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Creating an Impact Framework for Impact-Driven Depository Institutions
Impact-driven banks and credit unions provide vital services to under-resourced communities. However, in CNote’s extensive work with these institutions and community finance overall, we recognized the pressing need for a consistent impact framework for the industry. Existing impact measurement efforts have typically centered around either banks or credit unions or have been limited to CDFI-certified…
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How Karla Villanueva Grew Her Gymnastics Studio with Her Credit Union’s Support
Karla Villanueva-Bernal has been passionate about gymnastics and practiced the discipline throughout her life. Her dream of opening her own gymnastics studio was finally realized in 2012 when she and her husband started what was then called Karla’s Gymnastics. Karla started teaching one class every Saturday in the All Saints Red Barn, a multi-use space…
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How Kaua’i Federal Credit Union’s Rent Relief Program Has Stabilized Local Small Businesses—And Local Culture
The COVID-19 pandemic turned Chef John Paul Gordon’s life upside down. One day, John Paul was an executive chef catering to Kaua’i’s tourists, the next day, he was unemployed. After more than 20 years of being a chef, John Paul felt like COVID-19 stole his identity away from him overnight. Despite wanting to get back…
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How Indian Land Capital Company Is Strengthening Tribal Sovereignty, One Loan At A Time
Rjay Brunkow, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, has dedicated his career to economic development within Indian Country. Rjay served as an investment banker for Wells Fargo, focusing on government infrastructure, before serving as Solicitor General for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and chief legal counsel for his own…
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Beyond Banking: The Crucial Role of Impact-Driven Banks and Credit Unions in Underserved Communities
Impact-driven banks and credit unions forge a dynamic partnership with under-resourced communities, blending immediate solutions with lasting development. These institutions stand as pillars of community support. Anchored by tailored financial products and programs, spanning affordable housing loans to job creation initiatives, impact-drive banks and credit unions commit to both present concerns and the future prosperity…
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How Jayme Murray is Creating Food Sovereignty for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Long before the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation was established in South Dakota in 1889, the people of the Lakota Nation sustained themselves off of the land, with the buffalo, or American bison, as its primary source of food. Over a century later, tribal ties to the sacred animal still run strong. The Cheyenne River Sioux…
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Meet David Akinniyi, the Baltimore Developer who’s Transforming his Adopted City with Each New Building
Once down on its luck, Baltimore, Maryland is now on a rebound. One entrepreneur helping to make the city a better place to live is David Akinniyi, founder and owner of the Akinniyi Group, a real estate development and leasing company. His goal is to enhance the lives of Baltimore residents by creating luxury communities…
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How Riff Raff Brewing Company Remains Down-to-Earth As Its Earth-Powered Beer Takes Off
Like most homebrewers, when Jason Cox began making his own beer in 2005, he daydreamed about one day becoming a professional brewer. Despite aspiring to make the leap from hobby brewer to full-time brewer, Jason wasn’t quite ready. At the time, he operated his own software company, but in his free time, he continued to…
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Bank on Change: Diversifying Deposits for Financial Stability and Social Impact
In an ever-changing financial landscape, managing assets effectively is a priority for treasury professionals. Balancing risk and reward is crucial, and diversification has become an essential tool for risk mitigation. At the same time, treasurers are increasingly recognized as change agents driving corporate social responsibility. With cutting-edge technology at their fingertips, treasurers can now easily…
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Meet DREAM, Where Students Are Family, Families Are Community, And Community Is Front-And-Center
It took a mid-career shift to get James DiCosmo back on the baseball diamond. After nearly five years working on Wall Street during The Great Recession, the former Williams College second baseman found himself wanting “to do more.” James quit his job, took some time off, and traveled; however, it didn’t take long for him…
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