By Mary A. Rogier, Community Vision’s President It’s been an especially difficult time for Northern California this month for anyone reading the news, thanks to a series of horrifying natural disasters which almost seemed to be coordinated – as if they are trying to send us a message. And maybe they are. For example, climate scientists…
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By Guy Baldwin, Community Vision’s Policy, Research, and Information Manager A legislative logjam that had blocked solutions to California’s housing crisis was cleared last month as the legislature passed, and Governor Jerry Brown signed, a suite of fifteen bills that add funding and remove roadblocks to affordable housing development. The result will be more opportunities…
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The San Joaquin Valley community of Clovis is addressing a challenge shared by many others in Northern California: an increasing population of low- and moderate-income elders who need long-term care. Some elders already have Medi-Cal insurance and others spend down assets for care and become eligible for coverage. When some elders can no longer obtain…
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Founded more than thirty years ago, East Bay-based Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC), began as a peer-to-peer organization offering support groups for women with cancer. Since then, the organization has broadened and diversified its programming to include a wider variety of services supporting people fighting cancer, especially low-income women. Serving more than 5,000 clients annually,…
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San Francisco — The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the U.S. Treasury announced awardees of its 2017 CDFI Fund Financial Assistance (FA) and Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Awards. The Community Vision received a $1.1 million FA award and a $2 million HFFI award. Community Vision will use this FA award to provide low-rate…
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In a normal year, Congress sets appropriations for federal government agencies in July, debates them in September, and approves them in time for the start of a new fiscal year on October 1. But this is not a normal year, and it may be as late as December before we learn the fate of the Community…
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On Tuesday, September 5, the Trump Administration announced that it is ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Since 2012, the program has protected more than 800,000 undocumented young adults from deportation and has offered them the opportunity to continue to grow and thrive as deeply rooted members of their communities. Since the initial…
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Over a decade ago, Community Vision committed to increasing our presence and focus in the Central Valley in response to high levels of poverty, unemployment, and vast inequity. For this reason, Community Vision supports local stakeholders in social equity and economic mobility by providing consulting and capital to nonprofits and social enterprises that promote equitable…
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Join us at the 2017 Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Conference in Washington D.C. from September 26-28. We are participating in one exciting panel: Challenges and Strategies for Financing Arts and Culture Projects Session Date/Time: Thursday, September 28 from 1:45 pm – 3 pm
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Nearly a decade ago, Carolyn Berke, a long-time baker, started baking and delivering pies locally in Niles and surrounding areas. She took orders online and delivered twice weekly to a few local establishments. Soon Niles Pie grew from a part-time endeavor to a full-time bakery.
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In May 2017 Catherine Howard, our Director of Strategic Initiatives, represented Community Vision at Opportunity Finance Network’s Advocacy Day which included legislative visits to the offices of Senators Feinstein and Harris and Representatives Jim Costa and Jimmy Panetta. In addition, Community Vision’s policy activities have been focused on the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund budget and…
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Farm operations in the Central Valley and food businesses in the Bay Area enjoy a symbiotic, if imperfect, relationship. The Bay Area represents a large marketplace for locally sourced and organic food produced by Central Valley farmers and manufacturers. Though the relationship can be mutually beneficial, small farmers often lack the capacity and finances to…
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