LCF in Washington D.C.! Advocating for Latino Entrepreneurs and Economic Justice
This National Small Business Week, the Latino Community Foundation took the leadership and brilliance of our communities to Washington, D.C. Our Latino Capital Accelerator cohort and team traveled to the nation’s capital to advocate for a simple truth: The future of Latinos is the future of the United States.
LCF met with members of Congress, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Senator Alex Padilla, to push for long-term funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund—a vital Treasury Department program that provides capital to communities often overlooked by traditional banks.
Our Latino Capital Accelerator cohort shared stories about the considerable impact the CDFI Fund makes in their communities and the importance of CDFIs in not only fueling community-based growth and opportunity but also protecting communities from predatory lending.
LCF also shared with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus two game-changing reports we released this week: The California Procurement Playbook, conducted in partnership with Drexel University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab, and Investing in California’s Future: An Analysis of Latino-led CDFIs in California, conducted in partnership with NALCAB. Together, these reports make the case for greater support for Latino business owners, community-based lenders, and fair opportunities to win government contracts—particularly in sectors where Latino-owned businesses are often excluded.
This work is bigger than any one program or policy win. It’s about building an economy in which Latino families, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits have the power and resources to build generational wealth, lead community-driven development, and shape the future of our multiracial democracy. In partnership with our nonprofit leaders, we are united and compelling advocates, driving the change our communities need.
LCF is committed to ensuring our nonprofit leaders and their critical work are fully funded and at the heart of our nation’s economic future. Be a part of our efforts to create a more equitable and economically just future that benefits our entire nation by contributing to our Latino Economic Opportunity Fund and helping sustain capacity-building programs like our Latino Capital Accelerator.
As your community foundation, we continue to stand alongside our partners—unshakable in our determination to defend and uplift public policies, programs, community leadership, and innovation that directly benefit Latino communities.
By: Julián Castro, CEO
