http://www.accionusa.org/blog Insights on microfinance in the U.S. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:15:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I want you to think back to the very first time you opened your mail to find that golden ticket: a pre-approved credit card offer.  Was it been everything you hoped it would be? Or did you fall for some of the oldest tricks in the book… Were you the college ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/03/11/card-act-gives-consumers-a-break/ The word Microfinance comes out of my mouth sounding academic sometimes. I throw it in discussions with “social justice, fair trade, and gender equality.” How can a topic so academic-sounding be put into everyday practice? I have struggled for a while with that question and at times left it on the ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/03/08/academics-and-poverty/ Some of the week’s news in the microfinance, green business initiatives and the small business sector A Plea for Direct Lending to Small Businesses- Wall Street Journal Hub looks for boost to business- The Boston Globe What States and Cities Are Doing to Help Small Businesses- New York Times Microfinance industry experts debate over Inflated Interest ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/03/05/microfinance-week-in-review-week-ending-march-5-2010/ Recently, some colleagues expressed interest in a mid-day yoga class. I'd been wanting to get one together since I started at ACCION USA last April. Conveniently,  a spacious and peaceful room was for rent on the 12th floor of AUSA's New York office, perfect for a yoga class. After mulling ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/03/04/five-reasons-to-attend-micro-yoga-for-microfinance/ One of the things I’ve learned working in microfinance (actually, working period) is that effective, well thought out technology is crucial to every aspect of an organization, but especially in the ability to achieve scale. This fact is particularly glaring in regards to ACCION USA’s “OLA” – our online loan ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/26/what-weve-learned-about-online-lending/ Some of the week’s news in the microfinance, green business initiatives and the small business sector How has Microfinance Changed Since 2005? - Triple Pundit Selling the Business with Social Mission Attached- BusinessWeek Regulators ease up on small business loans- CNN The End of the Big Idea for the Jobs Bill?- NewsWeek Lending Falls at Epic Pace- ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/26/microfinance-week-in-review-week-ending-february-26-2010/ We are the weatherization nation – and so much the better for it. Last year, the Obama Administration injected $8 billion of stimulus funding into the weatherization industry, with a lofty tripartite objective: create green un-exportable jobs, save energy consumers cash, and make the environment happy. But what happens when government ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/24/micro-boosting-weatherization-programs/ [caption id="attachment_956" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Luz with her father, Carlos I. Gomez (1936-2006)"][/caption] The StoryCorps Historias trailer came to town in late January and I had the opportunity to talk about why I’ve worked with small businesses for over a decade. My husband interviewed me about my dad, Carlos Gomez Arriola, who ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/23/tell-us-why-microfinance-matters-to-you/ [caption id="attachment_947" align="alignright" width="175" caption="ACCION USA provides taxpayers with the financial education and resources they need to make smart, informed decisions about RALs. "][/caption] And so it begins. Tax season. The time of year when tax prep software commercials sandwich prime time TV shows and your friends in the tax prep ... http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/22/the-incredible-shrinking-tax-refund/ Some of the week’s news in the microfinance, green business initiatives and the small business sector The lending crunch: 'It is very hard to survive'- CNN 4 Lending Innovations That May Help Small Business- Entrepreneur.com At Shared Offices, How Green Is My Work Space- New York Times Initiative lends stability to aspiring city entrepreneurs- Daily Targum http://www.accionusa.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/19/microfinance-week-in-review-week-ending-february-19-2010/