book (contains an affiliate link)Author's websiteICYMI another episode you might enjoy:Episode#155 How Gen Z Thinks About InvestingLove the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf:https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase.Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.Easy Ways to Support the Show1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow!2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show!//NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models//Support the show

Send us a textCliff Rosenthal literally wrote the book on CDFIs, community development financial institutions.  Hear his story in this podcast that dates back to 2019, episode 37 in the vaults.  Rosenthal was on the show last year - episode 311 - talking about a new book he co-authored with Michael McCray entitled Community Capital. It's part Rosenthal autobiography, part the sgtory of the death - the murder? - of an African AMerican credit union.  Hard hitting stuff.But the story starts here, in episode 37 and it now is our Greatest Hit  #24Listen up

Cathie Mahon, CEO of the credit union industry's CDFI intermediary, shares how her organization is pushing forward to do good amid the chaotic actions of the current administration. Also, Michael, Natasha, and Producer Zach play a thrilling game of "how do you like your water". Can you guess which daredevil of the group takes theirs with ice?

The listeners of this podcast are likely to know that credit unions are financial cooperatives — an identity that some credit unions lean into and others don't talk about much. Amongst the general U.S. population, our understanding of cooperatives is limited, at best. Most people are ill-equipped to distinguish between, say, a consumer co-op, like a credit union, and a worker co-op, like PixelSpoke!  We'd like to change that, and we think that credit unions can play a crucial role, not only in expanding our general understanding of what co-ops are and why they matter, but also in supporting the broader cooperative ecosystem. We're excited to be joined by two guests who have made it their life's work to expand access to ownership through the cooperative business model. Frank Cetera is the Business Transfers Program Director for the Democracy at Work Institute, which helps communities overcome accelerating economic and social crises through worker ownership, and also a Board Member of local CDFI, Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union. Stacey Smith is SVP and Head of Programs at Project Equity, which helps raise awareness of broad based employee ownership and supports businesses transitioning to employee ownership. Frank and Stacey help us tackle this month's BIG Question: How can credit unions more broadly support a cooperative economy, and what specific needs can they address for co-ops in their communities?

Today we have Madeline Stewart, the President and CEO of Vida Credit Union, joining us on the Frogcast. She has served her credit union for nearly 25 years in multiple roles and with a passionate focus on operational performance. On the tail end of a rapid rebranding initiative, Madeline shares the background story on the decision and name selection. Vida Credit Union is a CDFI institution who has used this designation, and the CDFI grants, to make a meaningful difference in their community. Due to their positive local influence, the credit union will be featured on a PBS television program to tell their story, memorialize their history, and broaden their impact. Give our episode a listen, and the PBS show a watch, to learn more about Vida and what they are accomplishing in Southern California.Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Nate BurnsProducers: Ryan Kane and Steve SchmidleSupporting Cast: Robert York, Jeff Morris, James Wileman, and Original Ryan Olsen.

On this show, we've talked a lot about how traditional banking and financial systems make it tough for new farmers or those without direct land ownership to get a fair shot. But those challenges run even deeper for agricultural producers in Indian Country.Enter Skya Ducheneaux, who's tackling these barriers head-on as the leader of Akiptan—the first Native CDFI dedicated to serving agricultural producers all across Indian Country. Skya brings fresh eyes to lending, challenging old-school banking practices that just don't work for farmers without big land holdings or a long financial track record. Instead, Akiptan focuses on sweat equity, work ethic, hands-on support, and long-term solutions - and yield tremendous outcomes as a result.In this episode, Skya shares: Her journey from growing up on a cattle ranch to leading a groundbreaking financial institution. Why extractive capital leads to extractive practices—and how patient, thoughtful capital can support regenerative agriculture. The unique ways Akiptan removes barriers and empowers Native ag producers. Remarkable success stories from the communities Akiptan serves. Why Native CDFIs have an opportunity to step up investment in agriculture. And how outside investors can better align with the long-term needs of Native farmers. And much more…More about Skya and Akiptan:Skya Ducheneaux is the Executive Director of Akiptan and is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She spent her first 18 years of life on a cattle ranch on the CRST Reservation in South Dakota. She then pursued a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Business Administration while working at a county FSA office and buffalo meat processing plant. After returning home to work for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, she was tasked with creating the first Native CDFI dedicated to serving Native Agriculture producers all across Indian Country. Akiptan began lending in January of 2019 and has grown rapidly over the years.In addition to Akiptan, Skya has served on many advisory committees and is currently the Board Chair of the Mountain Plains CDC. In her role as Executive Director, she is a part of several CDFI coalitions, advocates locally and federally and presents at conferences to share the mission of Akiptan.Agrarian Futures is produced by Alexandre Miller, who also wrote our theme song. This episode was edited by Drew O'Doherty.

Send us a textThis week's episode is a quick recap of the most popular episodes of 2024. Whether you're a new listener or you want to take a walk down memory lane, enjoy these top picks of the year!Previous Recap VideosEpisode#103 Most Popular Episodes of 2023Episode#62 Most popular episodes of 2022Most popular episodes of 2024:Episode#147 The surprising truth about what ESG actually meansEpisode#107 Dr. King's Radical Money BeliefsEpisode#144 How to help your clients invest for more than financial returns: how to consider societal values tooEpisode#124 What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal valuesEpisode#148 Is your bank funding politicians you don't support? Consider these 4 banks insteadEpisode#122 How I switched to a socially responsible index fundEpisode#127 How I screen charities before I donateSpotify Playlist Most Popular Episodes of 2024 Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.Easy Ways to Support the Show:1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow!2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show!//NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models//Support the show

December's guest is Fidel Gonzalez, the President and CEO of First Imperial Credit Union and a proud member of the 1999 Phi Class of WCMS. Among many accomplishments, Fidel has led his low-income designated credit union to also become a CDFI certified credit union. With the CDFI designation, the credit union has applied for, and received, grants totaling over $7 million. With these dollars they have funded their loan loss reserve and served their members and community by lending into lower credit tiers and assuming the higher risk that accompanies it. Fidel is a distinguished credit union professional with a focus on member service, including the CCUFC certification. Always modeling the way for his team, and never losing sight of the members he serves, he has aligned the credit union's purpose with the actions and opportunities that will provide First Imperial CU with the sustainability to serve for generations to come.Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Nate BurnsProducers: Ryan Kane and Steve SchmidleSupporting Cast: Robert York, Original Ryan Olsen, James Wileman and Jeff Morris

“Our job is to encourage credit unions to reach underserved markets and show them how it can be a huge growth strategy.” - Cathie MahonThank you for tuning in to episode 199 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Humanidei. Humanidei helps credit unions build inclusive cultures that attract, develop, and retain talent.My guest on today's show is Cathie Mahon, President and CEO at Inclusiv. Cathie ​​shares her career journey in credit unions that began over 30 years ago. She is deeply rooted in her passion for organizing and empowering underserved communities. From her early days as an intern during a pivotal time in Los Angeles to her leadership role in New York City's Office of Financial Empowerment, Cathie has been on a mission to ensure financial inclusion for all.During our conversation, Cathie discusses her experience at the SACCA Congress in Kenya, exploring the global cooperative movement and the significant lessons we can learn from African SACCOs. We discuss the challenges and opportunities within the credit union industry, particularly the role of “hyper-local” credit unions making substantial community impacts. Cathie also mentions the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator and its goal to provide funds to community lenders—helping them lend to clean energy projects in low-income communities.As we wrap up the show, Cathie shares how she balances work and her personal life, some book recommendations, and the best advice she received. Enjoy my conversation with Cathie Mahon!Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List How to find Cathie:Cathie Mahon, President and CEO at Inclusivinclusiv.orgCathie: LinkedInInclusiv: LinkedIn | Facebook | X

Send us a textWhat's the credit union mission?Really?At Inclusiv CEO Cathie Mahon believes that mission is serving the underserved.That won her a place as a very early guest on the podcast.Indeed hers was episode 15.She's still working on making that mission reality at Inclusiv.And this still is a show that explores topics that really matter.Listen up.

