Credit Union of Denver’s Post

When it comes to the biggest financial investment of homeownership, down payment assistance programs can make all the difference for black homeowners in San Francisco. 🏡 1️⃣ They make closing the deal on a home more financially attainable. ⛔ This removes a significant hurdle that would otherwise exclude many black families from being able to purchase a home. 2️⃣ They provide grants or no-interest loans to cover the difference between upfront costs and the amount required for a down payment. ⛔ This can help a black family achieve the dream of homeownership. 3️⃣ They often have more lenient underwriting guidelines that take into account the unique financial circumstances of marginalized communities. ⛔ This recognizes historical inequities and gives black applicants a fairer chance at approval. #downpaymentassistanceprograms #blackhomeownership #financialempowerment #communitydevelopment #racialequity

Black co-operative efforts have undergirded the fight for freedom and economic stability over the course of American history. As Black Americans faced exclusion and segregation from institutions and the general consumer market, several co-operative models were created to provide services in need. Grocery stores, gas stations, health insurance, worker co-ops, affordable housing, collective farming, and credit associations are all common types of co-operatives that arose in response to the economic and social needs of the Black community. Today, Black-led financial institutions continue the legacy and essence of these efforts. #BlackHistoryMonth #mdi #cdfis Read more here:https://shorturl.at/mpFH4  

IF THIS CAUSES YOU TO PAUSE (cause it should).......... Send someone and/or attend yourself or both. The time for action on Black Wealth is now! NAREB is working with the African American Mayors Association, National Bar Association and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to present the Charlotte stop on the Building Black Wealth Tour. In more than 100 cities, NAREB will organize classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling with lawyers, agents/brokers, and lenders. Experts will advise families on homebuying, investing, careers in real estate, and what to do with Big Mama’s House. Why is this needed? The Black-White wealth gap is so expansive that the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same amount of wealth as the 48 million Blacks living in the U.S. There are 2 million mortgage-ready Black Americans who don’t yet own houses. At the Charlotte event, sessions will include: https://lnkd.in/ghDMTsmx #TheAkennaLife #BlackmonRealEstate #NCandSCRealEstate #AllThingsRealEstate #Home #CharlotteArea #SoBusyCanHardlyPost #REQueen #ConnectionsMatter #NorthCarolina #SouthCarolina #OwnItToControlIt

"Redlining, predatory lending, and wage gaps play a game of Monopoly where the rules are rigged, and the odds are never in favor of Black Americans. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Recognizing the systemic patterns around the disenfranchisement of Black Americans is the first step to breaking the cycle. At Twin Cities Habitat, we're turning the tables, flipping the script, and showing the community that "financial literacy" is not just a buzzword—it's a lifeline." Hear from Pearll Warren, Financial Coaching Manager at Twin Cities Habitat, on our blog!

As we navigate through the journey of uplifting one another, let's take a moment to shine a spotlight on the incredible Black-owned businesses that add vibrancy and uniqueness to our community. By the Numbers: Charlotte ranks as the #7 hub for Black-owned businesses in the U.S., per a recent report from Charlotte-based LendingTree. Black-owned businesses make up 4.9% of all small businesses in our metro. 22.8% of our population is Black, so there’s room to grow the portion of local firms that are Black-owned. Please check out the link below reviewing 90+ local black owned businesses in our metro area and show your support! https://lnkd.in/g-etX57q #CFCR #charlotte #blackownedbusinesses

This past year, I authored and consulted on a project with California Capital Development Corporation focusing on 'Improving access to capital for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Communities within a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).' The report, inspired by the Boston Fed's 'Mortgage Lending in Boston: Interpreting HMDA Data,' revealed discriminatory lending practices by race within CalCap's loan lending program. It suggests solutions to enhance racial equity, emphasizing the formalization of racial and gender equity underwriting criteria and portfolio metrics to address existing disparities. The report found that BIPOC loan applicants received up to $50,000 less in loans than white applicants. I applaud CalCap for 'laying their soul bare' and for their transparency and commitment to rectifying these issues. This underscores the importance of regular reflection and in this instance, quantitative assessment for community lenders, impact investors, sustainable financiers and all financial institutions for that matter. This was a timely reminder too, to doggedly interrogate the 'real' impact our organizations have on communities. Are we truly meeting our intended goals? If not, what steps can we take to ensure a positive impact.

Like most BIPOC stories, I was not taught in school about Black Wallstreet in Greenwood, OK. Learning about this history as an adult was eye-opening and it stuck with me deeply. One of the reasons I came into the financial planning industry was because I am passionate about opening doors of opportunity to build wealth in my Afro-Latino community and beyond. Our current and future clients are great examples of how we can rebuild and re-write our wealth building narratives. With advancements, tools and diverse voices in the advice world, we are changing the narrative of wealth building. We won't allow history to repeat itself. Let us show you the tools to build your legacy today! #blackhistorymonth #blackcapital #blackwealth #wealthplanning #wealthbuilding #blackexcellence #financialplanning https://lnkd.in/gcKQPzSH.

Credit unions are stepping up. With our support, you're not just meeting member needs—you're making deep connections in the community. From education programs to partnerships with financial advisors, a collaborative approach can help you meet the changing needs of your members and strengthen community ties. Christopher Cassidy shares how we can help → https://bit.ly/3zCAv2e

CoBank would be very well served Thomas Halverson to have an innovator like Scott Hendrix on your board. Many cooperative leaders “talk” mission, purpose and community. I see Scott and his team exemplify what it means to be a cooperative team with a mission and purpose centered on the communities they serve every single day. He has led the Tombigbee EPA organization to innovate and radically transform their community by partnering and pushing our company - Calix to improve so that his team can lead. As this is a bank discussion - they were cash flow positive in a record 2 years (7 years is the norm), massively profitable in the 3rd year (normally ~10 yrs) and grew at an insane pace against an entrenched competitor with record satisfaction - 92NPS. Now that financial metrics are aside - the how comes out. Their leadership purpose with Scott at the front. Every community member is protected. They started there - stopping malware, phishing and viruses for ALL members. Why? Because it is right. Then they launched cyber bullying and parental support to protect children with Bark. Walk the walk. Put the community first - every member. Old and young - the vulnerable. Making everyone safer …. BETTER. Because it is the right thing to do - FAST - for the community. No debate. Got it done. Then he pushed to deploy SmartTown Wi-Fi everywhere. Why? Because he wanted first responders, sports fields, downtown and students connected. Now. A first responder asked - Why doesn’t every community CEO do this for their first responders? If the community is first - it is a mystifying list of why nots versus setting the community first and getting it done while partnering to resolve issues. Scott and his team pushed through first - and did what others can now see needs to get done. Next - he prioritized small businesses which do not have complex IT teams. Now every small business in their communities are truly secure from phishing and malware attacks for the first time - at a time when evil nation states like Russia and N Korea are attacking the vulnerable lifeblood of communities - the small business. NO MORE. Got it done. At every turn he pushes to make the community better. Purpose takes action with Scott - every day. I can think of no better candidate than Scott Hendrix for their board to bring the voice of rural America.

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