Kiva St. Louis
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Zero Interest Loans For The People By The People
In partnership with Kiva, WEPOWER helps make capital more accessible to small business owners, particularly those who have been excluded by the mainstream financial system.
Entrepreneurs of color face direct discrimination and structural racism, resulting in less access to capital, compounding existing inequities and making it harder for communities of color to build generational wealth. Research has shown that Black entrepreneurs are rejected for loans at higher rates, on average approved for lower loan amounts, and charged higher average interest rates. It’s time to address these barriers.
Borrow Funds to Fuel Your Dreams
“Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.” – Tupac
Zero interest. Zero fees. Grace period. Access a loan between $1,000-$15,000. Kiva acts as a first-rung on an otherwise inaccessible financial ladder, creating an important new path to the financial mainstream.
Am I Eligible?
In order to receive a loan from Kiva, you must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:
The Process
Learn more about the process below and reach out to Edgar, our Capital Access Manager, to learn more or get started. You can email Edgar at [email protected] or sign up for a time to talk 1:1 with him using the link below.
Updates
We Have More Power Than We Recognize
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You Have a Future in This: How vision can help build a village
July 14, 2022 You Have a Future in This: How vision can help build a village By: Tim Eleby (aka Tim the Caterer) I’m a dreamer. I get a vision, see stuff happening in my mind’s eye, and then I follow it. So with Pure Catering, I pretty much knew it was gonna come,…
Keeping Kids at the Center
June 13, 2022 Keeping Kids at the Center By Adesha Armstrong This kind of work we do? It isn’t about us-it’s about the kids. If we’re not holding kids at the center, then how can we truly serve them and play a pivotal part in shaping these future leaders? I’ve been educating long…
Meet + Support The Spring 2022 Cohort of WEPOWER Biz Accelerator!
May 4, 2022 Meet + Support The Spring 2022 Cohort of WEPOWER Accelerator! WEPOWER is beyond thrilled to welcome our third ever cohort of WEPOWER Accelerator, our accelerator for Black and Latinx-owned companies. This year, we are scaling our impact by transitioning to run not one but two programs per year. Today, we want to…
A “One-Of-A-Kind” Team: An Interview with WEPOWER’s Community Wealth Building Team
March 30, 2022 A “One-Of-A-Kind” Team: An Interview with WEPOWER’s Community Wealth Building Team WEPOWER’s Community Wealth Building team came together with interviewer Whitney Bembenek to share about their backgrounds, personal visions, superpowers, and the meaning of their work. The team leads WEPOWER’s three entrepreneurship-based initiatives: WEPOWER Accelerator, an entrepreneurship support and growth program; Kiva…
13 Black and Latinx Women graduate from WEPOWER’s Chisolm’s Chair Fellowship, prepare to pursue public leadership positions
March 18, 2022 13 Black and Latinx Women graduate from WEPOWER’s Chisolm’s Chair Fellowship, prepare to pursue public leadership positions In its second year, the Fellowship is designed to support and train Black and Latinx women as they pursue public leadership in St. Louis. Graduates will go on to pursue appointed and elected positions with…
Letting Curiosity Lead
November 23, 2021 Letting Curiosity Lead By Vanessa Pimblott I have a longstanding nickname that my grandma gave me: Sinvergüenza. It’s Spanish for “bold and without shame.” She has always told me, “¡Eres tan sinvergüenza!” (You’re so shameless!)–and it’s true! I will not hesitate or flinch to ask anybody questions. How did you do that?…
A Catalyst for Change
September 20, 2021 A Catalyst for Change By Marie Franklin “I am and always will be a catalyst for change.” -Shirley Chisholm Our street was horrible. It was barely passable in a car and you had to get your front end aligned every month ’cause you had to navigate so much around big…
WEPOWER Recruits Second Cohort of Black and Latinx Women Preparing For Public Leadership
September 1, 2021 WEPOWER Recruits Second Cohort of Black and Latinx Women Preparing For Public Leadership In its second year, the Fellowship is designed to support and train Black and Latinx women to hold public leadership in St. Louis St. Louis, MO – WEPOWER, a community of Black and Latinx changemakers and entrepreneurs who…
Supporting the Soles of St. Louis
August 21, 2021 Supporting the Soles of St. Louis By Jaquan Vassel I’m a certified pedorthist–someone who specializes in footwear. I help people find the right type of footwear for their feet, specializing in the needs of people with diabetes and other foot pathologies. How did I get so focused on working with…