Send us a textEver think about what your bank is doing with your cash? Whether your bank uses the cash in your checking and savings account to fund fossil fuel companies or gun manufacturers, the reality is that the banks are using their own set of societal values to deploy our cash every single day.In today's episode, let's talk about community focused, mission driven banks that might actually share your values! The cash sitting in our bank accounts can be used to fund affordable housing in our communities, or to inject cash into small businesses that have traditionally been locked out of traditional capital.The point is, we have options! Tune in this week to learn more!Links from today's episode:Understanding CDFIs and their impact | JP Morganhttps://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/real-estate/community-development-banking/what-is-a-community-development-financial-institution-cdfi Banks Can Deliver Both Social Impact and Profits. Here's How | Boston Consulting Grouphttps://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/balancing-social-impact-and-profits-with-bankingICYMI another episode you might enjoy:Episode 31 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) https://pod.link/1577031108/episode/ae16a1239e052b0da35e0eb6e8999e99 Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.Support the show

Mark goes 1-on-1 with Erie FCU CEO Brian Waugaman on various topics in and out of the credit union space. What's it like to live in Erie? How did he navigate becoming CEO after a long tenure at the credit union? What's working and what needs work today? What is Brian's crystal ball on the future? All this and more as Mark Ritter and Brian chat it up. IN THIS EPISODE:[1:32] Brian shares his career journey, and he arrived at Erie FCU[4:56] The history of Erie FCU and managing the business around Erie's winter conditions[10:33] Brian discusses working his way through the organization and the importance of community[16:45] Brian talks about the process of becoming CDFI certification and his hopes to provide funding for small business owners[21:32] Brian discusses how to drive commerce, get involved in the community and market CDs to benefit members[27:50] What is the future of the credit union space KEY TAKEAWAYS: When promoted within a company, success hinges on building trust and fostering cooperation with colleagues. Clear communication, defined responsibilities, and accountability are essential. Stay focused on the organization's vision and mission to lead effectively.Erie FCU refined its vision and mission to focus on becoming the most trusted financial resource in the region and delivering responsible financial solutions that meet community needs. These guiding principles shape the credit union's daily efforts and long-term success.Erie FCU sees technology and innovation as key future drivers. While member satisfaction has declined compared to larger banking competitors, the credit union recognizes the need to adapt to evolving technological expectations, similar to the "Amazon effect," to stay competitive and meet member needs.RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter - WebsiteMark Ritter - LinkedInBrian Waugaman - LinkedinErie FCU - WebsiteBIOGRAPHY: Brian Waugaman is a longtime veteran of Erie FCU and has been its CEO for the last ten years. He is well-rounded in his credit union skills and touched virtually all aspects of the institution during his tenure. Erie FCU is a CDFI focused on the communities in northwest PA.

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with “Chatty” Patty Titcomb, a dynamic hospital administrator at HonorHealth by day and a passionate and successful food truck owner by night. Patty embodies the idea that when you truly love what you do, it doesn't feel like work—even when you feel stretched thin. It is what it is because you created it and are making it happen! Patty's story begins with a leap of faith—launching a food truck to bring authentic Nigerian cuisine to Phoenix, a market that's seen the influx of Ethiopian cuisine, but not Nigerian. As a new mom and newlywed, Patty's venture wasn't just about sharing a taste of her heritage; it was about seeing if Phoenix was ready for something fresh and exciting. What really sets Patty apart is her deep commitment to community. By exclusively hiring African and immigrant staff, she's transformed her business into a platform that not only introduces new flavors but also uplifts and creates opportunities—and community—for those who share her roots.Patty faces many challenges, ups and downs in running her food truck, from handling maintenance and permits to marketing and educating her customers. But with an innovative mindset, she navigates these obstacles. By blending her healthcare background with her food truck business, she's created something unique that goes beyond just serving food—it's about nourishing her community. One of her strategies? Introducing customers to Nigerian cuisine with approachable dishes like Nigerian Tacos, which gradually opens their palates to richer, more authentic flavors.As we discuss her financial insights, Patty emphasizes the importance of understanding your market and the value of small financial institutions for securing loans such as a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). Patty shares how the CDFI helped her jumpstart business and why she keeps returning to the same well when it's time to scale her business. She also shares the importance of mentorship, highlighting the guidance she received from local Arizona legends like Joe Johnston – the mastermind behind Agriptopia and Joe's BBQ.Patty's journey highlights resilience, innovation, and the rewards of pursuing what you love. Tune in to hear more about how she balances it all, her thoughts on maintaining work-life boundaries, and her vision for the future of her business.Thanks for listening to another episode of Young Boss with your host Isabelle Guarino. Be sure to like, share and follow on Instagram and TikTok.And remember, youth is your power.Subscribe to Young Boss with Isabelle Guarino wherever you get your podcasts, and be sure to like, share and follow on Instagram and TikTok.And remember, youth is your power.

In this episode, David Lykken interviews James Hooper from Quontic Bank, a CDFI that has fully embraced Angel AI to streamline its lending operations. James discusses how adopting Angel AI has significantly reduced costs, improved efficiency, and allowed loan officers to focus more on relationship-building while automating routine tasks. Quontic Bank, known for serving underserved communities, leverages innovative products like crypto-backed loans and a unique P&L product to help non-traditional borrowers. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adopting new technologies to stay competitive in the mortgage industry and highlights Quontic's success in reducing operational costs by over $1.5 million in 18 months.

Unlock the potential of alternative financing with our latest episode of Loan Officer Training! This week, we're diving into the world of CDFI No Income Verification Loans—an essential tool for loan officers looking to serve clients with non-traditional financial situations.In this episode, we'll break down the ins and outs of structuring these unique loans. Learn how to navigate the application process, evaluate borrower qualifications, and tailor loan structures to meet the needs of your clients without relying on traditional income documentation. Discover the benefits and challenges of CDFI No Income Verification Loans and how they can open doors for borrowers who might otherwise struggle to secure financing.Hear from experts who will share their experiences and offer practical advice on making the most of these loans. Whether you're new to CDFI loans or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with the insights you need to excel.Tune in and elevate your expertise in structuring CDFI No Income Verification Loans to better serve your clients and grow your lending success! Join The Mortgage Calculator at https://themortgagecalculator.com/joinAbout The Mortgage Calculator:The Mortgage Calculator is a licensed Mortgage Lender (NMLS #2377459) that specializes in using technology to enable borrowers to access Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA Programs, as well as over 5,000 Non-QM mortgage loan programs using alternative income documentation! Using The Mortgage Calculator proprietary technology, borrowers can instantly price and quote thousands of mortgage loan programs in just a few clicks. The Mortgage Calculator technology also enables borrowers to instantly complete a full loan application and upload documents to our AI powered software to get qualified in just minutes!Our team of over 350 licensed Mortgage Loan Originators can assist our custCatch all the episodes of the Loan Officer Training Podcast at https://themortgagecalculator.com/Page/Loan-Officer-Training-Series-Podcast Catch all the episodes of the Loan Officer Training Podcast at https://themortgagecalculator.com/Page/Loan-Officer-Training-Series-PodcastLoan Officers for Unlimited Free Non-QM Leads & Trainings Join The Mortgage Calculator at https://themortgagecalculator.com/joinThe Mortgage Calculator is a licensed Mortgage Lender (NMLS #2377459) that specializes in using technology to enable borrowers to access Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA Programs, as well as over 5,000 Non-QM mortgage loan programs using alternative income documentation! Using The Mortgage Calculator proprietary technology, borrowers can instantly price and quote thousands of mortgage loan programs in just a few clicks. The Mortgage Calculator technology also enables borrowers to instantly complete a full loan application and upload documents to our AI powered software to get qualified in just minutes! Our team of over 350 licensed Mortgage Loan Originators can assist our customers with Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA mortgages as well as access...

