Category: Borrower Stories
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How Genesis Helped Shalom House Transform a Historic Property into Supportive Housing for People with Substance Use Disorder
In 2018, the closure of Serenity House, a long-running sober living facility in Portland, left a critical gap in housing and treatment resources for local individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder. The historic property at 30 Mellen Street had been a beacon of hope, but, empty, it highlighted Portland’s pressing need for supportive housing…
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Disaster Recovery in Action: The Role of PCAP Loan Fund in Western North Carolina’s Resilience
Natural disasters disrupt lives, destroy infrastructure, and leave communities grappling with recovery. In their aftermath, the limitations of national disaster response mechanisms, like FEMA and SBA Disaster Relief, become clear. While essential, these programs take time to mobilize, leaving communities with urgent needs. In these critical moments, mission-driven financial institutions like Partner Community Capital (PCAP),…
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Building Legacy and Opportunity: Cory Elliott’s Journey with CMT LLC and St. Louis Community Credit Union
Born, raised and educated in St. Louis, Cory Elliott has always been dedicated to serving her beloved community with excellence and creating opportunities for others. After completing her undergraduate and graduate education, she embarked on a career in healthcare, working as a hospital administrator. Her team supported the facilities and construction departments, an experience that…
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Meet Brooklyn Packers, The Co-Op Connecting Small Farms To The Big Apple
Steph Wiley has been an entrepreneur almost as long as he’s been a New Yorker—and he’s been a New Yorker his entire life. At first, Steph owned a dog-walking business in lower Manhattan for more than 10 years before starting a community organizing business with his partner. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Steph is…
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Meet Piedmont Community Services, The Behavioral Health Service Provider Taking Care of Its Community
Greg Preston always wanted to return to his hometown and give back to his community. At first, Greg worked at the local Department of Social Services. Now, 25 years later? Greg is the organizations executive director.
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At Hope Credit Union, Climate Change Is The Deep South’s Wealth-Building Opportunity Of A Lifetime
When it comes to our shared climate reality, Hope Credit Union’s members are familiar with the ever-expanding narrative. After all, they’re living it. Across the Deep South, summers are getting hotter, power outages are becoming more common, and electric vehicles (EV) are being plugged into more and more homes. Members, however, aren’t just experiencing these…
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The Story of Jeff Trudeau and Concrete Washout Solutions
In 2012, Jeff Trudeau, a seasoned concrete truck operator, saw a growing environmental crisis within the industry he knew so well. Every day, concrete trucks across New England faced a major problem: the improper disposal of washout water. This water, laced with concrete particles and possessing a dangerously high pH, posed a significant environmental threat,…
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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 Freedom First Credit Union Is Leveraging Creative, Character-Based Lending To Approve Community Members For Auto Loans
When Norma Fralin needed a car in 2016, she didn’t know where to go. She’d never felt comfortable navigating dealerships and interacting with used-car salesmen, and because there were uncertainties surrounding her credit, Norma didn’t know what kind of auto loan she’d be able to get. That’s when Norma’s daughter, Catina, told her about Freedom…