ACCION USA Is a Key Partner on New Kiva.org, Visa Inc. Program to Support of U.S. Small Businesses
Growing up, I never liked secrets. Why? Well, after a while, I figured out that the news you were sworn to keep to yourself were exactly the topics you urgently wanted to share. What good is knowledge if you cannot apply it?
In our microlending work, we often hear that ACCION USA is “the best kept secret” from clients, partners and local government officials. Since our work depends on word of mouth, I would like to change this perception and that is why ACCION USA supports the Kiva City Initiatives by Kiva.org.
Kiva.org through the Kiva City program will be bringing visibility to the issue of job creation by focusing on the top 10 areas of the country that were hit the hardest through the recession. I am proud to announce that ACCION USA will be playing an important role on this program and that we are positioned to assist in 7 of those 10 markets. However, without the collaboration of civic leaders, local economic development groups and technical assistance providers who have the trust and access to talented but unsung entrepreneurs, our ability to succeed is limited.
If it takes a village to raise a child, then it will take a community of interested stakeholders to ensure access to capital for needy entrepreneurs. Please do not keep this a secret—pass it along, and know that doing so increases the chances of funding big dreams through small loans for thousands of entrepreneurs across the country.
Also don’t forget to WATCH LIVE as President Clinton announces the launch of Kiva City today at 1:00p.m. EST
Our Part in the White House Urban Entrepreneurship Summit
What better way to boost the US economy than to rely on one of its oldest legacies – the American Dream. We are proud to be part of the White House Urban Entrepreneurship Summit! As entrepreneurship plays a central role in creating jobs and economic opportunity, the Obama Administration is committed to creating public-private partnerships to support current entrepreneurs and spark a new generation of urban entrepreneurs. Paul Quintero, thanks to the impact he has on entrepreneurs as CEO of ACCION USA, had the privilege to be invited to this White House event as keynote speaker.
According to the results of our field tests, each AUSA small business loan recipient creates 3 new jobs on average. Wages provided by ACCION USA borrowers are 24% higher than the national minimum wage. The business survival rate among ACCION USA clients is 89% for start up businesses.
Joann recieved a sprout loan from ACCION USA for her home based cheesecake business
Culinary student, Joann spent 30 years perfecting her cheesecake recipe and decided to start a pastry business out of her home. With a loan from ACCION USA, she was able to expand her advertising and her selection of products. She now rents a space at the local green market and sells her wares once a week.
Not only do we provide capital for entrepreneurs to start their businesses, but we are also invested in seeing them succeed. One of our most successful financial education programs is the Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream Program. Run by Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams and fellow entrepreneur, this program offers small business coaching sessions for entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industries. Sit in on a session on June 13!
Check out more about the Urban Summit: Use hashtag #urbansummit on twitter:
@SteveCase: WATCH LIVE: Urban Entrepreneurship Summit http://bit.ly/m0dGbM #StartUpAmerica #UrbanSummit
Welcome ACCIONISTA Summer Interns!
CEO Paul Quintero inspiring us to think beyond any limits we have set for ourselves
On Wednesday we had a orientation at ACCION USA for our summer interns- 14 interns joined from New York and remotely from Atlanta and Boston through our gotomeeting platform and via Skype.
A few of the most memorable moments were when our “historian” Carmen told stories about our first clients, seeing the interns in Boston live through Skype video and of course, our CEO Paul Quintero uplifting everyone’s spirits and dreams about the limitless possibilities at ACCION USA.
A warm welcome to our entire Summer ACCION USA intern brigade!
In Atlanta:
- David McNeill is a Lending and Outreach Intern who recently returned from his Kiva Fellowship in Sierra Leon- he is very excited about combining his international microfinance experience with work in Atlanta at ACCION USA.
In New York:
- Airi Kobayashi is a Communications Intern studying IT Business at Notre Dame University. Airi speaks Japanese and Mandarin and has worked in marketing, technology, and design.
- Alvaro Gutierrez is a Lending Intern. Alvaro studied Business Administration and has experience teaching and working with entrepreneurs in his home country of Chile. Alvaro also worked as an Business Executive in The Nielsen Company.
- Kimberly Edwards is a Lending and Financial Education Intern from Columbia University doing her year-long field placement at ACCION USA. Kimberly has previous microfinance experience working at Self Help in North Carolina.
- Alicia Quinn is a Volunteer Partnerships and Business Development Intern. Alicia is graduate intern from Columbia University doing her year-long field placement at ACCION USA. Alicia worked in health care administration for 7 years in Vail, Colorado.
- Etel Echevarria is a Lending Intern. A native to Argentina, Etel is completing her MPA at City University of New York. Etel previously interned at Make The Road New York.
- Matt Roth is a Lending In tern. Matt recently returned from the Peace Corps in El Salvador and is also working part-time in homeless outreach in New York City.
- Lauren Yothers is a Communications Intern who studied at the University of Miami. Lauren speaks Spanish and Portuguese and also worked in community development with a renowned activist and anthropologist in Haiti.
- Mauricio Delgado is a Lending Intern. A native to Ecuador, Mauricio completed his Business Administration degree from Queens college. Mauricio has many experiences working with small business in his home country and in the U.S.
- John Remson is a Resource De velopment Intern. John recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Government and Politics. John previously worked as an enumerator for the United States Census Bureau.
- Marisa Casellas is the Kiva Intern and a graduate student at NYU Wagner. Marisa worked for three years at the Hispanic Federation of New York and is fluent in Spanish and Italian.
In Boston:
- Hajar Elaalej is a lending summer interns. Hajar recently graduated from Boston University with a double major in Economics and International Relations. She is from Morocco however, moved to Boston to finish her studies in 2008. She served at BU as the President of the Arab-Israeli Peace Alliance.
- Brinya Bjork is a Microtest Inte rn studying Business Administration from Notre Dame University. She has many experienences working as an advocate for the disabled, immigrant, women, homesless, and victims of natural disaster.
- Ryan Quillard is a Microtest Intern hailing from the University of Notre Dame where he studies Business Adminisatration. He has interned and/or worked at the Center For Homesless, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and as a swimming instructor in New Orleans.
- Carolyn McMahon is Managing Intern for Microtest. She is completing her Masters degree from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. She has vast experience in Justice working at a microcredit bank in Senegal, with a peace and justice organizations in San Fransc iso and San Deigo. She is driven to combine her experience and knowledge of microfinance with peace building initiatives.
Welcome to our newest Accionistas-Much of the success of ACCION USA is owed to the extraordinary talent and efforts of interns and volunteers.
- New York Interns returning from lunch at client restaurant, Dardanel
Tags: accion, accion usa, Aspen Institute, kiva, kiva fellows, microfinance, microtest