Financial capability is the premise that families should be able to thrive by having both the knowledge, skills, and access  to be financially stable.  That is a cornerstone of what we do here at Santa Cruz Community Ventures (SCCV). We believe that by strengthening the financial capability of youth and working families in our region we create the very foundation of an inclusive economy.

As you can imagine, the journey to financial capability is never a straight line, nor the same for everyone. But there are stages and aspects that could be pointed out as milestones for each age. And @CFED has done a fabulous job of putting a handy Financial Capability Lifecycle together. 

​Take a look and see where you and  your family are at. It may be missing the party hats, but what better month than April to celebrate this idea.  After all, this April we cap it knowing that our free tax services returned over $660K to working families, with an average federal refund of over $1,500 - for many the largest check they will see all year! 

So here's a cheer to this very special April and to all of us working on increasing our financial capability and that of our families and neighbors! 

Here in Santa Cruz County many nonprofits and funders are pooling together to promote and encourage community members to give and run for the #HumanRaceSC. But it is never so simple, really. It is not about a catch phrase or a run in a beautiful coastal town. It is not even about the lovely Olympic theme or even the matching funds provided by local funders. What it is about is at the essence of who we are as a community.

It is an effort to remember that we are in it together and that the legacy we want is one of vibrant communities into which our kids and grandkids can be a part of. It is about building a community where we as neighbors raise the bar on what being a neighbor is all about.

Santa Cruz is the leftist most city of the US that also just happens to currently be burden with extreme inequality. Every indicator from health to income show how we have fallen prey to the very system that has racked the country and the world.

It is not who we are and not we wish to be. At least, I don’t think it is.  This is our Santa Cruz, and it is up to us to lift up our sleeves and get to work on pulling apart the system and recreating one that works better for all of us and that reflect the values that make Santa Cruz great. And we must do it together.

Because it is about living wages, family sustaining jobs, equal pay for equal work and, yes, affordable housing.

It is about us, our legacy, our future, together.

It takes one first step.  Let’s run!