Vision
·
Leadership
·
Persistence
|
|
Dear Friend:
The new year is underway and we're busier than ever on multiple fronts, including the launch of our $50 million Housing Affordability Fund (in partnership with LEAD San Diego) along with other vital community-action projects.
That said, I'd like to call your urgent attention to the President's intent to end federal funding for AmeriCorps, one of LISC's most valued and effective outreach programs.
What's AmeriCorps? Think of it as a domestic version of the Peace Corps.
Both nationally and here locally, LISC provides funding and administrative support for this program, which dates back 24 years.
As currently written, the President's proposed budget would totally eliminate funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service which funds AmeriCorps. We strongly believe eliminating AmeriCorps would be a detriment to the neighborhoods, social causes and low-income people we serve.
Please consider the facts listed below. Then weigh the value of AmeriCorps to our nation's -- and our city's -- young people.
|
Ricardo Flores
Executive Director
|
|
AmeriCorps threatened by budget cuts
|
|
Facts about AmeriCorps you should know:
- Since its founding in 1995, AmeriCorps has served more than 1 million young people providing full-time paid jobs with nonprofits that serve the community.
- AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 young adults in intensive public service each year at more than 21,000 locations including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups.
- AmeriCorps members commit to working one or two years in exchange for help with living expenses, health insurance and a modest stipend of $4,,000 for each year of completion, a span of 10 months.
- Total annual federal funding for AmeriCorps is $1 billion, or .03 percent of the federal budget.
- For 2017-18, LISC San Diego has invested $333,450 in AmeriCorps, providing guidance and mentorship to promising young people from low-income backgrounds who might otherwise not have the opportunity to thrive as adults.
For these reasons and many more, we res
pectfully ask that you stand with LISC and stand up for AmeriCorps.
|
|
LISC Roundtable Series with SD Housing Federation
|
|
Join us for the second installment of the 2018 LISC Roundtable Series on Wednesday, February 21, 8:30 to 11 am.
SDHF Executive Director Stephen Russell and LISC San Diego Lending Program Officer Kwofi Reed will walk you through how affordable housing all began and how its history affects us—and our current efforts at increasing affordable housing.
Titled "The Historical Arc of Affordable Housing," the event will be held at the San Diego Foundation, Liberty Station, 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106
Registration: 8:30-9 am
Program: 9-11 am
|
|
"Opportunity Zones" Webinar, Feb. 23
A new LISC program that connects private investment to low-income communities
|
New Markets Support Corporation (NMSC), a division of LISC National, invites you to learn more about creating Opportunity Zones in our community.
To that end, NMSC will host a free webinar on Friday, February 23, at 9 am (see below for access code).
Over the past 15 years, NMSC has invested more than $963 million into real estate developments and businesses in distressed communities.
The Opportunity Zones program was established by Congress in the recently enacted Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Its goal is to spur long-term private sector investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide.
Speakers
- Kevin Boes, President/CEO, New Markets Support Corporation
- Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of Policy, LISC National
US Toll
: 1-415-655-0002
Access Code
: 643 845 320
Event Password
: Knowledge
|
|
Housing California Conference, March 7-9
|
We're proud to let you know that Kwofi Reed, LISC San Diego's Lending Program Officer, will be a featured panelist at the Housing California conference, March 7-9 in Sacramento.
The panel will cover 1) Identifying and working with local unlikely partners (public/transit agencies, corporations and philanthropy), and 2) Optimally structuring private-public funding mechanisms for housing transactions (new construction and rehabilitation).
Moderator: Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Executive Director, LISC Los Angeles
Panelists: Kwofi Reed, LISC San Diego; Kevin Zwick, Housing Trust Silicon Valley; Jenna Hornstock, LA Metro
|
|
Save the Date:
SD Regional Alliance for Fair Housing Conference
|
LISC San Diego will partner with the
San Diego Regional Alliance for Fair Housing
(SDRAFFH) and the
San Diego Housing Federation in hosting
the 3rd Annual Fair Housing Conference on Friday, April 6, in the Shiley Room at the San Diego Central Library.
|
|
LEAD team to partner on Affordable Housing Fund
|
|
We're proud to partner with LEAD San Diego to spread the word about our $50 million LISC Affordable Housing Fund and its benefits.
Now affiliated with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, LEAD San Diego provides top-level programs devoted to civic training, history and involvement to select teams of top C-level executives.
For this project, the 10-member "Action Team" will help direct and craft outreach for our LISC Affordable Housing Fund. The team is led by Sarah Burns of the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
|
|
A "Vecinos" radio interview
|
Last month, Ricardo Flores was the featured guest on "Vecinos," an interview program hosted by Maria Garcia on wsRadio.com, an internet radio site. Translated from Spanish, "vecinos" means "neighbor."
The Jan. 24 conversation revolved around Ricardo's past experiences and current role with LISC San Diego and his devotion to serving the community.
|
|
|
WeAllCount: Taking a census of San Diego's homeless
|
|
The morning of Friday, January 26, the LISC San Diego team participated in the Regional Task Force on Homelessness' annual WeAllCount census of the homeless population in the San Diego region.
Known as the Point-in-Time Count, the effort is meant to be a one-day snapshot of persons living either on the streets or in short-term shelters.
It was a very early-morning start, but we felt gratified to help with this important project.
|
|
ProMedica CEO joins LISC Board of Directors
|
Randy Oostra, CEO of Toledo-based ProMedica health system, brings 40 years of health care and management expertise to LISC’s national board.
His appointment comes at a time when LISC is intensifying its work to change health disparities across the U.S., by investing in the well-being of people and their communities.
It’s a strategy that Oostra has pioneered through ProMedica, working to boost good health outcomes and opportunity.
|
|
Message from the President/CEO
|
|
|
|
In his second podcast of 2018, Maurice explains LISC’s renewed focus on Economic Development.
His topics include:
- How LISC is catalyzing prosperity and growth by equipping individuals with the skills to meet employers’ demand for talent
- Supporting business districts
- Investing in entrepreneurs and small businesses
|
|
LISC AmeriCorps: Member Profile
|
|
Together, Ian and Amiel taught our LISC AmeriCorps cohort
about the classroom management techniques and the power of photography.
|
|
Lili Klu
Proprietor
LK Fashion Designs
"People can go to a store and buy something that’s made by a machine, but all of my designs are done by one person, me, with love."
|
|
|
When Lili Klu arrived in San Diego some 17 years ago from the West African nation of Togo, she couldn’t speak a word of English, only her native French.
Since then, she’s come a long way, as the owner of LK Fashion Design, home of her personally designed and hand-crafted, African-inspired outerwear that’s bursting with colors as vibrant as her delightful personality and lightly-inflected speech patterns.
Through the years, Lili has forged her way into the world of fashion, at the same time raising two teen-aged boys while her husband serves overseas in the Navy.
A masterful seamstress, she prides herself on her truly unique designs, each hand-crafted with high-quality, 100%-cotton material imported from Togo and other African nations. Her works have lately gained wider popularity, thanks to street fairs and fashion shows, with a blend of in-store and online sales from her loyal following.
Along with her 10-year-old shop on El Cajon Boulevard, she owns a similar apparel shop in the Togo capital of Lomé, where she spent her childhood.
Last year, she earned a $5,000 Kiva loan matched by LISC San Diego, which has helped generate revenue. No longer does she spend five nights a night as a care-giver to make ends meet.
Wherever she goes, usually adorned in one of her creations, she’s an inspiration for the virtues of hard work, determination and a winning smile.
Q: What makes your designs so distinctive?
They’re special because each one is custom-made. People can go to a store and buy something that’s made by a machine, but all my designs are done by one person, me, with love. No two dresses are ever the same.
Q: How do your fashions represent Togo?
That’s what we always wear where I come from. It’s our tradition, but here it’s become a popular fashion trend and I’m very happy about that.
Q: How has the KIVA loan helped you?
It has helped me do what I couldn’t do before. It opened many doors for me not only here but in Togo, Los Angeles and Louisiana. It takes money to make money, you know.
Q: Did you dream about having a shop when you were growing up?
This has always been my dream, but now I can see the future, and it’s bright. Very, very bright, with more to come. You know, it’s the American dream and the Togo dream combined.
Q: As an entrepreneur, what’s your most important trait?
You have to love your work and have faith in yourself. Everybody knows I don’t give up. I always go with my heart. This is who I am. This is my heart and my spirit.
_________
Lili Klu
LK Fashion Design
5285 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 218-9686
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
