Meet Our Community Members

Who We Are

Together, we are working towards a shared and prosperous economic future where zip code, race, gender, or immigration status do not dictate income or wealth. 

​Founded in 1989, Ventures partners with rural Latino working-class families in California’s Central Coast to implement transformational programs that activate and strengthen their economic and political power. Our approach builds community and connects financial stability, wealth building, and self-determination. 

We 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; and
  • lift up and leverage the great work already being done.

How We Do Our Work

A Sample of Our Work

A Santa Cruz Like Me 
“A Santa Cruz Like Me” is a partnership between Ventures and Santa Cruz County, surveyed County boards and commissions and compared demographic data to the census to paint a picture of Santa Cruz County’s representative bodies.  The effort led to changes in the appointment process, ongoing county effort to diversify boards and commissions, and a replication model for the City of Santa Cruz. ​
Climate Response Market Opportunities for Worker Cooperatives
This document surveys local government intentions to address climate change (through local climate action plans) and identifies related industries in which opportunities exist to grow worker cooperatives.  

Semillitas Program Overview
Semilitas fosters belonging and educational aspirations for all children by automatically opening a college savings account for all Santa Cruz newborns, regardless of parent immigration status or income.  The program partners with health, educational, and financial providers to provide milestone contributions as the child develops with a goal of $500 by the time the child's fifth birthday.  

UndocuFund Impact Report 
UndocuFund Monterey Bay (MB) is a collaborative effort to assist Monterey Bay area undocumented immigrant workers impacted by emergencies, including COVID-19, wildfires, and floods. This report outlines the major impacts of the UndocuFund MB program during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch of a guaranteed income pilot, Alas. UndocuFund MB learnings were later used by the state in its development of emergency relief distribution for immigrant populations. 
 
Alas Impact Report 
This report describes the ways in which the Alas guaranteed income program built on lessons the Ventures team learned from supporting undocumented workers during the COVID-19 pandemic to reimagine a long-term safety net for participants.  
​
Alas Participant Workbook  
Alas program participants use this workbook during their 6-month journey to greater financial stability.