We share this message amidst a confluence of events that have taken place this year: a global pandemic, a long-overdue demand for racial justice, wildfires across our home of California, and the recent election season that will bring in a new presidential leader for the United States. We extend deep gratitude to the many community organizers across the country who helped mobilize first time voters, young voters, and many others that ultimately supported record-breaking cast votes.
The challenges of this year have pushed us to refine and refocus who we are as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), to deepen our commitment to racial and economic equity, and to call upon the CDFI industry and others to join us in this commitment. Regardless of who holds political office, this commitment is unwavering because we are laying the groundwork for a more democratic, sustainable, and just economy.
We also extend gratitude to our partners: the many nonprofits and small businesses across Northern and Central California that are pillars of their communities. It is our work in and with the community that has led us to develop new program innovations that support a reparative economy, Black liberation, community ownership of land and assets, and more.
This includes deepening our partnerships with Community Land Trusts and Community Development Corporations to cultivate locally-owned assets that promote wealth generation, security of place, and belonging. We also developed and are implementing practices across the organization to assess whether we are intentionally increasing investment in Black, Indigenous, and people of color-run businesses and organizations and whether these investments are supporting community ownership, leadership, and catalytic impact.
We remain accountable to community-centered development and encourage other financial organizations to create and implement their own accountability measures. We know times are challenging and uncertain right now, but Community Vision remains strong and committed to our communities and their visions for self-determination.
We invite you to support these visions with a donation to Community Vision.
