CNote | Community Partners

Social Determinants of Health and Community Finance

By Tamra Thetford
The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They include the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and they shape overall well-being just as much—if not more—than medical care. Community Financial Institutions address the social determinants of health by investing in…

How One Credit Union Is Helping Families Avoid Foreclosure and Stay in Their Homes

When a Crisis Hit, a Mission-Driven Financial Institution Stepped In The pandemic disrupted lives across the world—and for Christine V., it was the spark that set off a chain of challenges. She lost her job, her kids got sick, and over time, she found herself more than $33,000 behind on her mortgage payments. On the…

Disaster Recovery in Action: The Role of PCAP Loan Fund in Western North Carolina’s Resilience

Natural disasters disrupt lives, destroy infrastructure, and leave communities grappling with recovery. In their aftermath, the limitations of national disaster response mechanisms, like FEMA and SBA Disaster Relief, become clear. While essential, these programs take time to mobilize, leaving communities with urgent needs. In these critical moments, mission-driven financial institutions like Partner Community Capital (PCAP)…

Meet Carver Federal Savings Bank, The Harlem-Headquartered CDFI Offering Tailored Small Business Lending

Lloyd Doaman has dedicated his life to community development. He began his career in finance at JPMorgan Investment Management before pivoting to community development financial institutions (CDFIs), where he helped to provide access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and credit unions. Over three years ago, Lloyd had the opportunity to join…

Great Lakes Credit Union: Filling a Banking Desert in Chicago’s Austin Neighborhood

The Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, home to nearly 100,000 residents, has long been a financial services desert. For decades, its residents were forced to rely on predatory payday lenders or travel outside their community to access basic financial services. This lack of access perpetuated cycles of poverty, leaving residents vulnerable to financial insecurity.…

Meet Piedmont Community Services, The Behavioral Health Service Provider Taking Care of Its Community

Greg Preston always wanted to return to his hometown and give back to his community. At first, Greg worked at the local Department of Social Services. Now, 25 years later? Greg is the organization's executive director.

At Hope Credit Union, Climate Change Is The Deep South’s Wealth-Building Opportunity Of A Lifetime

When it comes to our shared climate reality, Hope Credit Union’s members are familiar with the ever-expanding narrative. After all, they’re living it. Across the Deep South, summers are getting hotter, power outages are becoming more common, and electric vehicles (EV) are being plugged into more and more homes. Members, however, aren’t just experiencing these…

Meet Clean Energy Credit Union, The Member-Owned Cooperative Making It Easier For Everyone To Access Affordable Green Lending

Like the majority of people, Nicole Burford sometimes feels weighed down by the challenges presented by climate change. But as someone who’s long been passionate about environmental protection and sustainability, Nicole has found a way to keep her chin up. “When we think about what we can control as an individual,” she said, “we can…

For Opportunities Credit Union, Energy Efficiency Loans Help Low-Income Individuals Save Money—And Combat Climate Change

Over the span of 48 hours in mid-July 2023, most of Vermont was battered with record amounts of rainfall, resulting in catastrophic flash flooding. As the state’s rivers swelled, homes were submerged, roads and bridges were washed out, and, tragically, at least two lives were lost. The 500-year flooding event devastated communities across The Green…

From Farm To City: How ChoiceOne Bank is Championing Michigan Agribusiness

ChoiceOne Bank’s vision isn’t a secret: it’s front and center on its website. “We want to be the best bank in Michigan,” said Adom Greenland, the bank’s chief financial officer. “That means really making an impact in our communities.” ChoiceOne Bank was established in 1898 as a farm bank, and the bank operates in some…