Women’s History Month: Esmeralda Espinoza

Rachel Jimenez
March 17, 2022
Blog
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Women’s History Month: Esmeralda Espinoza

RDF celebrates Women’s History Month in March, a time to honor the female trailblazers whose strength and leadership created opportunities for the generations to come. As we recognize the past, we cheer on the female leaders of today who show resilience through adversity. This includes Esmeralda Espinoza, owner of Esmeralda Joyeria, an RDF Hope Fund grantee.

Last October, Wells Fargo shared Esmeralda’s story of hope and determination to keep her business alive.

As a single mom, Esmeralda ran with her passion and started her own jewelry business. Unfortunately, in late 2018 her storefront burned down. After losing everything, Esmeralda was still determined and slowly tried to rebuild, but then the pandemic began.

Thankfully, RDF received a grant from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Fund and was able to create a Hope Fund to provide critical support to small businesses, like Esmeralda’s.

“Esmeralda knows that she’s not alone, that she’s got her community partners and RDF and Wells Fargo are here for her now and in the long run,” Melissa McDonald, RDF’s Chief Operating Officer says.

Now, Esmeralda Joyeria has re-opened in a new location and participates in pop-up markets, like the South Central Mercado. She passes along her strength and courage by taking time out of busy schedule to help other small business owners in their own journey.

We thank Wells Fargo, for sharing Esmeralda’s story nationwide. It even appeared on Apple News. We hope it inspires other small business owners and future generations.

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Rachel Jimenez
Rachel Jimenez serves as Raza Development Fund's Communications Department Manager. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communications at Arizona State University. Rachel has extensive experience supporting content marketing efforts for national and state non-profits, as well as small businesses.
Phone 602-417-1400
Raza Development Fund (RDF) is the largest national, Latino-focused nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Driven by a mission to close wealth and opportunity gaps in Latino and other under-resourced communities across the United States, RDF provides responsible and attainable financial solutions to community-based organizations focused on health, education, affordable housing, climate resilience, homeownership, and entrepreneurship. RDF was founded in 1999 as a support organization to UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy nonprofit, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza. As a testament to its exceptional financial strength and impact, RDF stands out as one of the few CDFIs with a prestigious AA- S&P rating. Since its inception, RDF has invested more than $1.3 billion across 38 states, leveraging over $6 billion in additional capital.
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Submit a complaint of discrimination, by mail to U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity , 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20220, (202) 622-1160 (phone), (202) 622-0367 (fax), or email crcomplaints@treasury.gov (email).

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