Number 75 July 10, 2020 St. Louis
Justine PETERSEN to Establish Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee to Advance Staff and Organizational DEI Development
Justine PETERSEN staff recently participated in two listening and healing sessions facilitated by Anthony Neal, Executive Director of the Center for Education Equity. One outgrowth of those two very constructive and dynamic sessions was a call for Justine PETERSEN to establish a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee comprised of staff members representing all levels of the organization. The committee’s charge will be to create and implement a DEI Action Plan for our organization, complete with specific goals and an accompanying timeline. JP is committed to action as it relates to DEI, both internally for staff as well externally to various publics and partners.
JP Staffer Ben Feimer Participates in Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) Symposium Panel
Ben Feimer, JP’s Credit Building Manager, recently participated in a panel session at the Credit Builders Alliance 2020 Symposium discussing the reality and implications of “credit repair” agencies. Ben was joined on the panel by representatives from Experian, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and Receivables Management Association International to explore how credit repair organizations operate and how to combat the misinformation they often provide while providing credit building services. Ben offered practical tips for working with clients, noting that you don’t have to pay anyone to dispute. Related, Ben emphasized that disputing inaccurate information can be important to building your credit, but simply disputing everything on your credit report is not only fraudulent behavior, but will not benefit your credit in the long run after your creditors verify the disputed information and it remains on your credit report. If you are interested in learning more about Justine PETERSEN’s credit building services, please reach out to Ben at bfeimer@justinepetersen.org or call 314-533-2411 x103.
SLEHCRA Needs to Hear From YOU Regarding Your Local Banking Experience During Covid 19
SLEHCRA (St. Louis Equal Housing and Community Reinvestment Alliance) is conducting its 2020 Annual Report to the Community and would like to hear directly from community members about their needs and experiences with banking and financial institutions and accessing financial assistance due to COVID-19! Help SLEHCRA complete this report by taking its 2020 Community Survey found here. The Spanish version of the survey is available here. There are also survey versions available in Vietnamese, Arabic, and Pashto. The survey links will remain live until July 17th.
Introducing the Pandemic Pet Pic: The “other” PPP
This is round one of JP’s “Pandemic Pet Pic,” a photo series of JP staffers quarantining to the max with their favorite furry friend. JP stalwart staffer Fredrica (Cookie) Bennett kicks off our series with her canine soulmate Sasha – gleefully defying suggested social distancing.
