Page 10 - SDWM Amy Haber CoverGirl

Women of Distinction

innovation and for increasing access to needs capital, you can come to our website Over the years Marisa has been
opportunities and services. You know, the as well. If you are a bank that wants to involved with several Latino groups
organization as a whole is very entre- work with us, to provide us with resources including the National Association of
preneurial. It’s a place of comfort for me and capital so that we can do more of the Hispanic Real Estate Professionals where
because I come from an environment that work that we do, there is a spot for that on she worked for nearly a decade and more
was very focused on being entrepreneur- our website too.” recently Latinas Lead California, which is
ial. So, it's nice to be able to do that and an organization that focuses on electing
to have the motivation that focuses on more Latinas. “It is a non-partisan group
doing well by doing good, instead of being that is not focused on getting more Repub-
purely profit motivated.” lican or more Democratic Latinas. We are
I asked Marisa how she arrived at solely focused on getting more Latinas
her current position. “Well, the short elected. We support Latina candidates in
answer is that someone that I've known any election race whether for Congress,
for the better part of a decade, knew of assembly, or city council. It’s inspiring to
my history and background and when the work with a group of women who are so
position became available contacted me. passionately focused on lifting one another
As a young person in college, I thought up, especially those who come from mod-
that all you had to do to be successful and est means that have shared cultural expe-
to accomplish your goals was to just work riences, but haven't had the opportunity
hard. What I learned over time is that it to amass the resources that one needs to
is certainly important and, you're more run for office.” As a former congressional
likely to get ahead and accomplish your candidate, Marisa can speak firsthand as
goals if you do that, but that's only part to the difficulty to fundraise when you are
of the equation. The company you keep is working day to day to support your family.
equally important, as well, and being really This organization offers qualified candi-
intentional about engaging with people Through both NCRC CDF and dates the opportunity to run for office.
both professionally and personally who NCRC, Marisa remains focused on Currently, Marisa spends a lot of time
are aligned with your goals and values. addressing affordable housing needs and offering mentorship and guidance for
Growing these connections to authentic the critical affordable housing inventory other women of all stripes. “I feel it is my
relationships is an authentic way for you shortage, including through current work responsibility to lift other women up, to
to be of service, to learn from others, and on the Build Back Better package. “When provide coaching and guidance or connect
grow. Building a strong network is critical people say affordable housing, a lot of them with resources whether they're
to building social capital, but is certainly times what folks hear is affordable rental entrepreneurs, people I work with, people
not something that I ever thought about housing. While this is important, it’s one that are part of my professional circle, or
or talked about as a young person. Black component of affordable housing. Many even my family members. I feel like I have
and Latino entrepreneurs, especially challenges people face stem from the been fortunate to accomplish a lot of the
women, are more likely to be impacted by wealth gap that exists, and the cornerstone things that I have wanted to accomplish
a social capital deficit that affects access to of wealth creation in this country is home- in my career so far. Because of that, I have
funding and long term business viability. ownership. When you own a home, you a platform and access to knowledge and
Creating solutions to solve for this is one can build equity which can help to pay for resources that others don't necessarily
of the things that drew me to NCRC and college, start a business and provide inter- have. I feel a tremendous responsibility to
my journey here is evidence that having generational wealth. Increasing opportu- support other women and I don’t take this
a strong professional network is a vital nities for homeownership both affordably lightly. I'm very intentional about making
component to professional success.” and responsibly for communities that are sure that those around me that want that
NCRC CDF is a great source of infor- otherwise shut out of those opportunities sort of support and guidance receive it.”
mation for small businesses and housing is one way I work toward bridging the Getting to know Marisa was such a
developers. “Entrepreneurs looking for racial wealth gap.” joy. It is clear that she loves and believes
guidance or capital can come to our web- With homelessness being at an all- in what she does. “I would say I live in a
site at communitydevelopmentfund.org. time high the work that Marisa does with space of gratitude. I work at a place with
The technical assistance that we provide to NCRC is so important. “It is a critical issue great people who care deeply and work
borrowers is free of cost. There are educa- to solve. Honestly, as a society, we should hard to develop solutions to bridge the
tional resources that will help small busi- never be okay with the fact that there racial wealth gap. All of the people that I
ness owners. If you are a small business are people that don't have a safe place work with come to our organization from
that needs a loan, there's a mechanism for to live, and that contributes to so many a good place and they're really smart,
applying for a loan on our website. If you other problems that they might face that hardworking, passionate people who want
are a housing developer that wants to work wouldn't otherwise be there if they had a to be a part of building a just economy.”
with us in terms of being a partner and safe place to live.”

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