Ventures
  • Our Approach
    • MEET THE TEAM
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • Our Work
    • Familias Con Mas >
      • Alas
      • Workshop & Coaching
    • Futuro
    • Semillitas
    • UndocuFund Monterey Bay
  • Our Reports
    • A Santa Cruz Like Me
    • Assets and Access Dashboards
    • Business Conversion Guide
    • Business Succession to Employee Ownership
    • Family Plan Workplan
    • Financial Capability Snapshot
    • Mamas Con Mas
    • SMALL BUSINESS CLOSURE CRISIS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
    • ONLINE DONATION
    • PLANNED GIVING
  • Español
  • Our Approach
    • MEET THE TEAM
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • Our Work
    • Familias Con Mas >
      • Alas
      • Workshop & Coaching
    • Futuro
    • Semillitas
    • UndocuFund Monterey Bay
  • Our Reports
    • A Santa Cruz Like Me
    • Assets and Access Dashboards
    • Business Conversion Guide
    • Business Succession to Employee Ownership
    • Family Plan Workplan
    • Financial Capability Snapshot
    • Mamas Con Mas
    • SMALL BUSINESS CLOSURE CRISIS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
    • ONLINE DONATION
    • PLANNED GIVING
  • Español

Finding My Way Back to help Build the Way Forward

5/21/2019

1 Comment

 
By Kiana Morales, Program Associate 

I 
grew up in a low-income single parent household. When I was younger my mom and I went through financial hardships and no one was there to help or guide us through those times. No one was there to give advice about going to college.  
Which is why the work we do at Santa Cruz Community Ventures means so much. In SCCV I have found an opportunity to ensure that others don't have to go through the same hardships I went through and that they know how to utilize the resources available to them. 

I’m especially excited about the Children's Savings Accounts program being launched. The program will provide a small seed investment to every newborn in Santa Cruz County. As 51% of the children born in Santa Cruz County are low income and 56% would to be first generation college students, I understand how much this seed investment can mean to their futures. Being part of this work is exciting!  

I first joined SCCV during my sophomore year are part of their Youth Leadership Fellow program. In that role I was certified as a Financial Counselor and developed a financial capability program for girls in Middle school. The program focused on introducing the girls to financial concepts, career choices, and related educational requirements and financial impacts. While working with them I saw how much one person with the slightest bit of information can really impact the girls’ future choices. Seeing the students faces brighten up and seeing them smile about their future was a very motivating experience for me.  

Which is why coming back to SCCV as a Program Associate was one of the easiest decisions I have made. I can’t wait to see how impactful the work SCCV is doing will be to its community.  
​

ABOUT KIANA: Kiana is a first-generation UC Santa Cruz student. She is graduating in June 2019 with a degree in Business Management Economics with a minor in Mathematics. 
1 Comment

Creating a Positive Impact One Financial Lesson at a Time

5/21/2019

1 Comment

 
by Christian Lopez, Program Associate 

I am the first person in my family to graduate from high school. My mom supported and encouraged me to pursue college but lacked the knowledge and resources to guide me. It was thanks to the help of Cabrillo College staff and faculty I was able to enroll, receive partial assistance to pay for my tuition, and eventually help guide and support me. Today, I’m getting ready to graduate from Cabrillo and transfer to CSUMB to complete my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

​Why Business Administration? Coming from a single parent household, I know the financial difficulties that can impact a family. I spent my teenage summers working in agriculture. The people I worked with came from similar backgrounds, struggles, and culture as me. Many people lack financial education, and this contributes to a family’s financial instability. My goal is to coach families in how to budget, use credit wisely and save for the future.

I first learned of SCCV as a participant of CreditBound, a program focused on building credit and building financial knowledge for young adults. Being part of Community Ventures as a Program Associate gives me the access to reach out to the community and make a potential change in their day to day life. I am excited for the journey ahead and look forward to growing as a person and learning more. 

​ABOUT Christian: Christian will be attending CSU Monterey Bay in Fall of 2019 to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

1 Comment

    Archives

    March 2023
    September 2022
    April 2022
    June 2021
    October 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

About Us

Our Approach
Our Work
Our Reports

Contact

[email protected]
831.200.1719

Privacy Policy
​A 501c3 Tax Exempt Nonprofit
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.