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How Deshonda Charles Turned Her Dream Of Becoming A Lawyer Into A Successful Small Business
When Deshonda Charles, Esq. was a little girl, she wanted two things in life: to be a singer and to become a lawyer. According to her, she was attracted to the legal world thanks to Clair Huxtable, the matriarch at the center of The Cosby Show. A young Deshonda watched the television show during its…
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Turning Dreams Into Reality: How Appalachian Community Capital’s Donna Gambrell Is Helping CDFIs To Thrive
Donna Gambrell’s journey into the world of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) was, as she puts it, “a crooked mile.” Donna studied journalism at Towson University, and upon graduation, she worked as a writer-editor. That eventually led her to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation and Resolution Trust Corporation, where she worked for four…
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How These Boba Tea Entrepreneurs Went From Working Street Festivals To Opening A Successful Restaurant
When Josh Houeye and Magen Hearn went on a date at a local Vietnamese restaurant in 2018, neither of them anticipated that a small business idea would blossom out of their boba tea. However, that’s exactly what happened. The bubble tea was so good that Josh pulled out his phone and Googled the ingredients. Impressed,…
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How Leslie Rosella Turned Her Passion For Four-Legged Friends Into A Growing Doggie Day Care
For as long as she can remember, Leslie Rosella has loved animals. Pursuing a bright career in the restaurant industry, it never occurred to her that she could turn her childhood love into a profession. That was the case, at least, until she got Brixx: a purebred Rottweiler that Leslie and her boyfriend, Chris Cooley,…
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Black Equity at Work Certification Program and CNote Partner to Unleash the Corporate Balance Sheet for Racial Equity
Black Equity at Work Certification Program and CNote Partner to Unleash the Corporate Balance Sheet for Racial Equity Management Leadership for Tomorrow joins with women-led impact investing platform to activate every aspect of corporate operations for racial equity, starting with the Fortune 500 November 2, 2021 // Oakland, CA // Management Leadership for Tomorrow and…
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Meet Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund, the CDFI Aiming to Become ‘Harlem’s CDFI’
Although Hamil Douglas self-identifies as a reformed banker, he’s appreciative of his extensive experience in the world of finance. Without it, he likely would never have become the president and CEO of Harlem Commonwealth Council (HCC), where he also serves as the managing director of Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund (HEF), HCC’s investment vehicle. Hamil got his…
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Change Makers Interview: Jamie McCall
To say that Jamie McCall is passionate about research is an understatement. Fortunately, as the Vice President of Economic Development Policy at Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF), a statewide community development financial institution (CDFI) based in Raleigh, research, policy analysis, and program evaluation are at the core of what Jamie gets to do each…
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New CNote Research Delivers Insights from Entrepreneurs on Improving Access to Capital for Underserved Women of Color
New CNote Research Delivers Insights from Entrepreneurs on Improving Access to Capital for Underserved Women of Color By reimagining the lending process through an equity lens, lenders can make decisions that yield economic returns and have a significant social impact, says report. October 20, 2021 // Oakland, CA // CNote, a women-led community investment platform…
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CNote Has Successfully Moved Over $100 Million Dollars into Financially Underserved Communities
CNote has deployed over $100 million dollars into financially underserved communities across America–a significant milestone for investments and deposits in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), low-income designated credit unions, and other mission-aligned partners that previously were difficult for investors to access. By making it easier for everyone from retail to institutional investors to invest in…
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Meet Cortaiga Collins, Whose Quest For Quality Childcare Led Her To Open Her Own Small Business
Cortaiga Collins never intended to open her own business, let alone her own early childhood education center. Instead, Cortaiga received her bachelor’s degree and was on track to become a CPA. However, when she had her second child in 2000, everything changed. After having her first child as a senior in high school, Cortaiga felt…
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Where finance meets impact.