April Newsletter

Los Arroyos Groundbreaking

On April 22, Self-Help Enterprises and partners held a groundbreaking of the Los Arroyos apartments, a 108-unit affordable rental community to be located at 135 E. Walnut Avenue in Farmersville.

Los Arroyos will provide permanent affordable rental housing to working people in Farmersville and is located within walking distance of shopping, schools, and recreation. It is a highly energy-efficient and transit-friendly project as well, with sustainable features including solar PV, water conservation, and a grey water recycling system. In addition, Los Arroyos will include a vanpool program in partnership with the California Vanpool Authority that will transport residents from Los Arroyos and the surrounding community to and from work. The project’s solar panel system will offset the power used in the common area, residential loads, and community center, making Los Arroyos a grid neutral zero net energy project. Read More

Empowering Black Homeownership in the SJV

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) has partnered with Tri Counties Bank to support Self-Help Enterprises in efforts to promote Black homeownership and to make our communities more vibrant, equitable, and resilient, changing lives for the better. SHE's new Assistant Director of Self-Help Housing, Alicia Bohigian, stated, “Empowering communities is an integral part of our mission as we strive to engage all aspects of homeownership and education. It’s an exciting time to enhance our commitment and opportunity to continue our efforts in Empowering Black Homeownership in the San Joaquin Valley.”

SHE Welcomes New CFO

Self-Help Enterprises is pleased to formally announce that we have selected our next Chief Financial Officer – David Ebenezer. David will take the place of Kathryn Long-Pence, who served Self-Help Enterprises for the past 11 years, keeping our organization financially honest and in alignment with our mission. Thankfully, Kathy will help support the transition until her retirement later this summer.

David is a seasoned financial professional in the nonprofit world. Much of his career has been working for our respected peer and regular partner, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) in Sacramento, where he has worked for the past 22 years. After serving as Controller starting in 2000, he became CFO of the organization in 2014. Many of SHE’s partners know RCAC from our shared mission as well as similar programs we operate, and like SHE, they are a robust organization with numerous funding sources they use to serve communities. We look forward to working with David as SHE continues to grow our work in building and sustaining healthy homes and communities.

Self-Help Enterprises is grateful to be able to smoothly transition the CFO duties - from one dedicated and talented financial professional to another.

Farewell Léon Romanazzi!

Léon Romanazzi has been a staple at Self-Help Enterprises for 15 years and we aren’t surprised that she found a new organization to spread her wealth of knowledge, dedication and kind heartedness in Kansas City, Missouri, where she will do her best to remove the barriers to home ownership of the BIPOC community. Bravo, Léon!

When asked about her favorite part of her work at SHE, Léon mentioned the people, her co-workers, and the participants. “SHE employees are special people who are here not necessarily for the money but that all of us are here for the mission. That quality drives our success as an organization…” Léon said she learned that from former CEO Peter Carey. “We are all servants looking to help those who might not otherwise be able to purchase or live in healthy, safe, affordable spaces.”

We also asked Léon what her words of advice would be to those who follow in her footsteps at SHE: “I encourage patience, empathy, and thinking outside of the box for those coming after me. We can always do something to assist, even if it is not something for which the participant initially hoped. I often find that if we can provide humor, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to listen to when they are at their wit's end, the participant will go away feeling encouraged.”

Léon, you will be missed, but we know it is all for the greater good of this world. Thank you for your patience and guidance as our programs expanded to meet the needs of our participants.

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

View All Career Opporunities

ABOUT US | CONTACT | DONATE | VOLUNTEER | CAREERS