http://www.accionusa.org/blog Insights on microfinance in the U.S. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:40:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Last month Foulis Peacock from Immpreneur.com dropped by ACCION USA's New York office to have a conversation with our CEO Paul Quintero about domestic microlending. While microfinance institutions have long played a role in developing economies, the concept and need for microlending services in the United States may be less ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/11/30/how-can-microfinance-help-immigrant-entrepreneurs/ This holiday season, we are looking at how social minded holiday shopping can make a positive impact on communities. Of course, we still want to be able to give gifts to our friends and loved ones – but wouldn’t it be nice to give a socially responsible gift by considering ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/11/28/5-reasons-to-buy-local-this-holiday-season/ As Small Business Saturday approaches, people across the country are reminded that where they buy gifts is just as important, if not more important, as what they buy. Small business is the lifeblood of local economies and conscious patronizing is the action that will drive job growth and reignite community ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/11/18/festival-fetes-holiday-market-new-england/ On November 1 over 100 guests gathered at ACCION USA’s first ever Microfinance Harvest Festival to enjoy homebrewed beer, toe-tapping jazz and food from local small business owners. It was truly a night to be remembered! The event was held at the ING Café in Manhattan and was a glowing ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/11/14/microfinance-harvest-festival-a-night-to-be-remembered/ Last month Elizabeth Bueno and Erica Dorn from ACCION USA’s New York lending team hosted a two part seminar that financed 4 businesses within two weeks! The seminar was a huge success due to an amazing partner --Kathryn Gregory from Mi Kitchen Es Su Kitchen a star partner this month! Food ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/11/07/mi-kitchen-es-su-kitchen/ I always remember trick or treating as a kid. It was a great way to interact with the community by going from house to house and meeting your neighbors. I might look silly trick or treating now, as an adult, but I do it in my own way - by ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/10/24/trickortrea/ By Alexandra Mills In college I went on spring break service trips to a village in Nicaragua two years in a row, each time hoping not only to gain a personal learning experience but also to make a lasting impact on the people there. When I was there last year I ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/10/19/why-microfinance-is-important-to-me/ October 4 marked a successful “Food Labeling” workshop (part 1 of 3) from the Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream program. Held at Sam Adams HQ’s in Boston, the event was led by industry specialists from Sam Adams and ACCION USA and had a fantastic showing of 46 local food ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/10/06/first-sam-adams-food-labeling-workshop-a-success/ Partner Spotlight: Citi ACCION USA joined Citibank in Upper Manhattan during the week of May 16th to celebrate Small Business Month.  Together, we worked to connect entrepreneurs in Washington Heights with the financial and educational resources needed to keep their businesses thriving. Sonia Baba-Shahverdy, owner of Step by Steps Daycare , received a ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/09/15/accion-usa-partner-spotlight-citi-2/ ACCION USA Staff are brewing up a new market for our microloans. Where, you may ask, are we stirring up this new business?  Well, we like to think of ourselves as ‘loan brewristas’, taking the craft brew scene by storm in partnership with Samuel Adams on our Brewing the American Dream ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2011/09/13/brewing-a-new-market-for-microloans/