Mission Asset Fund (MAF)

Last week, we shared how we're leveraging AI to enhance our client communications with the Google User Experience team. 🚀 Adapting to changing technology helps us serve our communities better. We enjoyed sharing insights and feedback from our work!

📢 Attention Bay Area Allies: Help Us Spread the Word! The SF Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) is hosting a free citizenship workshop on August 24. It's an excellent opportunity for immigrants to find resources and financial assistance for their naturalization applications. If you are in the Bay Area, we need your support in sharing this event with your community. Please inform those who could benefit and encourage them to register by calling 415-662-8901. For more information, visit sfcitizenship.org. 💰 Additionally, if financial assistance is needed for USCIS applications, our Immigration Loan Program can help. Learn more at mafito.info/immiloans.

In the wake of the pandemic when low-income immigrant families were left out of federal stimulus relief, MAF responded by creating the nation’s first guaranteed income program for immigrant families. Now, as families exit the program, MAF faces the question, how do you maintain client engagement beyond cash assistance? In our latest blog post, you’ll discover how the MAF team learned from and listened to clients to design a new financial product that builds on basic income support and moves them toward long-term financial stability. Read the blog post and watch the webinar recording to learn more. https://mafito.info/2objDK

UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) recently published their Latino Economic Report tracing the economic journey of the Hispanic community from the pandemic to the present day. The report details the impact COVID-19 and federal relief programs had on the Latino community and lays out an economic agenda to respond to the continued challenges Latinos face. Here are a few key findings from the report that stood out to us. 💵 An UnidosUS poll of Latinos in Arizona, California, and Texas found that 62% had less than $400 in emergency savings, and 35% had no emergency funds set aside at all. Many working-class Latinos have turned to credit cards, payday loans, pawn shops, or other high-interest, high-fee borrowing options to cover their expenses. 💳 Latino workers need access to lower-cost credit to cover unforeseen, emergency expenses or everyday necessities when their incomes fall short. 🤝 Expanding investment in Community Development Financial Institutions that provide low-cost loans, coaching, and technical assistance to small businesses can help working-class Latinos launch and grow businesses such as food trucks, lawncare and more. As an Unidos affiliate that serves low-income immigrants, MAF celebrates UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) for publishing these important findings that present solutions to the current challenges still faced by the Latino community. Read the full report here. https://mafito.info/2KoJFW

📢 Important News for Families: The Department of Homeland Security has introduced a new initiative to help keep families together. Effective August 19, certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who’ve been in the U.S. for at least 10 years can apply for parole and later for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country. This initiative also extends to noncitizen children and step-children under specific conditions. 👨👩👧👦 Help us share the news and keep an eye out for more updates! For detailed information, visit https://lnkd.in/e-z5RVyM.

We're proud to announce that we recently hosted 21 DreamSF Fellows at MAF. This paid fellowship program, run by the City & County of San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA), supports immigrants to gain leadership and professional development experience in the Bay Area's social justice community. As a long-standing partner of the program, we're committed to fostering the next generation of leaders and change-makers. 🥳

This week, MAFistas, Alex Torres, Miriam Martinez, Sabrina Pacheco and Carolina Merino attended the #UnidosUS24 conference happening in Las Vegas, NV. The UnidosUS Annual Conference is a gathering of Latino leaders, government officials, and community advocates to address key issues facing the Latino community, such as education, health, housing, and economic empowerment. As a proud UnidosUS affiliate, MAF is part of a network of hundreds of community-based organizations serving the Latino community. #UnidosUS24

This week the Federal Reserve Board hosted the Financial Inclusion Practices and Innovations conference in Washington, D.C. During a panel discussion on "Consumers, Communities, and Financial Inclusion," MAF CEO José Quiñonez shared his insights. Watch this brief video to learn more about creating products that promote financial inclusion. Watch the full webcast here. https://mafito.info/mG96P0

The past few weeks have laid bare the hardening political reality against immigrants. More alarmingly, Trump's vision of mass deportations is going largely unchallenged. Despite immigrants' significant economic contributions and their pivotal role in helping the U.S. recover from the pandemic, dangerous rhetoric continues to paint a frightful future for immigrant communities. This chilling reality underscores the urgency of MAF's work. We are collaborating closely with immigration legal experts to develop innovative ways to provide clients with information, advice, and financial support that can help them navigate the path to legalization. Read the full statement from MAF CEO José Quiñonez on our blog. https://mafito.info/R9YRNA #immigrantrights

Meet Darius Coleman, founder of Custumly Crafted, a San Francisco-based apparel company with a mission to spread positivity and self-affirmation. As a proud participant of the MAF Business Loan program, Darius has overcome significant challenges, turning his passion for design into a thriving business that gives back to the community. Join us in celebrating Darius's achievements! You can read his inspiring story at mafito.info/Darius