Today we're talking about who has access to full-service supermarkets in America's cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities. According to The Reinvestment Fund's "2023 Limited Supermarket Access Analysis Report," 8.5% of people in the US live in areas with limited access to full-service supermarkets. This means that families must travel further to get fresh foods, and it creates a barrier to adequate nutrition. This is the 10th year The Reinvestment Fund has published the "Supermarket Access Report," which provides data and context about grocery store access across the country. Here to discuss the latest figures is policy and analyst Michael Norton.   Interview Summary   This is a really interesting and kind of nuanced topic, so I'm happy we can talk about it in some detail. Why don't we just start off with kind of a broad question. What do we know now about areas of limited supermarket access in the US? Kelly, I think the big thing to take away at the very beginning is that the share of people living in places that would be considered low access is roughly the same as it's been over the past 10 years. We have about 8.5% of the population living in low-access areas across the country. That's pretty consistent to what it's been for over a decade. But what's important is that how low-access areas are distributed across the country varies quite a bit. And where they exist, the density of the populations where they exist, really informs the kinds of interventions that are available for addressing these needs. These vary considerably in different parts of the country and at different geographic scales. And what I mean by that is suburban areas, rural areas, and then some of the most remote areas across the country. So we do have a sort of consistent number or share of people. The actual number has gone up a little bit because the population has continued to increase. They become distributed in different ways that follow different kinds of development patterns, on the one hand. But then also places where you end up getting patterns of residential and racial segregation in more developed parts of the country.   It's so interesting. So, given that the average has stayed essentially the same over the 10 years you've been doing the reports, have there been pressures pulling in either direction that might have changed over the years? So, for example, are there pressures that are making access to full-service supermarkets less likely? Are they pulling out of some places, for example? And might that offset by some positive developments in other areas? So, while the average stays the same, the contours look different? I think the way to think about that is that we see a lot of expansion of low-access areas in the big metro areas that are expanding the fastest. So, the biggest increases in populations living with limited access are in big state in the South and out west in places like Arizona, Nevada, Texas, where you have these large metros that are growing at a really rapid rate. And the reason for that is that oftentimes residential development will show up before commercial development. So, in those kinds of places, food retail is trailing behind residential development. And probably those places are going to be well served by the time we update this analysis again in four or five years because of what those development patterns look like, right? So, when you're building more houses in more urban and remote areas, there's still folks who are first in buying out in those places. They're still going to have to go a long way to get their groceries for a few years until supermarket identifies this as a place where there's going to be enough demand for us to put one of our Krogers or Targets or Walmarts or what have you. But we've also seen, and this is more common in urban places, is the expansion of these low-access areas that have smaller populations, right? And so these are places with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents where folks are still having to go disproportionately far to get access to a full-service grocery store. Sometimes this is because stores have pulled out in these places because of limited demand, historically. And that limited demand is mostly because folks don't have as much income to spend on their groceries, right? And we see these little areas popping up within metro areas and even in some close-in suburbs and places across the country. And so you have sort of these bigger LSA areas, which have at least 5,000 residents on the outer edges of a lot of metros and in some within the cities, but mostly within the cities. It's these smaller, limited access, low population areas. And this differentiation of the type of low-access area is something that we introduced in this update to our analysis that previously wasn't available. It provided a really nice nuance to understanding what limited access to supermarkets looks like going forward, both within urban places, suburban places, and in some of these really remote parts of the country. So, based on this research, what does it tell us about the future of insecurity in the United States? I think what it really tells us is that it depends on where you live and what kind of community you live in and what that's going to look like. I think the ability to provide a little bit more nuance around who has access and when they have limited access, what about their community is going to inform the response to ensuring that folks are able to get what they need. In places where they are these traditional sorts of limited supermarket access areas where you have at least 5,000 people, they can become pretty good candidates for operating a full-service store, right? But when you think about urban parts of the country where you've had central business districts or neighborhoods sort of hollowing out in different places and local supermarket is closed, but there aren't enough people there living to support a full-service store, different kinds of interventions are required, right? And then in these really remote parts of the country where you don't have very many residents, but you have at least a thousand, but people are living a long way away from each other, how do you serve those places? Because some of them, these are very small towns, right? And there are people who have been living there and if the grocery store closed, then they have to drive 35-40 miles to the next town, right? That becomes a real challenge for their general way of life. I think really thinking about the future of food access and food insecurity in this country really has to have a geographic nuance to it in thinking about the appropriate responses that are going to meet the needs of people living in different parts of the country. So, how does your study inform investments do address food insecurity? Reinvestment Fund has a very active retail portfolio, both on our lending side, and Reinvestment Fund is also the national fund manager for USDA's Healthy Food Finance Initiative. These two avenues through which we make loans to increase access to fresh food and through USDA's HFFI program are opportunities to innovate. The USDA's Healthy Food Finance Initiative is both a grant-making and a lending program that is designed to identify innovative responses to access to fresh food in these different types of areas. So, we're able to use the results of these analyses to identify places where you can align the kinds of programs that people are proposing. Whether that's a small format store in a city where their primary supermarket has closed, whether it's a mobile market that is serving folks who live very far distances from their nearest food retailer, or whether it's setting up a aggregation site that is not just food retail but sometimes is attached to a healthcare center or a hospital where people are also making regular trips. These become opportunities for us to support innovative approaches and also try out different things. Once you start to get some information from successful programs that are coming out of the grant program, as they become investible and scalable at a store level when you become ready to take on debt to expand your operation or open a store in a place that typical operators aren't willing to go. So, let me ask you a question about the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. With politics being so partisan these days, is this a partisan issue as well, or is there bipartisan support for things like this? This is the good news part of access to fresh food. It really is a bipartisan issue. Healthy Food Finance Initiative was created under the Obama Administration, was expanded under the Trump Administration and has been expanded even more under the Biden Administration. Each subsequent farm bill has expanded the capital available for the Healthy Food Finance Initiative, with the goal to try and figure out how do we meet the food access needs of everybody in this country in a way that provides a signal to private market operators that they can be successful in these places. That really is a bit of good news, and I'm really happy to hear that. But I also wanted to ask you, are there options aside from full-service supermarkets to help address some of these matters you're discussing? Absolutely, absolutely. And these are things like smaller format stores, almost like a corner store but that operates like a healthy food market. And these are really appropriate in places where there are limited access, low population, and sort of filling in pockets inside urban communities and close-in suburbs. There are mobile market options that are popping up in different places. Food aggregation hubs that will be cited within the center of a low-access area where people can come to a central location and having purchased food online that shows up and then people can come and pick it up. There's expanding delivery options to more remote parts of the country. So, there is a wide diversity of models that are proliferating beyond just bricks and mortar traditional grocery stores. It's really the job of HFFI to seed these initiatives, identify the ones that are doing really well, and then work with the folks who created them and then others to scale them down the road into places that are not served by food retailers. I think you've helped answer the next question I was going to ask, which is how does this research help policy makers and practitioners think about addressing food insecurity in their community? There's a fair amount of tailoring that could go on where you're trying to meet the needs of a specific community. That's right. And I think one of the things that's important to keep in mind is the role that financial institutions like Reinvestment Fund play in making this possible. So, Reinvestment Fund is a community development financial institution, which is best understood as like a nonprofit bank. And these exist across the country and are more or less active in different markets, but they're really focused on working in a very deliberate, hands-on way with our borrowers to create access to fresh food in places where it's not going to be easy, right? Because if it was easy, all the big food retailers would be there, right? So, we have to be patient. You have to find someone who's willing to take a chance operating the store, to help them develop their business plan, help them identify all of the ins and outs that go with standing up a food retail business, and then work with them throughout the process of them sort of getting access to capital and making their business work. And that work is a lot more work than what is required to finance a new grocery store that is run by Target or run by Walmart, Krogers or something like that. This is a critical role that the CDFI industry is playing and increasingly recognized at the federal level as a resource for deploying public subsidies through the private market into the hands of operators who are going to make it work in places where traditional food retailers and capital just won't go. Let me ask a big-picture question. and this is a little complicated in my own mind. So, we're sort of defaulting in a way to the idea that full-service supermarkets providing access to such things for more people is a good outcome. And from a social justice point of view, it's unquestionably true that people who live in different sets of financial circumstances should still have access to things that people in better financial circumstances have. But in terms of nutritional outcome, having access to a full-service supermarket brings a lot more than just the healthy foods. And in today's modern full-service supermarket, the highly processed, less healthy options must outnumber the healthy ones 10 to 1, 20 to 1, 50 to 1? I have no idea what the number is, but it's enormous. And so, providing government support and financial incentives for a big store to come in is providing access to a lot more than healthy foods may have adverse nutritional outcomes rather than positive ones, unless you're just sort of agnostic about the type of food that people are getting access to, that any food is better than nothing if you have food insecurity. But I wonder how one might address that. And whether one could think about providing resources that were structured differently to encourage smaller stores, for example, that focus on more healthy options and fewer of the less healthy ones. And then you might get the social justice part addressed at the same time you're having a better nutritional outcome. Kelly, that's such a good question, and one that we wrangle with all the time. Because there is actually fairly limited evidence to suggest that access to fresh food is going to lead people to make healthier choices about what they consume. One of the sort of operating assumptions is that in the absence of access, you're not going to make healthy choices. And once there is at least access, the possibility for making healthier choices increases from, zero to something, whatever it is that is going to be motivating individuals how they go about making choices for the foods that they consume. And it is a very tricky relationship that folks in the food industry grapple with all the time as well in the medical profession. I think from a grant-making standpoint and a financing standpoint, Reinvestment Fund's position is always that whoever is receiving support through our programs or from our lending capital is offering a selection that meets what you would consider healthy food retail options, right? That there is an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh produce, fresh meats and dairy, in that also with the understanding that almost all food retailers are also going to offer less healthy options. That is a constant tension within the field. And figuring out how to encourage behavioral change by consumers is sort of beyond the ability of HFFI to move. What we can do is ensure that the organizations and the individuals who we support are offering a variety of healthy options for the patrons that are coming into their locations.   BIO   Michael Norton, Ph.D., serves as Chief Policy Analyst at Reinvestment Fund, and supports all research related to Reinvestment Fund's organizational goals and mission. In this role Dr. Norton works closely with a range partners, including small non-profit organizations, local and national philanthropies, private companies, colleges and universities, school districts, federal, state, and city governments and agencies. His work leverages nearly a decade of experience as researcher and project director to develop data driven solutions – solutions that meet the unique needs of Reinvestment Fund and our key stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Dr. Norton completed his doctoral studies in the Sociology Department at Temple University, where his research examined the relationship between secondary mortgage market activity and neighborhood change in the Philadelphia region at the turn of the 21st century. Prior to joining Reinvestment Fund in 2015, Dr. Norton served as a Senior Research Associate at Research for Action in Philadelphia. In this role, he led and co-led a range of mixed-methods evaluations of educational reform initiatives and policies at the local and state levels.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Quontic. Quontic serves all 50 states as a federally chartered digital bank, and they're a US Treasury designated CDFI. Their mortgage loan programs are created to be adaptive to customers' unique circumstances, reducing the hassle of reams and reams of paperwork. Quontic's mission is to help creditworthy borrowers get home loans and give them the “yes” they've been waiting for.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Quontic. Quontic serves all 50 states as a federally chartered digital bank, and they're a US Treasury designated CDFI. Their mortgage loan programs are created to be adaptive to customers' unique circumstances, reducing the hassle of reams and reams of paperwork. Quontic's mission is to help creditworthy borrowers get home loans and give them the “yes” they've been waiting for.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Quontic. Quontic serves all 50 states as a federally chartered digital bank, and they're a US Treasury designated CDFI. Their mortgage loan programs are created to be adaptive to customers' unique circumstances, reducing the hassle of reams and reams of paperwork. Quontic's mission is to help creditworthy borrowers get home loans and give them the “yes” they've been waiting for.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Quontic. Quontic serves all 50 states as a federally chartered digital bank, and they're a US Treasury designated CDFI. Their mortgage loan programs are created to be adaptive to customers' unique circumstances, reducing the hassle of reams and reams of paperwork. Quontic's mission is to help creditworthy borrowers get home loans and give them the “yes” they've been waiting for.

