NOTE: The below is a guest blog by MEDA’s Mattias Kraemer, Deputy Director of Asset Building, that appeared on the popular site, TechCrunch, on October 11, 2014. In 2014, the financial services industry is looking to technology as a vital link between financial capability and under-resourced communities. Investments in these technologies are imperative to alleviate economic…
On a nondescript stretch of Mission Street—straddling the trendier Mission, Castro and SoMa districts—is the location of the offices of Support for Families of Children with Disabilities (SFF). While this area showcases little of the historic charm for which San Francisco is renowned, inside 1663 Mission, an elevator ride away on the seventh floor, some…
Dolores Terrazas speaks with pride of her dedicated staff of 90 that has made Mission Head Start a mainstay for San Francisco’s Latino community for over 40 years, myriad young lives positively affected over that time. “I enjoy the wonder of experiences of children who have a voice,” profoundly exclaims the Mission native, whose career…
When Nathanial Owen pulled his U-Haul into San Francisco in mid-July, he knew he had left behind 2,000+ miles, humid weather . . . and a history of success. As the Market Manager at Accion Texas’ Memphis office—part of the largest microlending organization in the country—Owen had funded 56 small businesses in the first 18…
As Labor Day 2014 is upon us, MEDA wants to celebrate a true employment success story: that of Edwin Gonzales (photo left), who came to the U.S. from El Salvador just four years ago with the goal of seeking better opportunities. Edwin’s life has sure changed since the first day over a year ago when…
The stacks of paper are piled even higher than usual on Max Moy-Borgen’s desk today, his phone buried beneath pages emblazoned with years from the early George W. Bush years. It seems the MEDA Tax Services Program Manager is busy doing a client’s taxes way back to the year 2000. Moy-Borgen enlisted Tax Volunteer Granger…
When I consider how the Promise Neighborhoods Institute at PolicyLink (PNI) does its work with the 50+ communities in our network, I think about how we have developed the national infrastructure for improving the educational and development outcomes for the poorest children in America. PNI has developed a disciplined approach to thinking and moving from…
A sweet eight-year-old approached a volunteer from Target, the awaiting youngster being handed the first of 2,000 free backpacks the company had generously donated to Mission District schoolchildren. The child’s face was aglow as she rifled through the supplies in the backpack–her backpack. “Gracias. Thank you,” the grateful child sheepishly stated, cognizant that she was…
After a productive 2014 tax season–with almost 3,400 clients served at no charge and more than $5.3 million in refunds garnered–MEDA’s seemingly tireless Free Tax Preparation staff and 120 volunteers were a bit worn down. Unfortunately, so were some of the tax department computers. Action was needed to get these laptops refurbished for the reminder of…
Each month, the Mission Economic Development Agency honors one of its dedicated volunteers—the people who are an integral part of MEDA’s ability to provide free services to low- and moderate-income Bay Area residents. Thanks to all of the selfless MEDA volunteers who choose Plaza Adelante as their second home. Name: Alex Surdilla Program: Development and Marketing Why…
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