Self-Help Shares

^{Jerry, in front of his business, Oaks Road Tires, in New Bern, NC.} 

August is National Black Business Month, which provides a chance for consumers and proprietors to celebrate and empower Black businesses, give them a platform to grow, and help build wealth for Black Americans. It is also a time to recognize the impact of Black businesses and the historical challenges they often face. 

In honor of Black Business Month, we are featuring a Black business owner named Jerry, whose story is an amazing example of perseverance in the face of predatory lending. According to the Center of Responsible Lending, people of color are two to three times more likely to receive an abusive loan, which is why pushing back against abusive lending practices must be part of helping Black communities thrive. 

In this blog post, we will be sharing Jerry’s story, information on predatory lending, and a short background of Black Business Month. 

July is Disability Pride Month, which celebrates people with disabilities and commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. This landmark legislation was a huge step in ensuring the inclusion of people with disabilities in society by preventing discrimination and protecting rights. While societal inclusion is important for combatting discrimination, financial inclusion is just as important for helping people to maintain their independence and freedom.

While the new federal budget will have an impact in many people’s lives, the disability community will likely be navigating additional adjustments as varying pieces of the new bill are put into place. It’s important for people with disabilities to be aware of all of the potential changes coming their way, so they can best prepare and make necessary changes to try and maintain financial stability.

In this blog post, we will be discussing the varying budget changes that might impact people with disabilities and their families as well as discussing some potential resources and options to help keep finances and support more manageable.

With the introduction of a new federal budget, federal tax incentives that support energy-saving upgrades are going away soon. If you have been considering any of the following products or projects, you may want to act quickly to take advantage of the additional savings for electric vehicles (EVs), energy-saving home improvements, and solar panels before the deadlines.  

In this blog post, we will discuss how you can apply these tax credits, what the rules and restrictions are, and relevant financing options if you want to save money and energy without breaking the bank. 

Every June, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is celebrated around the U.S. in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which were integral in igniting the modern-day LGBTQIA+ liberation movement. Since then, Pride Month has been a time for queer and trans folx to come together in celebration of their identities and be out and loud about who they are as a counterpoint to the shame that is so often prevalent in these communities. 

As Pride Month comes to a close, we believe that it’s important to embrace the goals and the purpose of Pride every month. It’s no secret that LGBTQIA+ communities experience discrimination, and this goes far beyond societal expectations and biases. This discrimination impacts the support that queer and trans folx receive from their families and communities and ultimately affects their ability to build wealth and limits economic opportunities. 

Queer and trans folx don’t stop showing up as themselves after June is over, so it’s important that we continue acknowledging the challenges and accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ communities year-round. In honor of understanding how Pride can impact people every day, we decided to ask some Self-Help staff members who are part of Self-Help's internal LGBTQIA+ Caucus a question: 

What does Pride mean to you beyond Pride Month? 

^{Staff at our Bronzeville, IL, branch celebrating Juneteenth}

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on June 19th that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. At Self-Help, we are proud to honor Juneteenth, as our mission of creating ownership and financial opportunity for all is deeply intertwined with the legacy of Juneteenth and what it means to truly be free.  

In this blog post, we will discuss the historical significance of Juneteenth, why it still matters today, how you can celebrate, and how we at Self-Help honor this day. 

April is Earth Month and the 22nd is Earth Day, and we are celebrating by sharing sustainable home improvements that can add value to your home while saving you money. 

While many people do home renovations to correct structural issues, improve the layout, or make the design more appealing, it can be even more worthwhile to think about changes that you can make to increase your home’s value while making your home more comfortable and saving you money long-term. 

Energy-efficient home upgrades are more than a trend – they're smart investments that benefit your wallet, boost your home’s value, and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. In this blog post, we will explore eight different home upgrades at different price points that each improve your home’s value and save you money. As a bonus, some will even make life easier.  

Ms. Leola Stewart came into our brand-new Atlanta branch the day we opened and was one of the first three members to join. At 80 years young, this was her first time joining a credit union and opening a savings account!  

We are glad to be able to find ways to support people like Leola, who have been impacted by predatory loans. To learn more about how Self-Help is fighting against predatory lending practices, check out the work we’re doing through our advocacy and policy arm, the Center for Responsible Lending at responsiblelending.org. 

Lower Valley Credit Union was founded in 1958 in the basement of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Lower Yakima Valley of Washington state to support underserved farm, labor, and seasonal employees. They started operations by collecting deposits out of a shoebox, and record-keeping responsibilities rotated among the founding members. 

In this video, “Go Out and Do More,” you’ll learn about the legacy of LVCU and hear from Cus Arteaga, LVCU Board Member; Suzy Fonseca, Regional President of Self-Help FCU; Erika Aranda, Regional Manager of Self-Help FCU; Brezzi Campos, Member of Self-Help FCU; and Linda & Ed Bordwell, Members of Self-Help FCU. They share about the dedication LVCU and Self-Help have shown to their community as well as the impact and importance of the credit union for its members. 

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's February, which means Self-Help is continuing to honor Black History Month by recognizing how we can financially uplift our Black communities. For this blog post, we asked the amazing experts at Self-Help: What is one thing people can do to support the financial empowerment of Black communities? 

Continue reading to learn how each of us can become more conscientious about how we provide support to underserved communities.  

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. 

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.