Advancing economic opportunity, Community engagement, Early childhood, Investors, News, Sustainable systems

Real Estate for Early Care & Education: A Promising Venture

  • Posted by Wilda Wong
  • On September 29, 2020
We're honored to share that David—along with early care and education expert Laura Kohn and community finance fellow Essence Rodriguez—has joined the 2020 cohort of the Promising Ventures Fellowship to explore using real estate and finance to improve access to quality early child care.
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Investors, Why I invest

Why I invest: Laura Galinson

  • Posted by Tyana Smith
  • On August 31, 2020
Meet Laura Galinson, director of community relations at Mission Driven Finance and a dedicated philanthropist. Laura has worn an impressive number of hats, from a world-traveling and award-winning Associated Press photographer to a publicist at Harper Collins. Laura explains, “Even though I’ve had very different roles, my work has always been rooted in being a connector and changemaker.”
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Immigrant and New American rights, Racial equity

Blended Capital for Immigration Bonds: Introducing the Freedom100 Fund

  • Posted by Tyana Smith
  • On August 6, 2020
Recently, our Co-founder and Chief Community Officer Lauren Grattan, and Freedom for Immigrants Co-founder and Co-executive Director Christina Mansfield spoke with Morgan Simon of Candide Group in Forbes.com to discuss why they launched the Freedom100 Fund—and how it's a vital tool for investors and activists to join the fight for immigrant freedom.
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Community engagement, Racial equity

I am a White man. I must do more to fight systemic racism.

  • Posted by David Lynn
  • On July 13, 2020
The best anti-racism advice I’ve gotten so far is from my teammate Louise Jordan: Whatever we do, we have to stop recreating the same narrative. Unfortunately, many of the actions we White people take end up reinforcing existing power dynamics and telling the same, false story—that Black people and people of color have inherent risk and problems and that White people must “save” them from themselves. 
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Community engagement, Community Finance Fellowship

Community Finance Fellowship: Learning to Use Finance as a Tool for Change in a Time of Action

  • Posted by Wilda Wong
  • On June 30, 2020
The inaugural cohort of Community Finance Fellows—Louise Jordan, Andrew Moncada, Benson Ochira, Essence Rodriguez, Crystal Sevilla— impress and inspire us every day and it’s not fair to keep their wisdom to ourselves. So we invited them to share their thoughts on how finance can invoke true racial and economic justice. The fellows’ perspectives and lived experiences give us invaluable insight into how we can use finance as a tool for real impact.
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Advancing economic opportunity, Borrowers, Community engagement, Investors

Building a New, More Equitable Normal for Small Business and Nonprofits

  • Posted by Tyana Smith
  • On June 10, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated the effects of centuries of racist policies. If we don’t act fast, this crisis will rob our communities of vibrancy, diversity, and strength for many generations to come. The current global recognition of the deep roots of racism reinforces how critical it is to use all the tools in one’s toolbox to advance racial justice. As such, finance can and should be used as a tool for change in advancing economic and health equity in our communities. Together, we can turn the tide.
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Community engagement, Immigrant and New American rights, News

Fighting for Immigrant Rights During COVID-19

  • Posted by Tyana Smith
  • On May 28, 2020
During times of crisis, it's even more critical to uphold our values and stand up for those who are denied the right to stand up for themselves. Join our fight for immigrant rights by joining the Freedom100 Circle, a one-year commitment where members engage with Freedom for Immigrants and Mission Driven Finance to launch and grow our Freedom100 Bond Fund, while educating the public about the U.S. immigration detention system and community-based alternatives to detention.
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Community engagement, Community Finance Fellowship, News

How the Community Finance Fellows are learning during a pandemic

  • Posted by Wilda Wong
  • On April 29, 2020
While sheltering-in-place during a pandemic, we welcomed five Community Finance Fellows to our team in March to begin learning in a virtual environment: Louise Jordan, a renewed San Diegan with a legal background who moved back from Virginia to join us; Andrew Moncada, a financial analyst from Florida who wants to run his own impact investment firm one day; Benson Ochira, a refugee from Uganda with a degree in business management; Essence Rodriguez, an undergrad research fellow with the U.S. Immigration Policy Center; and Crystal Sevilla, an executive assistant from San Diego with a deep interest in economics and finance. See how they are learning during a pandemic.
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Advancing economic opportunity, Borrowers, Community engagement

Small Businesses & Nonprofits Respond to COVID-19

  • Posted by Tyana Smith
  • On April 27, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis has forced small businesses and nonprofits around the world, including our Advance borrowers, to forget business as usual and respond in creative ways to best serve their community and survive—quickly. From delivering essential household goods and locally sourced food to staying connected with families by livestreaming nature walks, these businesses and organizations demonstrate the flexibility, resilience, and heart that make small businesses critical for communities to thrive.
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