Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Leveling the Playing Field

    February 24, 2020 |

    The Philadelphia Citizen |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States

    Black Girl Ventures levels the playing field for women of color who seek capital for their business ventures. Entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their ideas at crowdfunded sessions, which means the funding varies depending on the size of the crowd and its willingness to invest. In addition to capital, BGV recognizes the need for minorities to access a network, mentoring, and business coaching to navigate the systems necessary to build a business. The nonprofit has chapters in several cities and works with local organizations that are already in place helping black businesses.

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  • What a Public Bank Can Do for Real People

    February 19, 2020 |

    Yes! Magazine |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, North Dakota

    Public banking has allowed the state of North Dakota to flourish economically in a way that private banking there would not have enabled. From hospitals, to childcare centers, business development programs, and student loans, the state-owned Bank of North Dakota has subsidized local resources that give residents a better quality of life and access to more opportunities.

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  • Poor credit is a barrier to affordable housing. Lending circles are a tool for those in poverty

    February 14, 2020 |

    Desert Sun |

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    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Coachella Valley, California

    Lift to Rise, a Coachella Valley nonprofit that pushes for housing and poverty policy change, launched a local lending circle program aimed at serving minority residents break the cycle of poverty. Partnered with San Francisco-based Mission Asset Fund, the lending circle helps those with poor credit or no credit at all to build up a spending history, have access to loans, create a savings account, improve their score, and more. Since 2008, Mission Asset Fund has partnered with more than 50 organizations across the U.S. to provide lending circles to more than 9,000 clients.

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  • Advocates eye community land trusts to increase access to homeownership

    February 04, 2020 |

    MPR News |

    Radio |

    3-5 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Minnesota

    A nonprofit community land trust has helped increase the supply of affordable housing in Minnesota by buying the land beneath houses to subsidize homeownership. By owning the land and covering construction and repair expenses, the trust is able to keep the price of homes down even as values rise, keeping low and moderate-income households in their homes until they sell to the next family seeking affordable homeownership. The only drawback is that homeowners get just a small portion of any value gains in the home.

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  • This Bank Hired a Community Organizer and Here's What Happened Next

    January 28, 2020 |

    Next City |

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    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

    Reducing inequality in the financial sector requires creating connections to underserved communities of color. In Boston, Berkshire Bank has begun an initiative to reach those who are “underbanked.” The bank’s new Reevex Labs facilities use coworking and event spaces to facilitate connections between communities and financial institutions. At Reevex locations, community members can connect to organizations like The Runway Project, which facilitates low-interest loans to entrepreneurs of color.

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  • Microlending Sparks Hope and Renewal in Rochester, N.Y.

    January 07, 2020 |

    Governing |

    Multi-Media |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Rochester, New York

    In 2016, the city of Rochester, NY partnered with Kiva—a crowd-funded microlender—to serve aspiring or established small-business owners. Their partnership offers interest-free loans, and already 20 of the loans have been fully repaid. This article looks at six different case studies of residents who have benefitted from the program.

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  • Are 'ableist' economies depriving themselves of the purple pound?

    December 20, 2019 |

    Pioneers Post |

    Multi-Media |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Indonesia, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta

    Although Indonesia is making efforts to improve disability rights, progress is slow. In the meantime, a group called Economic Empowerment for Entrepreneurs with Disability (EEED) was formed in partnership with the British Council’s DICE (Developing Inclusive Creative Economies) program. Participants in the program learn entrepreneurial skills by creating their own social enterprise, supplemented by lessons in things like marketing and management. This helps those in Indonesia with disabilities become socioeconomically independent and able to envision a develop a meaningful vision of the future.

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  • Seattle program makes homes affordable in a pricey market. Is it a model for Charlotte?

    December 10, 2019 |

    The Charlotte Observer |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    The Homestead Community Land Trust offers affordable home ownership in Seattle and the rest of King County, Washington, ensuring that there is always permanently affordable homes available. This opens up homeowner opportunities for those who have historically been excluded and serves as a stem in the tide of gentrification. This article includes personal testimony from people who live in the housing, and already the program has reduced buyers' costs by 30%.

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  • A New Kind of Cooperative in Oakland Fights Against Speculative Development Audio icon

    December 03, 2019 |

    Next City |

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    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

    Real estate cooperatives are able to raise capital from their members, ensuring re-investment in the communitie they serve. In Oakland, California, the East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EB PREC) finances real estate acquisitions through California’s cooperative ownership model. EB PREC also works with partners from the Sustainable Economies Law Center and the People of Color Housing Network, which provide additional resources and expertise.

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  • Making a More Democratic Economy, One Revolving Loan Fund at a Time

    November 14, 2019 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Berkeley, California

    Advancing the model of worker ownership requires expanding access to loans for cooperative businesses. In California, Berkeley City Council recently adopted changes to its Loan Fund for small businesses, allowing businesses without a CEO to apply for a loan. The City Council and Loan Administration board approved an idea put forth by the Sustainable Economics Law Center (SELC), which will permit coops to appoint a panel of owners to serve as guarantors of a loan, in lieu of a single CEO.

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