Self-Help Shares


Gluten-free Dreams: CheSa's Journey from Celiac Diagnosis to Restaurant Owner

By Staff
  | Aug 28, 2024

CheSa standing behind the bar at her business: CheSa’s Bistro and Bar in Chicago, Illinois

CheSa is the owner of CheSa's Bistro and Bar in Chicago, IL. 

August is Black Business Month, and we are honored to be celebrating the accomplishments of all the incredible Black-owned businesses that have enriched our communities.

CheSa is one such business owner in Chicago, and her story of determination, creativity, and resilience is an incredible reminder of what it means to adapt in pursuit of a dream.

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The Role of Community Banks in Supporting Black-owned Businesses

By Staff
  | Aug 08, 2024

three different images of Black-owned businesses

Images of owners of businesses that Self-Help has worked with

Happy Black-owned Business Month! At Self-Help, we are honored to celebrate and support Black entrepreneurs.

In 2021, only 2.8% of businesses in the U.S. were Black-owned, even though Black people make up roughly 14% of the country’s population.1 This discrepancy is why it’s important to make conscious efforts to champion Black-owned businesses. At Self-Help, we believe that entrepreneurs of all backgrounds should have the opportunity to succeed, but there are many barriers to racially equitable business ownership.

In this post, we will discuss the potential reasons for why there are so few Black-owned businesses and why community banks and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) can serve as an important resource.

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The Significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act

By Staff
  | Jul 26, 2024

numerous colorful figures representing people and handicapped people on a dark gray background

July 26th marks the anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. This landmark civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and ensures accessibility across public buildings, businesses, communications, transportation, and employment.

In this blog post, we cover the history behind the ADA, its key components, and the positive changes that have resulted from its enactment.

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The Cost of Accessibility: Financial Planning for People with Disabilities

By Staff
  | Jul 22, 2024

on the right are the words

Happy Disability Pride Month! July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability. While we have come a long way as a society in recognizing and accommodating various disabilities, there is still so much work to be done to make our spaces and systems truly accessible.

One of the major challenges that people with disabilities often go through is the additional costs that can come with supporting a disability or making an environment more accessible through things like adaptive technologies and home modifications.

In this blog post, we will be discussing the financial effects of ableism and providing some helpful tips and resources to support people with disabilities.

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Our Impact in 2023

By Staff
  | Jul 08, 2024

Our 2023 Annual Report is now available! Through 2023, we have continued to demonstrate significant impact and are grateful to be part of your community.

We are excited to give you the numbers, share some incredible member stories, and let you know how we plan on continuing to create economic opportunity and promote financial inclusion for all.

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Out and Proud at Self-Help

By Staff
  | Jun 26, 2024

happy people holding a Self-Help Federal Credit Union banner in front of the California Capitol building

Self-Help employees outside the state Capitol building during 2024 Pride in Sacramento, CA

Happy LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!

With the new waves of anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment and the 532 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills that the ACLU is currently tracking, it is more important than ever to show our support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

At Self-Help, we understand that our focus on uplifting underrepresented groups must include queer folks, who are often discriminated against in the housing and financial services industries. In honor of this month, let’s take some time to recognize some of the ways Self-Help has worked to support LGBTQIA+ communities.

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Celebrating Juneteenth: Understanding the Flag, Colors, and Traditions

By Staff
  | Jun 18, 2024

Juneteeth Celebrating Black liberation in the past, present and future

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is a holiday commemorating the end of chattel slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Galveston, TX, letting the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. know they were free. It is considered a second Independence Day and is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

Juneteenth became the newest federal holiday in 2021, which means many of us are still learning about its significance. At Self-Help, we’re honoring this important holiday by getting a better understanding of the meaning behind some of the iconic Juneteenth symbols and traditions.

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A Guide to Navigating Homeownership for LGBTQIA+ Folks

By Staff
  | Jun 06, 2024

pride flag hanging outside a home

June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and Homeownership Month. What better way to honor both of these month-long celebrations than by talking about homeownership for LGBTQIA+ folks.

At Self-Help, when we say ownership and economic opportunity for all, we mean ALL, which is why we put together this guide to support a more accessible homeownership journey for LGBTQIA+ couples, families, and individuals. LGBTQIA+ people face unique challenges when it comes to housing, and education is key!  

In this article, we discuss barriers to homeownership, advice on how to financially prepare, and tips for ensuring a safe and productive homebuying experience. 

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What Does the Recent CFPB Supreme Court Ruling Mean for Me?

By Staff
  | May 31, 2024

outside of the Supreme Court

 

If you’re following the news, you may have seen or heard something about the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, often referred to as the CFPB, and be wondering what it’s all about. 

We’re here to help break down what the CFPB is, what function it serves, and why this latest ruling is meaningful to you as a consumer. 

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Uplifting AANHPI Small Businesses in the Wake of the Pandemic

By Staff
  | May 29, 2024

Asian man in a suit outside of a store

Tae Park, entrepreneur and borrower with Self-Help Credit Union, stands outside his grocery store, International Foods, in Raleigh, NC. Circa 2012.

While most of us have adjusted to living in a post-lockdown world, it’s hard not to acknowledge the deep, lasting impacts that COVID continues to have on our lives.  

In this article, we discuss the challenges that AANHPI businesses have faced due to the pandemic and how we can uplift these businesses this Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and beyond.

 

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