In Episode 70 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Zoila Jennings, Impact Investment Lead at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, on poverty alleviation and systems change through targeted community financing.Subscribe to our Causeartist newsletter here.This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.Sound Bites"The limit does not exist in philanthropy. I think with banks, they're highly regulated, and it does limit what they can do in terms of flexible financing.""We're a systems level investor. So I don't say, oh, I'm focused on housing or small business. On the community development side, I say, where is the capital now going and where are places that we should really pilot, test, bring in other investors to join."About ZoilaZoila Jennings joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2021, bringing her career focus on social justice and poverty alleviation—through targeted community financing—to her role as an impact investments officer. Prior to this, Zoila served as a senior relationship manager with U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States, as part of its Community Development Corporation.In this position, she sourced, structured, and underwrote loans and equity investments for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). She also developed and executed investment initiatives aimed at addressing racial inequities, including a $25 million fund to support women of color microbusiness owners and the first CDFI-issued racial equity bond for targeted investments in underserved communities of color.Before joining U.S. Bank, Zoila spent a decade at JPMorgan Chase in New York, taking on various roles, including vice president for Community Development-New Markets Tax Credits.Here, she utilized tax equity to structure community development transactions. As a credit underwriter, she managed a credit portfolio that encompassed lending, from small working capital lines to large syndicated tax-exempt debt obligations, to nonprofit hospitals, higher education institutions, and social services agencies.In other roles, she founded a consulting firm specializing in credit underwriting, loan structuring, and financial due diligence for loans and investments benefiting low-income communities.Zoila holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Business Economics with a concentration in Catholic Studies from Fordham University.The Robert Wood Johnson FoundationThe Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a force in the realm of philanthropy, employing a multifaceted approach that includes grantmaking, policy change, and impact investing to dismantle barriers to health and wellbeing.At the heart of RWJF's mission is the belief that everyone in the U.S. should have the opportunity to live their healthiest life possible. Achieving this goal requires equitable capital flow to communities historically deprived of investment due to generations of racist policies and structural racism.About RWJF Impact InvestmentsRWJF stands as a national leader in philanthropy, committed to transforming health across the nation within our lifetime. Through impact investments—which encompass deposits, loans, equity investments, and guarantees—RWJF collaborates with both public and private sector investors to channel more capital into underinvested communities.The foundation's vision encompasses flourishing communities where clean, safe drinking water and stable housing are accessible to all, jobs pay a living wage, and everyone has a fair chance to thrive.Since 2010, RWJF has allocated $625 million to impact investments, addressing structural barriers that perpetuate health inequities.These barriers include historical and ongoing disinvestment in housing, jobs, water infrastructure, and other critical community conditions. RWJF's investments target improving health and economic opportunities for communities, small business owners, and households that have historically faced a lack of investment, such as rural communities, communities of color, and low-income communities.RWJF aims to attract or "leverage" $1 billion from other investors—including banks, commercial lenders, insurance companies, and private investors—by 2025 to further this mission.

Our host LUL President & CEO, Lyndon Pryor, is joined by the LISC Executive Director Scott Love⁠. LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides financial capital to help improve historically disinvested neighborhoods. LISC provides both business investment and affordable housing strategies to west Louisville. The pair talk about the current housing shortage, how businesses can connect to improve their community, the role CDFI's play in community lending, and the impact they have already made like the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Complex. Love has worked in the banking industry for many years, as well as for city government. A native of Milwaukee, he has called Louisville home for over 20 years. Love is a graduate of Florida A&M University.

Mark and Jeff discuss Jeff's background and the mission of River City FCU. Jeff explains the value of CDFI status that credit unions can access. Jeff and Mark have a lengthy discussion about the value of credit unions of all sizes and the purpose credit unions have in today's economy, along with ideas on how to maintain the number of credit unions in the United States.IN THIS EPISODE:[0:48] Mark describes his business goals[2:53] Jeff shares his background and how his credit union serves the Hispanic community of San Antonio, TX[7:40] Jeff discusses the advantages of serving the Hispanic community[11:24] Members need to understand that a credit union that is insured by the NUCA is safe, and their money is protected [12:59] Discussion on small credit unions and the importance they have in the marketplace for minority neighborhoods and how some larger credit unions have left the minority communities behind[20:55] Mark and Jeff discuss succession planning when a CEO retires[25:01] Jeff describes what it is like regarding companies approaching him who want to merge and what he would do to grow the number of small credit unionsKEY TAKEAWAYS: River City FCU serves the Hispanic community in San Antonio, TX in many ways. One important service is to provide lending, which helps a person establish themselves in the United States and is also better for the economy because they don't require government assistance.Credit unions need to adapt to the ethnic communities in their area by understanding the needs and goals of the people and offering services to meet those goals. One size does not fit all. If a large credit union acquires a small credit union and closes its doors, it damages the entire premise of a credit union helping the community they are in. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteMark Ritter LinkedInRiver City Credit Union WebsiteJeff Ivey's Phone Number: 210-244-2545BIOGRAPHY: Jeff Ivey is the current CEO of River City FCU in San Antonio, TX. River City is a CDFI-designated institution serving consumers since 1936. Jeff has also been a board member of Inclusive. Previous to his current position, Jeff helped credit unions with strategic planning and CDFI opportunities.

Juan Meza, colombiano, periodista, actual gerente de comunicaciones comunitarias de la organización Mission Economic Developement Agency (MEDA), situada en San Francisco, dedicada a programas de desarrollo de negocios, una institución financiera comunitaria, (CDFI), donde dan acceso a capital, a inmigrantes que a través de bancos tradicionales no podrían tener acceso a ese capital, para poder emprender su negocio.Juan Mesa, está convencido que la necesidad urgente para la comunidad latina es la reforma migratoria, “porque la comunidad latina viene a este país a trabajar, trabaja mucho, trabaja muy duro, y no tiene acceso a los recursos que tienen las personas con documentos”.  La reforma migratoria es muy importante, dice Juan, porque, los latinos trabajan muy duro y con una reforma migratoria creo que tendrían oportunidad de pasar más tiempo con sus familias, hay muchos que no tienen esa oportunidad, trabajan 15 , 16 horas, casi no ven a sus niños, Support the show

