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Taking Steps Toward a Community-Controlled Economy in Boston

Sandra Larson

October 12, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Ujima Project is on “a mission to create an alternative economy,” one that is inclusive on all measures. The main initiative is a community capital fund, which is considering foregoing collateral on loans in exchange for other creative metrics, in the hopes of extending loans to those often excluding from traditional banking and investment. They are also creating a timebanking initiative, where labor that benefits the community can be used as a form of currency. An accessible Boston workshop cemented the group’s commitment to being community-driven.

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This Radical Bank Will Free People Of Debt By Literally Blowing It Up

Sarah Shearman

October 10, 2018 |

The Huffington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: England, London

The Hoe Street Central Bank is an artist run project that raises money through events taking place in a former bank and sells prints designed to mimic paper money. Through the money they raise, the organization buys and eliminates private debt as well as makes donations to organizations affected by austerity measures.

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Here's What Investing in Economic Justice Looks Like

Oscar Perry Abello

September 28, 2018 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Montgomery, Alabama

Hope Credit Union has a mission: serving mostly black, marginalized communities in the South whose capital was historically displaced through slavery. In 2017, the credit union gave out $100 million in loans. ‘That total includes 61 business loans, 2,825 consumer loans, and 287 home mortgages, of which 87 percent went to first-time homebuyers.”

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How impact investors can better serve communities: ask them what they need

Eillie Anzilotti

September 24, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Williamson, West Virginia

Impact Experience is an organization that bridges the gap between impact investors and the communities in which they want to invest, from West Virginia to Houston and more. These “experiences” occur during retreats in cities across the country that could use investment. Jenna Nicholas, the founder of Impact Experience, uses this time to help people build genuine relationships that lead to long-lasting investments. In Williamson, West Virginia alone, the experiences have led to $25 million in local funding.

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Rohingya turn to blockchain to solve identity crisis

Skot Thayer Alex Hern

August 20, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malaysia

Blockchain can be used to create digital identities for people who have lost legal documents or been denied citizenship. The technology is helping Rohingya in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia gain access to banking and educational opportunities.

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How these Portland residents got to own a piece of their neighborhood

Oscar Perry Abello

August 14, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

A unique financial set up in Portland has led to the creation of the East Portland Community Investment Trust, in which residents in four local zip codes can invest small amounts of money into local projects, specifically shares of a shopping center. To invest, community members need to take a short financial literacy class. So far, the average investment is just $80, but that still pays annual dividends that are meaningful to its investors.

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Investing in Local Business to Get an Even Break

Courtney E. Martin

July 31, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, known as Balle, encourages a “localism” approach to decrease wealth disparities. By hosting a fellowship program to share best practices as well as encouraging philanthropic foundations to invest their endowments in mission-aligned organizations, Balle as served 121,650 small businesses and worked with philanthropic leaders representing over $8 billion in assets.

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Global Investors Find Value in a Small Bank in the Deep South

Oscar Perry Abello

July 11, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Little Rock, Arkansas

Southern Bancorp is a regional bank based in Little Rock, Arkansas and is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Founded after the financial crisis in 2009, the Alliance shows that values-based banks, especially those that are putting a higher proportion of funds toward loans in their own communities, outperformed more traditional large banks. Southern Bancorp is doing just that by investing in loans for local business owners and municipal bonds to benefit the cities in which they operate.

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Good design is good policy

Sara Hudson

June 26, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

As the treasurer of St. Louis, Tishaura Jones is making transformative change to connect more people to banks and savings accounts. Modeling initiatives after other successful municipal government programs across the country, Jones helped start the College Kids Children’s Savings Accounts, which creates a college savings account for all children entering public kindergarten. This is one of many steps to help St. Louis residents take better advantage of financial services.

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Moving Community Foundation Dollars from Wall Street to Main Street

Oscar Perry Abello

June 25, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Fresno, California

Community foundations have a new way to invest their funds: they can opt to invest in community projects, such as credit unions, as opposed to more traditional financial investments. The Self-Help Federal Credit Union has benefitted from this shift. A $2.6 million investment from Central Valley Community Foundation has helped the credit union provide over 1000 loans to predominately low-income families in the region.

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