Self-Help Shares

Every year, each Self-Help branch offers a $1,000 community scholarship to a recipient who has committed to improving their lives and their communities by furthering their education. In honor of our 2025 applications being open (apply by March 31!), we are highlighting some of last year’s incredible winners. 

According to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global economy in 2025 “is a world marked by significant uncertainty” due to changes in US trade policy, the challenging geopolitical backdrop, and rising government bond yields.  

It’s important that we do what we can to prepare ahead of time for any potential changes that can affect our financial security during these times of turmoil, particularly if you are part of a group that may be facing increased uncertainty. 

In this blog post, we will provide suggestions and advice for anyone looking to prepare for a loss of income, protect themselves from rising scams, and guard access to their accounts in the event that they suddenly need to leave the country. 

It is Black History Month, and this year’s theme is "African Americans and Labor,” which highlights the ways Black people have influenced labor movements and shaped the workforce in the U.S.  

Labor, economics, and the financial health of communities are all intrinsically linked with one another. At Self-Help, we believe in ownership and economic opportunity for all, and labor rights are a key part of making that a reality. That is why we are honored to recognize Black History Month, the history and influence of Black labor, and how that has shaped and empowered diverse communities across the country.  

In this blog post, we will be discussing the history of Black workers in labor movements, the role of HBCUs in Black labor, and the future of Black wealth creation and economic empowerment. 

This Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we are honored to celebrate this civil rights activist whose work is integral to Self-Help's mission of economic justice.  

Dr. King is known for his legacy as one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement during his time. As part of his teachings and philosophies, he often espoused ideas of economic justice as central to achieving true equality. 

In this blog post, we will discuss Dr. King’s vision for economic justice, how CDFIs like Self-Help are focused on achieving this vision, and steps we can all take to work toward true equality. 

^{Valor Academy Elementary School principal May Oey checks in with student Nahum during a social-emotional learning activity.}

We at Self-Help believe in economic opportunity for all, and a huge part of creating equal access to opportunity starts way before you sign up for your first bank account – it starts with access to education and schools that work to make a difference in young kids’ lives.

One such school is Valor Academy Elementary School (VAES), part of the Bright Star Schools family in North Hills, California. In this blog post, we are excited to share about VAES’ impact on their community and the story of their expansion to provide better educational access for students in their community. 

Self-Help is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent underserved communities from accessing homeownership, which serves as a powerful tool for building generational wealth. It is in honor of this mission that we are grateful to participate in the Reclaiming Chicago Communities initiative, which is breathing new life into Chicago neighborhoods impacted by disinvestment. 

This Native American Heritage Month (Nov.) and Native American Heritage Day (Nov. 29th), we are honoring the diverse languages, traditions, and stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities and taking time to ensure we are respectful of their histories and contributions. 

Native American communities often have a strong sense of values and spirituality. According to Native Hope, “The life and oral traditions of Native cultures in North America offer rich and ancient spiritual insight.... They thought of all of life—every task, every ceremony, every community gathering, every relationship with humans and non-human things—as part of a larger sacred story. The spiritual and the physical are not separate, but interwoven and constantly interacting with each other.... This has enormous significance for the way that Native Americans live in modern society, and it helps explain the tension many Natives experience as they try to live in the ancient beliefs of their peoples while also living in today’s Western-dominated culture.” 

Modern-day financial support and advice can sometimes be antithetical to Native values with some banks and institutions focused more on results than overall wellbeing. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. In this blog post, we will acknowledge existing financial barriers for Native Americans, discuss how Native Americans might be able to honor their traditional values when considering modern money management options, and provide resources for support. 

November is Transgender Awareness Month, and the 20th is Transgender Remembrance Day, which honors the memory of transgender people whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender violence. As a Community Development Financial Institution, Self-Help is in a unique position to support and empower underrepresented communities, particularly those who have had to overcome significant financial barriers. 

As we reflect on this solemn holiday, it’s important to address challenges faced by transgender people, including the complex decision and process of changing legal names and updating identification documents.  

In this blog post, we will be exploring the current landscape and process of ID and naming protocols and alternatives if you don’t want to go through a legal change.