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Jennifer Hayes, Senior Vice President, Operations & Policy from Invest Detroit Jennifer and Jeffrey had a discussion about the Michigan CDFI Coalition. Michigan Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Coalition is celebrating its one year of operations. The coalition is committed to providing financial resources to underserved borrowers and supporting economic growth in Michigan. Here are some key talking points to highlight the achievements and goals of the Michigan CDFI Coalition: Jennifer could you tell the Michigan business community about the Mission and Objectives of Michigan CDFI? MICDFI Coalitions' overall mission is to increase awareness of CDFIs, expand programming to support more borrowers, businesses, and projects, and continue to support economic growth throughout Michigan. What's the Role of CDFIs? CDFIs as mission-based lenders, providing flexible and affordable financing to underserved communities, small businesses, and affordable housing projects. CDFIs are particularly integral in reaching borrowers who often cannot access traditional bank financing. What's the Impact in Michigan? To date, Michigan's CDFIs have deployed more than $4 billion in loans throughout the state and have made the following impact: ● Created almost 30,000 permanent jobs ● Developed almost 23 million square feet of real estate ● Over 14,000 total housing units, 72% affordable ● Supported over 7,000 small or micro-businesses ● Created the largest state CDFI fund in the nation with $85 million to date. CDFIs also played a significant role in providing Michigan small businesses and nonprofits access to the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans and serviced $1.5 billion in loans, preserving 165,000 jobs. In FY 2021, MI CDFIs deployed $1.4 billion in loans. ● Michigan CDFIs support several areas of the economy including: ○ Small and Micro-Businesses. ○ Single, Multi-Family, and Affordable Housing. ○ Real Estate and Mixed-Use Projects. ○ Consumer Loans and Banking Products. ○ Non-Profit Projects, and more. ● MICDFI Coalition has been integral in the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. ● Have supported small businesses and nonprofits statewide through the servicing of $1.5 billion in loans. Tell us about Statewide Support and Advocacy? MICDFI Coalition has had support from the following organizations and individuals: ● State Senator Mary Cavanagh, CEED Lending, Chi Ishobak, Cinnaire, Core Community Partners, Detroit Development Fund, Grow, Invest Detroit, Michigan Community Capital, Michigan Credit Union Foundation, Michigan Women Forward, Northern Shores Community Development, Inc., Northern Initiatives, Opportunity Resource Fund, ProsperUs Detroit, Rende Progress Capital, Venture North, Capital Impact Partners, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, ELGA Credit Union, IFF, Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund. And if the listeners care to learn more About Michigan CDFI Coalition how might they do so? The Michigan CDFI Coalition was founded in 2022 with a mission of bringing Michigan CDFIs together to collaborate on the development of inclusive policies, deliver vital programs, and bolster their efforts in community investment across the state of Michigan. Prospective Michigan CDFI partners, communities, and individuals can learn more about the Michigan CDFI Coalition by visiting www.micdfi.org. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX… » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

On this 300th episode of Power Station, I am joined by my friend and colleague John Holdsclaw. Over the twenty plus years I have known John he has excelled as an organizer, public policy advocate, and leader in financial services that deepen racial and economic equity in under-resourced Black, Latino, Indigenous and AAPI communities. John launched Rochdale Capital, an emerging CDFI, with its strategic partner, National Cooperative Bank, to provide capital to enterprises, from affordable housing to health centers and grocery stores, structured as cooperatives and other forms of shared ownership. He views CDFIs not as an industry but as a movement that uplifts communities traditional banks have failed to serve. Take Rochdale's investment in a line of credit for All-In Groceries, a store that was 58 years in the making in Waterloo, Iowa's East Side, a neighborhood marginalized by decades of redlining and racism. This is the community and life-changing work that motivates Rochdale Capital's fully engaged staff and board of directors. And John announces our thrilling partnership, Power Station powered by Rochdale Capital. Expect more stories from leaders who invest financial and human capital to build community, influence and power.

12.7.2023 Christina Jennings, Christina Clamp. Michael Peck & Kevin O'Brien Share Products & Services for the Mind from Everything Co-op's 2023 Co-op Holiday List. Everything Co-op continues its Inaugural 2023 Holiday List, a thoughtfully curated list of products and services from the cooperative community. In this 2nd installment Vernon introduces listeners to three of his picks for your "Mind" and "Community". Christina Jennings, Executive Director of Shared Capital, Christina Clamp, Director of the Center for Co-operatives and Economic Development, Michael Peck, executive director and co-founder of 1worker1vote, and Kevin O'Brien, General Manager of Worx Printing, will share their products and services featured in the 2023 Holiday list. Christina Jennings is the Executive Director of Shared Capital Cooperative, a national CDFI loan fund that provides financing to support the growth and development of cooperatively owned businesses and affordable housing. Christina has more than 25 years of experience in community development finance in the US and internationally. The focus of her work has been on economic justice and creating equitable access to capital. She joined Shared Capital in 2008 where she provides strategic leadership, oversees lending, and leads capitalization efforts. She has also launched and managed small businesses and social ventures. Christina Clamp is the Director of the Center for Co-operatives and Economic Development, and has over 40 years of teaching experience at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), as a professor of Sociology. She is also a consulting researcher on a national study of catalyzing community wealth with the American Sustainable Business Network. Christina has been actively involved in promoting the study of cooperatives since her dissertation, which was a study of management in the Mondragon cooperatives. She has served as a consultant to various clients including National Cooperative Bank and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Her board work includes board chair of LEAF, a CDFI; the ICA Group and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning. Michael Peck serves as executive director and cofounder of 1worker1vote. Emerging from the October 2009 collaboration MOU between the United Steelworkers and Mondragon International, 1worker1vote serves as fiscal sponsor for the 2022-2023 Build Mutualism Campaign. Peck is also co-founder and managing director of a second for-profit start-up, The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory, a majority-minority worker cooperative and social enterprise (mission: to “flatten unequal socioeconomic curves into shared prosperity virtuous cycles”). Kevin O'Brien is the founder and general manager of the worker-owned union cooperative Worx Printing in Worcester, MA (USW 2936). Worx is a third generation evolution of the Union Co-Op Model codified in 1worker1vote by the United Steelworkers and the Mondragon Cooperative. For 28 years, he has been dedicated to cooperating with others to advance anti-sweatshop movement policies and practices in the apparel industry. His experiences have helped thousands of Labor Unions, Nonprofits and Political Campaigns to lift awareness, advance campaigns and programs, and improve fundraising results using ethically manufactured branded merchandise.

In this episode of the Four Degrees to the Streets podcast, hosts Nimo and Jas interview Natasha Dowell, a Loan Officer at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in the Southeast US. Natasha has over a decade of public health experience and is passionate about bringing to life community development projects that advance health equity. Her public health experience covers a wide range including behavioral health, nutritional and physical fitness, maternal and child health, and foodborne outbreaks. Natasha brings her planning and public health training as a lender for a variety of projects, including charter schools and affordable housing developments.Press play to hear:Natasha's background and career path as well as what community development means to her and why it is critical for Black people in the USThe intersection of public health and the planned + built environment that results in increased access or lack of opportunitiesThe lifecycle of a CDFI project and how an organization makes final decisions. She also shares her hot takes on the biggest problems facing cities and potential solutionsThis episode provides valuable insights into community development and the role of CDFIs in urban planning. Natasha's experience and expertise make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in community development and urban planning. Feel free to visit the CDFI 101 Toolkit to learn more about the industry.Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.Or send us an email to connect with us!ResourcesRobert Wood Johnson Foundation | What makes a long life?

In this rewind episode, I sat down with Terri-Nichelle Bradley, the founder of Brown Toy Box, an educational toy company producing STEAM toys, media, and experiences for centering and celebrating Black children. While working full time, Terri-Nichelle took Brown Toy Box from being a side hustle to a full-scale business.  In this episode she shares:  How she expanded to being sold in every Target nationwide Why she pivoted from being a subscription box to direct to consumer  How she used her network and won investors to fund toy production  Check out episode 375 of Side Hustle Pro Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Links mentioned in this episode Terri-Nichelle Bradley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrinichelle Brown Toy Box Instagram: https://instagram.com/browntoybox?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=  Brown Toy Box Website: https://browntoybox.com/   New Voices Fund: https://newvoicesfoundation.org/  Google Startups: https://startup.google.com/  SheEO: https://coralus.world/  1863 Ventures: https://www.1863ventures.net/mentor-team  ACE Loans, CDFI: https://aceloans.org/organization-overview/  Podcast Moguls: https://www.sidehustlepro.co/podcast-moguls/  Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Announcements Join our Facebook Community If you're looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

