Santa Cruz Community Ventures

CREATING COMPASSIONATE AND EQUITABLE LOCAL ECONOMIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIESWE ARE COMMITTED TO DO OUR WORK IN WAYS THAT:ARE FAMILY CENTERED AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE;REMOVE SYSTEM LEVEL BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC EQUITY;PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION, INCLUDING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH;DEVELOP NEW FINANCIAL AND ASSET BUILDING VEHICLES; ANDLIFT UP AND LEVERAGE THE GREAT WORK ALREADY BEING DONE.

EMERGENCY RELIEF & SAFETY NET SERVICES AS A TRUSTED INTERMEDIARY DURING TIMES OF CRISIS VENTURES PROVIDE RELIEF TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED WHO ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH INSTITUTIONS OR WHO ARE LEFT OUT OF OUR SAFETY NET. - UNDOCUFUND MONTEREY BAY PROVIDES CASH ASSISTANCE TO MONTEREY BAY AREA UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT WORKERS IMPACTED BY EMERGENCIES.- WILDFIRES RELIEF SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS PROVIDES RENTAL AND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS IMPACTED BY THE 2020 MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ WILDFIRES, MANY OF THEM FARMWORKERS.

ASSET BUILDING - ENSURES FAMILIES AND YOUTH CAN BUILD WEALTH. THIS INCLUDES: - SEMILITAS A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR NEWBORNS IN THE COUNTY. THE EFFORT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING CHILDRENS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CREATE A CULTURE SUPPORTING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND INCREASE ASSETS AND BUILD FINANCIAL CAPABILITY OF PARTICIPATING FAMILIES. - FUTURO - AIMS TO BE A WORKER-OWNED COOPERATIVE BUSINESS STRUCTURE AND NETWORK THAT PROVIDES INCOME AND WEALTH BUILDING FOR SALINAS VALLEY WORKING-CLASS LATINO FAMILIES. - ALAS - WHICH MEANS WINGS IN SPANISH, IS A SIX-MONTH FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAM TO HELP WORKING-CLASS LATINO FAMILIES BUILD COMMUNITY, SELF-DETERMINATION, AND FINANCIAL WELLBEING. COHORT MODEL INCORPORATES: - GUARANTEED INCOME: FAMILIES RECEIVE $500 /MONTH FOR 6-MONTHS - EDUCATION AND RESOURCES: PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL COACHING TO BUILD SAVINGS, ESTABLISH/ IMPROVE CREDIT, BUILD THEIR SAVINGS, AND REACH PERSONAL FINANCIAL GOALS. - COMMUNITY BUILDING: PARTICIPANTS WORK BOTH AS A LARGE COHORT, AND IN SMALL GROUPS WITH NEIGHBORS IN THEIR OWN CITIES. THIS ENSURES THAT THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY TO LEAN ON AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM.

FINANCIAL CAPABILITY (FAMILIAS CON MS) WORKS ON TWO AREAS:- EDUCATION TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ON FAIR BANKING PRACTICES, SAVINGS, BUDGETING, CREDIT, DEBT, OVERDRAFT FEES, AND PREDATORY LENDERS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, COACHING, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.- ADVOCACY TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL INEQUITIES, INCLUDING THE PREVALENCE OF PREDATORY LENDERS, CURRENTLY TWICE THE RATE IN WATSONVILLE THAN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ.