Raza Development Fund Launches J. Tommy Espinoza Fellowship, a Component of Wells Fargo Foundation Growing Diverse Housing Developers Program
PHOENIX, AZ. – Raza Development Fund (RDF) is proud to launch the J. Tommy Espinoza Fellowship, a signature component of Wells Fargo Foundation’s Growing Diverse Housing Developers program. The fellowship, named in honor of RDF’s founding President & CEO, will support the growth and development of housing developers of color while ultimately strengthening the affordable housing development ecosystem. “We not only wanted to honor Tommy’s life-long commitment and impact to community development and affordable housing in poor and Latino communities, as importantly we wanted to honor Tommy’s legacy as a selfless mentor, visionary trailblazer, and fearless torchbearer of hope,” said …
Meet Sandra Montero Villamizar
Earlier this month, RDF happily welcomed Sandra Montero Villamizar into our Familia as a summer intern. She is currently working to aid Eric Salazar, RDF’s Director of UnidosUS Affiliated Investments in the Affiliate Support Program. Sandra is in the process of attending Arizona State University to obtain her Chemical Engineer degree. Sandra is an incredible young lady who travelled to new soil with only a little aid. A native of Venezuela, Sandra sought to leave the country’s political and socio-economic crises. Her education and goal to make a difference is vital in Sandra’s life, so once she turned 17, she …
Raza Development Fund (RDF) Names Annie Donovan as its new President and CEO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ruby Marinez • rmarinez@razafund.org | Octavio Espinal • oespinal@unidosus.org Raza Development Fund (RDF) Names Annie Donovan as its new President and CEO MAY 31, 2022 PHOENIX, AZ. – Raza Development Fund’s Chairman of the Board, Danny Ortega, Jr., and Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS, announced today that Annie Donovan will become the new President and Chief Executive Officer of RDF. RDF is the largest national Latino serving Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the country and a support corporation to UnidosUS. Danny said, “Ms. Donovan is exceptionally qualified to lead RDF to greater levels …
Saved by An Unlikely Friendship
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. …
Power of Latinos Shaping the Future of North Texas
By Eugenia Vivanco, Director of Community Impact & Funding Did you know, Latinos make up 40% of the total population in the Dallas /Fortworth (DFW) area of Texas (according to the 2021 U.S. Census)? In other words, one in every four people in the area is Latino. Last week, I had the honor of representing Raza Development Fund at the Power of Latinos DFW Summit, a six power-packed days filled with the latest in-depth analysis of the Latino community and their role in shaping the future of North Texas. This event was hosted by The Concilio, a Dallas-based nonprofit that …
RDF’s Organizational Chart – A Visual Portrayal of Our Familia
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 …
What does interest rate hikes and rising inflation mean for a small business owner? Check out these tips
By Patty Juarez, Head of Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) increased rates a quarter point from .25% to .50% in March – the first time since 2018 – and is expected to raise short-term rates six more times this year. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also causing tremendous human and economic hardship worsening upward pressure on inflation in the U.S. With rates on the rise and growing costs of supplies and services, what does this mean for small business owners? Rates on the rise Interest rate hikes could fuel more costly borrowing, greater credit …
RDF Hosts a Clothing Drive For Refugees
“For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” – Matthew 25:35-36 This deep-rooted belief in serving poor families in everything we do at the Raza Development Fund. That’s why RDF is proud to host a clothing drive starting today, Wednesday, April 20 – Friday, April 29 for immigrant refugees as we strive to lend them a hand along their difficult journey. Recently, Tom …
Meet Chantal Martinez
She works behind the scenes helping to keep RDF steady in solid business management by making sure vendors get paid, among many tasks. Raza Development Fund’s staff accountant, Chantal Martinez joined the RDF Familia in January 2021 while we were fully remote. Now she enjoys the opportunity to greet her co-workers in the morning as she works at our new headquarters in South Phoenix in her now decorated workspace. Join us as we learn more about Chantal in this Q&A. Where are you from? I grew up in Juarez, Chihuahua, a small city in Mexico across the border from El Paso, …
Levelling Up with the Hispanic Leadership Institute
“Shared leadership … is less like an orchestra, where the conductor is always in charge, and more like a jazz band, where leadership is passed around … depending on what the music demands at the moment and who feels most moved by the spirit to express the music.” – P. Schlechty This quote will sit in front of me every Tuesday as my cohort peers and I are encouraged to “Lead Thoughtfully.” I was recently accepted into Valle del Sol’s Hispanic Leadership Institute, a program that promotes the individual development of Hispanics for increased participation in leadership roles. The program started …