LISA'S BIO Born and raised in Oregon, Lisa Mensah joined Oregon Community Foundation in September 2022, following an illustrious career that has taken her from working on rural poverty with the Ford Foundation to serving as an Under Secretary for Rural Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, managing a $215 billion loan portfolio, to most recently leading Opportunity Finance Network, the largest network of Treasury licensed Community Development Financial Institutions.  She serves on the Boards of Ecotrust, Feeding America, Fidelity Bank of Ghana, and Heritage and the Cultural Society of Africa (USA). She also serves as a member of the Advisory Committees of Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women and the Gaia Impact Fund.Lisa is widely considered an expert on access to capital in low-wealth communities and has frequently testified before Congress on the subject. The media and others look to her as a voice of authority on the CDFI industry, finance's role in social, economic, and racial justice, and the need for more equitable capital access across the country. Forbes recognized Ms. Mensah as one of five women who safeguarded America's small businesses throughout the pandemic. She holds an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University and B.A. from Harvard University.  “Bridging communities of wealth with communities of poverty, understanding of the coping economy” EPISODE OUTLINE (00:00) - Intro (00:38) - Bio (01:38) - The early days; Ghana, Oregon (02:19) - The power of purpose; bridging wealth and poverty (04:39) - Unsticking resources; power, inertia, and the "coping economy" (08:13) - Essential workers; lenses and x-rays into societal gaps (10:01) - Oregon Community Foundation; what it does with $3 billion (11:18) - Common ground v partisanship; some things transcend  (12:10) - Deserted island castaway; what's on the playlist on repeat (13:13) - Outro LISA RELATED LINKS Oregon Community Foundation Bringing Philanthropy Home Feeding America Fireside Chat: Lisa Mensah and NextDoor's Sarah Fryar This episode was edited by Phil Lepanto. GENERAL INFO| TOP OF THE GAME: Official website: https://topofthegame-thepod.com/ RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/topofthegame-thepod/feed.xml Hosting service show website: https://topofthegame-thepod.podbean.com/ Javier's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/javiersaade & Bio: https://tinyurl.com/36ufz6cs  SUPPORT & CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/96934564 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551086203755 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOPOFGAMEpod Subscribe on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/vLKLE1SKjf6G Email us: info@topofthegame-thepod.com    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING – AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS

YOUR MORTGAGE LENDING BUSINESS STARTS HEREUnlimited Free Mortgage Leads Powered by Proprietary Mortgage CRM/POS/LOS Software & AIView the video at https://youtu.be/LVe3MxIxrdE Join The Mortgage Calculator now at https://themortgagecalculator.com/joinWhat makes working with The Mortgage Calculator different?We are a Non-Delegated Correspondent lender with the proprietary mortgage technology tools to empower loan officers to scale their business exponentially, instantly!Whether company leads or self-generated leads, we believe that every Loan Officer needs a full pipeline to succeed. We empower all our Loan Officers to fill their pipeline daily with new company leads, or use our lead generating CRM to create their own leads!The Mortgage Calculator Business ModelNon Delegated Correspondent with 130+ Lenders & Investors!Brokered and Correspondent Loans for our Borrowers!Over 5,000 Loan Programs as a Correspondent Lender with 32 Correspondent InvestorsAlways Best Rates/Pricing - Correspondent Always Beats Broker Pricing!Over 105 Wholesale Lenders For Specialty LoansEvery Loan Program Available! (VA, USDA, FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CDFI, Non-QM, Commercial, DSCR, Mixed Use, SBA and Thousands More!)The Mortgage Calculator Lending TechnologyFully Integrated Cloud Website with AI, POS, CRM & LOSProprietary Software Built for Us, by Us!One Login for LOs - One Login for CustomersCALVIN AI TechnologyProspects Instantly Flow from Name/Email/Phone to Live Rates to Complete 1003 to Credit & Liabilities all Set in Custom Encompass Based Platform50+ API Integrations with Encompass, Optimal Blue, CIC Credit, Meridian Link, Accountchek, Appraisal Works, Google AI, VOIP Phone, Email, SMS, MMS, DNC, Google Maps, Zoho, SignRequest, Zillow, Public Tax Data, DU/DO, LP, ZapierCatch all the episodes of the Loan Officer Training Podcast at https://themortgagecalculator.com/Page/Loan-Officer-Training-Series-Podcast Catch all the episodes of the Loan Officer Training Podcast at https://themortgagecalculator.com/Page/Loan-Officer-Training-Series-PodcastLoan Officers for Unlimited Free Non-QM Leads & Trainings Join The Mortgage Calculator at https://themortgagecalculator.com/joinThe Mortgage Calculator is a licensed Mortgage Lender (NMLS #2377459) that specializes in using technology to enable borrowers to access Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA Programs, as well as over 5,000 Non-QM mortgage loan programs using alternative income documentation! Using The Mortgage Calculator proprietary technology, borrowers can instantly price and quote thousands of mortgage loan programs in just a few clicks. The Mortgage Calculator technology also enables borrowers to instantly complete a full loan application and upload documents to our AI powered software to get qualified in just minutes! Our team of over 350 licensed Mortgage Loan Originators can assist our customers with Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA mortgages as well as access...

Today, we are having an engaging conversation with Pamela Campos, a remarkable Chicana and second-generation immigrant with strong ties to San Jose and Santa Clara County. Pamela dedicated herself to education and has had a career defined by her commitment to advocating for it, housing, and improved quality of life for all. Pamela witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by educators and families grappled with the harsh reality of making a life while earning a $16 per hour salary for educating and caring for small children in the competitive Silicon Valley landscape. However, Pamela's passion for nurturing a brighter future for children and her proficiency in policy and community development set her on a powerful path toward positive change. During our discussion, Pamela will also talk about her work with The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) whose mission revolves around mobilizing capital and fostering partnerships to dismantle barriers and ensure equitable access to opportunities for all. This organization invests in, collaborates with, and advocates for high-quality, affordable housing, early care and education, educational opportunities, gainful employment, and access to healthcare. These initiatives are specifically designed to benefit Black, Latino, and other marginalized communities, whose [...]

On this episode of the To Be Honest Podcast, we chat with Alexandra Gonzalez, a 23-year-old Bay Area resident who currently works at CDFI, a community-centered organization that helps to strengthen local and underestimated business owners and build sustainable communities. Alexandra shares a bit about what it was like growing up in a household where mental illness was present as well as her personal experience with anxiety, depression, therapy and how photography and yoga play a positive role in her life Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn!Thank you for listening to the To Be Honest podcast! We hope to be an open platform to youth and young adults across the Bay Area who would like to talk about their experience(s) with behavioral health, life experiences and overall wellness.If you would like to share your own behavioral health story, please email Avery Cruz at acruz@momentumforhealth.org.  Learn more about the To Be Honest program and discover resources at www.tobehonest.todayFollow us!Instagram: @tobehonest.todayFacebook: @TobehonestTodayTwitter: @tobehonesttodayTo Be Honest is a program of Momentum for Health. If you live in Santa Clara County and are in need of behavioral health assistance, please call (800) 704- 0900. You can also reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by dialing or texting 988. Editors: Avery CruzIntro Music: Julia SteeleRecorded on: May 15, 2023

