Week 1 June, 2010
This week’s highlighted local treasure is the lending and savings Opportunity Fund in San Jose and San Francisco. I recently went on a mission with a friend to buy something from an ad on Craigslist and the journey took us through a part of the east bay that some might call a “bad neighborhood”. I mention it because I noticed there were two things conspicuously missing from that neighborhood for blocks and blocks: there was no grocery store and no bank. We were looking for a bank, any bank, so we could stop and use the ATM. But there were no banks to be found. These were so obviously absent and it seemed plainly ridiculous that someone who lived in the area would apparently have to ride a bus to reach either of these types of businesses. But at least on the banking front we can thank Opportunity Fund for making a concerted effort for this financially under-served demographic of America. As a lending and savings entity “Opportunity Fund advances the economic well-being of working people by helping them earn, save, and invest in their future. We help our clients get a foothold and get ahead. We help them join the financial mainstream. We achieve this by lending a helping hand, through our award-winning approach that includes financial education, microfinance loans, matched savings accounts, and affordable housing financing.” In other words, with an innovative approach they are stepping in where our “Too Big To Fail” institutions are not. If America is rebuilding its entire financial system perhaps it’s innovations like these that truly may help us live up to the ideals we inscribe on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. WeekendWanderings.com salutes the Opportunity Fund for developing innovative financial solutions for the under-served communities of the Bay Area.
So, let’s find some fun ’round the bay…
7th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival: From their website: The Festival showcases the Bay Area region’s vibrant world music scene. In People’s Park, Zydeco Flames headlines with rising stars Khi Darag! and Sekhou Senegal. Zydeco Flames is recognized as the West Coast’s premier Zydeco band, with one of the tightest rhythm sections in the business. Khi Darag! mixes Persian, Klezmer & Psychedelic Rock in a riveting array of instrumentation with female vocals. The Kouyate Twins lead Seyhou Senegal in moving African melodies and high-impact dance grooves. The twins continue a long family line of “Griot” storytellers who carry on the oral history and arts of West Africa.
Bluegrass for the Greenbelt Benefit at Dunsmuir Historic Estate: featuring Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, Crooked Still, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, the Wronglers, Nell Robsinson & more. From their website: For 50 years, we have worked with local communities and partner groups to help secure long-term protection for more than 1.1 million acres of open space, establish urban growth boundaries around 26 cities and five counties, and endorse the creation of 60,000 homes within existing urban areas.
San Francisco’s Union Street Eco-Urban Festival: From the Chronicle: In its 33rd year, The Union Street Festival is one of San Francisco’s largest free annual events. In 2008 we added an eco-zone to the event where we reserved two blocks of the six block Festival for green exhibitors. This year the east entrance of the Festival, will again feature arts and crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials and eco-friendly exhibits. The Festival showcases 150 arts & crafts booths, 25 gourmet food two stages of live entertainment and bistro style cafes.
Pic of the Week:
A Dedicated Worker