Juan Morales started JM Custom Iron Work, a Phoenix ironwork business, to establish stability for his family. But his sight was set higher than that, he dreamed of watching his sons achieve a college education while setting their family up to build generational wealth. Now, after 10 years, his three sons are co-owners armed with master’s degrees in mechanical engineering.  Together, the four Morales family members create custom-fabricated gates, fences, staircases and more crafting beautiful unique designs with functionality.   “The stuff that most people turn away from is where we welcome those types of jobs,” said Eugenio Morales, co-owner. “We …

“It is important to work towards breaking down long-lasting barriers to ensure underserved entrepreneurs can access the capital, networks, resources, and opportunities they need to achieve their business goals and dreams.” – U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman   As a Community Development Financial Institution, we are committed to supporting the small business community, especially in core markets that lack equitable access to capital.   Thankfully, our partners at Wells Fargo agree. Wells Fargo had created an Open for Business program for this very purpose and awarded RDF $3.5 million from the grant fund.   We wanted to avoid parachuting into …

We’re hosting a paint day at our office! You’re invited to join us on Saturday, October 7th to paint a mural on our property wall from 8am – 2pm.   Early this year, Raza Development Fund received a South-Central Extension/ Downtown Hub Art grant from Valley Metro aimed to enrich the community through arts and culturally based projects while adding colorful artistry along the upcoming light rail extension area.   Now it’s time to bring this art to life!   Local artist, Maria Madrid Reed, known for her recent work for the City of Goodyear and City of Tolleson’s new Civic Center, has …

Head down to Peoria’s Park West shopping center and be ready to fall in love as you visit the Amor Collective. As you walk in, you’ll be embraced by the aromas of coffee, candles and sweet candy produced with excitement and creativity by Latina entrepreneurs. This small business incubator is the culmination of Founder’s Stephanie Vasquez’s rally cry to empower fellow Latina small business leaders. And our Raza Development Fund Familia is beyond thrilled to see it come to fruition.   Last year, Stephanie reached out to us with an innovative vision. While leading her nonprofit organization Empowering Latina Leaders …

By Don Pearson, Wells Fargo Regional Banking Executive Spring cleaning season is upon us and it’s not just about scrubbing baseboards and washing windows, but an important time for small business owners to get organized financially. From reviewing business expenses to managing cash flow and revising business plans, every business owner can benefit from a financial refresh. Below are three financial tips to help you stay on track this season. Review your business expenses As a small business owner, you’re likely responsible for filing your taxes on a quarterly basis. If you don’t already do this, consider establishing a separate …

“It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand.” – Sonia Sotomayor  The long table is always filled with food from tortillas and chicken from the Ranch Market around the corner to share, to homemade sweet empanadas, chilis from a personal garden and other buffet style lunches in our cocina just like we would at home. We embrace and connect around the table in mixtures of Spanish, English and Spanglish. This is Raza Development Fund! We call ourselves a Familia, not …

What did you want to be when you grew up? How were you first introduced to that idea?   When we were children, most of us dreamed of careers we saw in movies and books. Those dreams tend to shift as we approach young adulthood. We gather information from our families, schools, mentors and local communities to determine paths that may seem more attainable for us. Unfortunately, for low-income and underserved communities what may seem “attainable” can be very limiting. That’s why it’s critical to create opportunities to expose our youth to a variety of options for their futures.   In a …

Everyone has a story to tell. RDF’s organizational chart includes short bios about each member of the Familia that list our professional experience while touching on small tidbits of our community service history. While working on this project, I was intrigued by a comment Catherine Andrade, RDF’s Sr. Loan Portfolio Specialist, shared in her bio “took paying it forward to the next level by helping a homeless man off the streets and reconnect with his family.” It’s one statement with a great story that shows Catherine’s heart of servantship. Hear how this unlikely friendship unfolded in a Q&A with Catherine. …

Raza Development Fund’s organizational chart is a great visual portrayal of the quantity and quality of professional experience RDF has to offer. But most importantly, it proves we are a Familia of servant leaders at heart. “We truly have something very special at RDF,” says Melissa McDonald, RDF’s Chief Operating Officer. “Thank you, to our founders (Tom & Mark) for giving us a solid foundation based on our founding principles, mission, and servant-leader culture.” This culture is truly apparent in our new organizational chart. Recently, I (as part of RDF’s Communications team) had the pleasure and privilege of working on …