I'm not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.Devin: What do you see as your superpower?Angela: I have the ability to create healing spaces for both investors and my colleagues here at Revalue and elsewhere around the industry.In a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, called Ypsilanti, Angela Barbash, the CEO of Revalue, a registered investment advisory firm, is quietly helping hundreds of investors take the journey from Wall Street to Main Street–with their money. A decade in business now, the waiting list to join her client is as long as her current roster of clients.Angela describes the practice this way:Some people come to us, and they're excited about taking it all out of Wall Street, and they are trying to figure out how to do that effectively and efficiently. Some people come to us, and it's the first time they've ever heard that they can do this.We are their gateway into this whole world. We can take them by the hand and take them step by step through the process of what this even looks like and how it is like or unlike other investments that they may have experienced in the past.I think what's particularly unique about the work that we do is not only are we helping them learn and grow as investors and figure out what that path looks like, but we wrap the whole thing in financial planning work, giving them the confidence to take those actions so that they know how this piece relates to other goals that they have.A critical part of her success is Angela's ability to create healing spaces for her clients and colleagues.Learn more about her superpower below the AI Episode Summary.AI Episode Summary* Angela Barbash is the founder and CEO of Revalue, a registered investment advisory firm that focuses on helping investors of all income levels invest in crowdfunding and local investment strategies.* Revalue works to educate investors and guide them through the process of divesting from Wall Street and investing in Main Street.* They provide education through an intro to community investing course that helps investors understand the terminology and concepts involved in local investing.* Revalue also offers financial planning and personal guidance to help investors determine how much they can invest and how to diversify their investments.* They categorize community investments into community equity, real estate, CDFI notes, community fixed income, and personal loans.* Revalue primarily focuses on community funds but also allows clients to submit research requests for investments in their local area.* Angela's superpowers are creating healing spaces for investors and colleagues and being willing to go out on a limb and lead change in the industry.* She creates healing spaces by being vulnerable, sharing her own story, and allowing clients to express their pain and experiences.* Angela emphasizes that creating a healing space starts with having empathy for ourselves and engaging in practices that promote self-healing and self-reflection.* To learn more about Revalue and connect with Angela, visit the Revalue Investing website. They are not active on social media.How to Develop Creation of Healing Spaces As a SuperpowerAngela shared with us how she sees her ability to create healing spaces has allowed her to accomplish her work:It is not uncommon for me to experience and, therefore, other people on our team here at Revalue to experience this because they've learned from my work or learned the ways that I've done things. It's not uncommon for us to experience an initial meeting with a potential client. This is a half-hour call where that person breaks down in tears halfway through the call. I think that this is such a stark example of the power that healing spaces can give to someone else who is just thirsty for a space where they can come in and be themselves and be acknowledged for how this whole economic system has harmed them and harmed others that they love.So, that's an example of how–it's hard to convey–how I do that. But coming to the table with vulnerability, being willing to share my own story of economic struggle and my family's backstories of poverty and things like that, being willing to share those things and level setting with somebody right when they walk in the door is powerful and not a lot of people do that.So that's one outcome I can point to. Often, those people then become our clients to the degree that we are now closed for new business because we have almost 200 people in our community, our client community at this point. So, we're doing measured growth to make sure that the community doesn't outgrow our ability to serve them.It is hard to imagine a level of success in a financial planning firm that requires people to wait for access. That is a surprising level of growth potential for any industry.Angela offers some tips for creating healing spaces. Fundamentally, she says you have to seek healing yourself so that you can be in a position to feel genuine empathy for others' pain to help them heal, too.By following Angela's example and insights, you can make creating a healing space a skill. With practice, you may be able to develop a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Guest ProfileAngela Barbash (she/her):CEO, RevalueAbout Revalue: Revalue is a home for people passionate about cultivating an abundance mindset in service of community resilience and future generations. We are financial navigators, connecting people to their purpose by crafting values-aligned financial plans and creative educational programming in partnership with those we serve. We are redefining wealth, for good. Website: revalueinvesting.comTwitter Handle: We have opted out of social mediaBiographical Information: Angela is a mom, anthropologist, entrepreneur, and an unabashed challenger of the status quo. She has dedicated 20 years in service as a values-driven investment advisor in the Metro Detroit region, including founding Revalue as a values-driven investment firm in 2013, and was one of the first to obtain the Chartered Sustainable Responsible Impact Investing Counselor (CSRIC) designation in the U.S. Angela has contributed countless hours to field building, public education, and infrastructure development to help build a more empathetic finance industry. You will often find her educating on the topics of financial resiliency, community capital, and conscious business management.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/angelabarbashSuperpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Darlene works as a Business Solutions Officer for the Carolina Small Business Development fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI) providing technical assistance and funding to small businesses across the state. Prior to joining CSBDF, her career has included working with Self-Help and the NC Rural Economic Development Center, also CDFIs within NC.With a penchant for small business Darlene pursued her own entrepreneurial dream by owning and operating an Edible Arrangements franchise for 12 years with locations in the Durham and Raleigh markets. Prior to joining CSBDF, she served as an Adjunct Professor with Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University.Darlene has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from SUNY Old Westbury, and as a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship recipient, Darlene obtained a Master of Science Degree in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from the New School of Social Research in New York. She is currently a doctoral student at UNC Charlotte - Belk School of Business where she is pursuing a degree in business administration. Her research interests include exploring the resiliency of women-led organizations in the wake of the digital age.

There's much excitement out there about regenerative and organic agriculture, but how can they be financed and how can capital providers support these important approaches to agriculture? A new report by the Croatan Institute addresses this issue by emphasizing soil wealth areas. So, what does this mean? Well, we're going to learn about that from researcher Jamie Silverstein, an author of that report. Interview Summary So, let's begin with this. How is farm financing usually done and how does it come up short in this context of regenerative agriculture? Sure. A lot of conventional farm financing comes from local banks and farm credit branches in the form of debt, operating loans, and lines of credit. These lending instruments tend to favor farms that grow commodity crops or raise animals in conventional ways. The farms often have a history of farming. They may come from farm families, they may have established relationships with these lenders and they're practicing agricultural systems that are very common and known, and the models have been proven out. The lenders are very familiar with these models. Regenerative and organic farms often have diversified systems. They're growing lots of different crops. They may be beginning farmers who don't have a long history of farming or come from farm families. All these factors make them perceived as riskier to the lenders. The other aspect of regenerative and organic agriculture is that they often are operating on longer time horizons. The implementation of these practices or transitioning to organic agriculture may take a longer time and may need more time to repay back a loan. Often traditional lenders are not as familiar with these systems or don't have the flexibility to extend the loan repayment times. Okay, that makes sense. So, there needs to be some ingenuity here because the traditional models aren't applying. Can you tell us what a soil wealth area is? It's a very interesting term. Sure. We define soil wealth areas as special purpose soil wealth improvement districts that act as magnets for investment in regenerative agriculture. I can break that down a little bit, starting with the word soil wealth. We coined that term in a 2019 report and it really encompasses both the environmental and social benefits of sustainable regenerative organic agricultural practices. A lot of people are familiar with the word soil health. So, that is building soil health. It's improving biodiversity, improving ecosystem services. But the other really important aspect is the people side the social side. So, how do we build social equity through these agricultural practices? How do we build wealth in rural communities, create resilient landscapes, healthier environments to live in? Looking at the term 'area,' we're referring to a district model that is actually pretty common in agriculture. There are conservation districts that have been established by USDA, NRCS, there are farmland protection districts and economic development districts. So, the reason behind why we're prioritizing this sort of place-based approach is that we think places is actually really important, and this helps build trust with the communities and the practitioners in these soil wealth areas. It helps to prioritize culture and heritage, social connection and the community dynamics of that region. So, the soil wealth area is a region or a a district that connects both capital providers with the capital seekers on the ground - so agricultural producers or value chain businesses - and it also can provide resources like agronomic technical assistance or business and financial readiness, technical assistance which also is really important in terms of the viability of these place-based businesses. It's a very appealing concept because there's a lot more going on in a community or about district of land than just the number of bushels per acre. You're pointing to not only the soil health, but to the health and wellbeing of the people who live there and work there and things like that. It's a very interesting and and holistic concept. So, given this broad focus of this concept of a soil wealth area, how can financing be done differently? That's a great question. I think financing can be done differently in a lot of different ways. There's not really a one size fits all when it comes to financing regenerative organic businesses. So, I can provide some examples of what that looks like. Sometimes it's one particular type of finance and sometimes it's lots of different types that are blended together. This could look like a low interest loan or a loan with flexible repayment terms that may come from a community bank or a CDFI. It could look like a loan guarantee or credit enhancement that actually enables a lender to make a loan they may not otherwise have been able to make potentially because of perceived risk or allow them to reduce the interest rates so that it becomes a little bit more viable for these agricultural producers and entrepreneurs. Through this research, other CDFIs and impact investors and peer-to-peer lending networks have come up with innovative and creative ways of how to finance place-based producers and practitioners. In addition, I think philanthropic capital and grants are also a really important part of this and that they can support farmers and entrepreneurs either directly, or they can help fund technical assistance that really helps support them understand the types of financing they need or makes the lender actually a little bit more confident in making that loan. So, are there steps that can be taken to get to the point where these creative forms of financing are happening? There is definitely the need to scale up this type of financing and access to capital for agricultural producers and value chain businesses. The model that we are proposing is top pair the soil wealth areas, this very place-based component, with a network of capital providers that may not be place-based. They may be national in scope. We want to help facilitate and coordinate these types of relationships. We call this whole ecosystem the Soil Wealth Community. And, then we have what we're calling the Soil Wealth Capital Collaborative. That is the network of capital providers that can come together, learn from each other, and use that network to allow them to expand and increase how much they are providing and able to fund regenerative businesses.  Bio Jaime Silverstein is a Senior Associate at Croatan Institute. She also sits on the board of directors for Metta Earth Institute. Previously, she has worked as a farm business advisor for NOFA-VT; crop R&D specialist for Freight Farms, a Boston-based urban agriculture start-up; program coordinator for Slow Money Boston; and senior research fellow at the Sustainable Endowments Institute, where she led research on responsible investing practices at colleges and universities. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Boston University and an MBA from the University of Maine. Silverstein has collaborated on various sponsored research projects addressing finance and sustainability, including “Soil Wealth” (2019) and “Institutional Pathways to Fossil-Free Investing” (2013). She has contributed to outreach and research, surveying institutional investors and money managers for the US SIF Report on US Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Trends.  

