Homeless at the age of 19, Cassie Betts has a riveting life story. She shares memories about befriending “questionable characters of the night,” with the tech-savvy inner-city youth she trains in her technology academy Made In South L.A. (MISLA), initially launched from the janitor’s closet of a South Central Los Angeles charter school. Betts has evolved, going from sleeping on bus stop benches and cardboard boxes in Honolulu, Hawaii, to acting and modeling in commercials, TV, and film in Los Angeles, to now blazing her own path in tech, while taking along anyone who believes that South L.A. produces geniuses, high-level entrepreneurs, and leaders who make an impact and change for better. ... read more »

California is expected to move into the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2022, with a whopping $31 billion surplus, according to estimates from the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). ... read more »

South L.A. residents lined up on October 29, at the field office of Councilmember Curren Price, Jr. to apply for the BIG:LEAP - the Basic Income Guaranteed: Los Angeles Economic Assistance Program. The citywide program, which accepts applications until November 7, will provide 3,000 recipients with $1,000 per month for 12 months with no-strings-attached or conditions on how the funds must be spent. ... read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters joined Speaker of House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi on August 12 to discuss the advancement of the Child Tax Credit implemented this year. ... read more »

State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Small Business Majority, an advocacy organization founded by and for small business owners, are hosting a webinar to share information about the new entrepreneurship programs included in the California Comeback Plan. It will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 25. ... read more »

Guap Foundation today announced the launch of a campaign to raise funds to invest in underserved minority communities around the country. ... read more »

Are you considering buying your first home, but unsure where to start? Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make, and the path to ownership may feel confusing for many first-time buyers. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be. Chase bank can help you navigate the homebuying process so getting the keys to your first home may be closer than you think.   ... read more »

Harper discusses new advancement in financial literacy and freedom designed for the Black and Brown community. ... read more »

On Wednesday, June 2, JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon, visited the new community center branch; he described the cultural evolution of Chase and how the institution looks to become a pillar of growth in the Crenshaw community.   ... read more »

The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing additional steps to end discrimination and bias in the housing market. “More than 50 years since the Fair Housing Act’s passage, access to wealth through homeownership remains persistently unequal,” administration officials stated. “In his first week in office, President Biden issued a memorandum directing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address discrimination in our housing market.” ... read more »

But many renters, including Black Californians who lease residential property, may not know about the state’s new CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program or they may not have details on how to apply for the available assistance. Other advocates say some renters could simply be confused because there are multiple rental relief programs at the county or city level to help renters. ... read more »

As a social worker with the Denver Public Library, part of Sonia Falcon's job is to help people in East Denver use government services and benefits. But she's never seen anything like the unemployment case that has consumed her work since February. ... read more »

Bank of America Community Development Banking, in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners, is investing $60 million – $30 million in loans and $30 million in equity financing – to support Enterprise’s Equitable Path Forward, a five-year initiative to help facilitate racial equality in housing. ... read more »

Delivering the financial document to the City Council on April 20, the mayor indicated his top interests include addressing the homelessness crisis, investing in small businesses, upgrading opportunities for young people and improving the quality of life for many Angelenos by implementing a guaranteed basic income pilot program.  ... read more »

Robert Villarreal is the Chief External Affairs Officer for the Los Angeles Branch of the CDC Small Business and Finance Program.  Villareal is unapologetic about his passion for creating financial opportunities to local businesses and people in communities of color.  ... read more »