$200 billion. That is how much money is in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and one credit union voice that has been loud in seeking a share is Inclusiv, the trade group for community development credit unions that now has 470 members.Just why is Inclusiv involved in this?Exactly that question is why we invited Inclusiv CEO Cathie Mahon on the show.  She's a past guest - in 2019 she was in episode 15.In this show she offers an articulate explanation of why environmental issues are in fact central to the concerns of community development credit unions.In June Mahon testified before the US Senate Climate Change Task Force where she said, “As credit unions invest in climate solutions, they find strong synergies between increasingaccess to clean energy and improved financial stability. As community owned and controlledfinancial institutions, community development credit unions see both a responsibility andopportunity to make their communities greener and more resilient. These institutions servethose located on the frontlines of climate change, specifically communities with the poorest airquality, highest energy burden and most vulnerability to climate events such as hurricanes,floods, drought, wildfires, and tornadoes.”She has that very right. Often it is the poorest communities that deal with the harshest impacts of climate change.What can credit unions do about this? Lots and lots, as you will hear in the show.  Everything from helping with loans to replace old appliances with energy efficient ones to encouraging job training for minority contractors who want to pursue opportunities in, for instance, installing solar arrays on homes and apartment buildings.Mahon sees many, many ways for credit unions to have positive impacts on their communities.Also in the show she offers comment on attempts in the US House to slash the federal funding for CDFIs - a genuinely dumb idea.And she also talks about Inclusiv's new ties to QCash, the small dollar loan company that has been birthed by the credit union movement to give members a far better alternative to predatory loans.Listen up.Like what you are hearing? Find out how you can help sponsor this podcast here. Very affordable sponsorship packages are available. Email rjmcgarvey@gmail.com  And like this podcast on whatever service you use to stream it. That matters.  Find out more about CU2.0 and the digital transformation of credit unions here. It's a journey every credit union needs to take. Pronto

In this Rich Black Woman Podcast episode we talk with Ron Brooks, president of River City Capital, a CDFI based in Memphis, Tennessee with a national vision to help small business owners get access to capital to grow their businesses. Did you know what a CDFI is? Do you know that these loan non profit organizations are backed by the U.S. Department of Treasury and are friendly to folks that look like you and me? Say what? Did you know they will help you in getting funded? Coaching you along the way! And then when you get funded they often will provide additional resources to help grow your business through their vast networks? Sounds too good to be true, or sounds like the good news has come and you are now in the know. Consider yourself enriched today! Tune into this valuable conversation about how to approach a CDFI, what to prepare, how not to be intimidated but be prepared to be elevated! A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is a specialized financial institution that operates with a primary mission to support economic and community development in underserved or economically disadvantaged areas. These institutions are designated and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury based on their commitment to provide financial services, such as loans, investments, and financial counseling, to individuals and businesses in low-income communities. CDFIs play a crucial role in promoting inclusive growth, offering access to capital for small businesses, affordable housing initiatives, and community development projects that might otherwise struggle to secure funding from traditional financial institutions. By targeting their resources towards underserved communities, CDFIs contribute to building stronger, more resilient local economies and fostering social impact through their financial services and community partnerships. Resources: https://www.ofn.org/cdfi-locator/ to find a CDFI near you Understand what a CDFI is and proof its legit!: https://www.cdfifund.gov/ Check out River City Capital: www.rivercitycapital.org Subscribe to our newsletter: www.richblackwoman.com Leave us a review on Spotify and Apple podcasts and share with 2 besties! #entrepreneurs #cdfis #wealth #smallbusinesses #businesscapital #financialliteracy #richblackwoman #blackwallstreet #capital #womanowned #blackowned --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/richblackwoman/message

NCRC Community Development Fund, a subsidiary of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, lends primarily to Black, Latino, women, and immigrant entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the country with its mission to help bridge the racial wealth divide by supporting entrepreneurship and affordable homeownership in America's underserved communities.Its new lending platform – for which it is also building an algorithm to determine loan eligibility – stands to make the roughly 10-person operation more efficient, Marisa Calderon, NCRC CDF's executive director, said in a recent interview.This episode of the CRA Podcast addresses the promise of CDFI lending, partnerships with financial institutions to support the continuum of capital for disadvantaged communities, and how the Community Development Fund is also building a new lending platform leveraging AI to not only support efficiencies in their operation but also for others in the CDFI industry. Marisa Calderon's Bio and ExperienceMarisa Calderon is an experienced executive who is regularly recognized, awarded and cited nationwide for her expertise in the housing and financial services industries. She has over two decades of experience dedicated to the issues of economic mobility and bridging America's racial wealth gap. Marisa Calderon is the executive director at NCRC Community Development Fund (NCRC CDF), a nonprofit, U.S. Treasury-certified community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides loan capital to expand access to affordable homeownership, which helps Black-, Brown- and woman-owned businesses thrive. Under her leadership in her first 18 months at NCRC CDF, they deployed over $17 million in capital to historically underserved Black, Latino, immigrant, and women entrepreneurs through their small business and investment programs, earning them a place on Fast Company's list of 2022 Most Innovative Companies in the World. She is also chief of community finance and mobility at the NCRC CDF's parent company, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), where her work focuses on advancing economic mobility for communities impacted by systemic inequality and disinvestment. Marisa is ranked on the Swanepoel Power 200 as one of the most powerful leaders in the residential real estate industry, and was twice named a HousingWire Woman of Influence in 2018 and 2021 for her work in increasing real estate and mortgage professionals' understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic home-buying market. In 2021, she was named one of Diversity Journal's Women Worth Watching in Leadership and was featured in Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power and was recognized on Women We Admire's list of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Finance of 2022. Frequently sought out as an expert on affordable housing, lending and immigration, Marisa has been interviewed by numerous publications and media outlets, including NPR's Marketplace and does regular public speaking at industry and general market events, including Mortgage Banker's Association, FDIC, Consumer Federation of America, National Fair Housing Alliance, and many others. In addition to this work, Marisa is also a board member of the non-partisan political action committee, Latinas Lead California and a Senior Advisor to America's Homeowner Alliance.CRA Today Website: https://cratoday.com/ CRA Hub: https://cratoday.com/hubLinda Ezuka, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-ezuka-cra-today/Copyright © 2023 by CRA Today LLC(No claim to original U.S. government material)All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author and publisher.This podcast is a periodic publication of CRA Today LLC and is intended to notify and inspire recipients of new developments in the Community Reinvestment Act. It should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own attorney concerning your situation and specific legal questions you have.

This week I sat down with Terri-Nichelle Bradley, the founder of Brown Toy Box, an educational toy company producing STEAM toys, media, and experiences for centering and celebrating Black children. While working full time, Terri-Nichelle took Brown Toy Box from being a side hustle to a full-scale business.  In this episode she shares:  How she expanded to being sold in every Target nationwide Why she pivoted from being a subscription box to direct to consumer  How she used her network and won investors to fund toy production  Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode Terri-Nichelle Bradley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrinichelle Brown Toy Box Instagram: https://instagram.com/browntoybox?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=  Brown Toy Box Website: https://browntoybox.com/   New Voices Fund: https://newvoicesfoundation.org/  Google Startups: https://startup.google.com/  SheEO: https://coralus.world/  1863 Ventures: https://www.1863ventures.net/mentor-team  ACE Loans, CDFI: https://aceloans.org/organization-overview/  Podcast Moguls: https://www.sidehustlepro.co/podcast-moguls/  Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Announcements Join our Facebook Community If you're looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

April 20, 2023 Everything Co-op continues its coverage of "Humanity@Work&life-Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience,” with co-editor Christina Clamp, Director of the Center for Co-operatives & Community Economic Development, and contributing author, Terry Lewis, CFO at the Center for Community Based Enterprise. Christina gives an overview of the book, and Terry discusses her experience of Building Mondragon in Detroit. Christina Clamp is the Director of the Center for Co-operatives and Economic Development, and has over 40 years of teaching experience at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), as a professor of Sociology. She is also a consulting researcher on a national study of catalyzing community wealth with the American Sustainable Business Network. Nationally and internationally recognized for her work in the study and promotion of cooperative ownership of businesses, Christina has been actively involved in promoting the study of cooperatives since her dissertation, which was a study of management in the Mondragon cooperatives. She has served as a consultant to various clients including National Cooperative Bank and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Her board work includes board chair of LEAF, a CDFI (community development finance institution); the ICA Group and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning. Terry Lewis is the CFO of the Center for Community-Based Enterprises (C2BE) and Principal of LIA Advisors, LLC, a private consulting firm providing advisory services in community economic development. Formerly, she was Vice President of Cooperative Development for National Cooperative Bank (NCB), where she advised internal NCB teams and NCB customers in multiple lines of business on the structuring and development of cooperative and other community ownership entities. She also served as President and CEO of NCB Community Works, LLC, an affiliated for-profit affordable multi-family housing development organization. In 2011 President Barack Obama appointed Terry to the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government's development finance institution, where she served until the agency sunset, to be replaced by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation in 2019. At OPIC, she served as a member of the organization's Audit and Risk Committees. From 1991 to 2014, she was a Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF), where she served as Treasurer, and 8 years as Chair, managing governance, strategy, and the oversight functions of multiple grant and loan funds. She was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2008. “Humanity@Work&life - Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience”, published by Oak Tree Press, frames a collective labor of earned merit, vision and determination by 36 contributors in six countries, three continents, proving how solidarity, innovation, and conviction forge sustaining local and global social economy practice on behalf of the greater common good.