The JP UP Date: Join Us Tomorrow For Black Homeownership Caravan!

Katie ArnoldThe JP UP date


Number 176                      June 24, 2022                                   St. Louis


Join Justine PETERSEN for the Black Home Ownership Caravan Tomorrow, June 25!

Tomorrow, Saturday June 25th, is going to be a jam packed day of celebration and activation!
The Black Homeownership Caravan, a parade to celebrate Black Wealth and Homeownership, kicks off at 10:00 am at the Urban League Headquarters at 1408 N. Kingshighway and weaves its way through the neighborhoods of Academy Sherman Park, Kingshighway East, Kingshighway West, Hamilton Heights, Wells-Goodfellow and ultimately to the Wellston Loop.  Caravan assembly begins at 9:00 am, so bring family and friends to join us in the parade! (or, you can be a spectator and watch the parade!) In partnership with the Federation of Block Units and Young Voices with Action, Justine PETERSEN and US Bank are leading the caravan, which centers home ownership as key to wealth and financial asset-building. The Black Homeownership Caravan will create a spotlight on the importance of Black Homeownership and generational wealth building in our St. Louis City and County neighborhoods. At the Black Wall Street Festival in the Wellston Loop, participants will engage in access to homeownership resources such as down payment assistance, mortgage financing, home improvement assistance and more. Please join and rally with us in a celebration of Black Wealth and Homeownership!

JP Staffers Shawna Collier and Tatiana Gillum Attend 2022 Credit Builders Alliance Symposium in Washington DC
Credit building and credit counseling organizations from across the nation convened this week in Washington DC for the 2022 Credit Builders Alliance Symposium.  With the last two symposiums being virtual due to Covid 19, attendees welcomed the opportunity to return to an in-person environment allowing for enhanced idea exchange and tangible networking.  JP staffers Shawna Collier and Tatiana Gillum attended the symposium, including a session dedicated to the CBA Fund. Facilitated by Lisa Price of Wells Fargo, three different small dollar loan programs were discussed by Arlo Washington of People Trust Community Loan Fund, Andy Posner of Capital Good Fund and Joseph Ceasar of Legacy Institute of Financial Education (LIFE).   LIFE is also a member of JP’s Credit Building Nation, which offers credit building products and services through a partnership with Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs) nationwide.

JP Participates in Opportunity Finance Network’s Midwest Regional Meeting in Chicago

After a two year break from in-person meetings due to Covid 19, Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) resumed regional meetings of CDFIs across the nation. JP staffer Galen Gondolfi recently attended the Midwest Regional Meeting in Chicago and joined DeMario Greene of the Chicago Community Loan Fund for a public discussion about the value – and challenges – of establishing statewide CDFI coalitions.  CDFIs that service Illinois are in the early stages of forming a statewide coalition.

Pictured is Lisa Mensah, President and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network.


SWISH! JP Sponsors JRock Chosen Few Youth Basketball Team

Justine PETERSEN is a proud sponsor of the local St. Louis youth basketball team JRock The Chosen Few.  Featuring Jerrod Gillum Jr., son of JP staffer Tatiana Gillum, as a team member, the JRock Chosen Few compete in several local and regional tournaments, including the Reebok Series, May Hoopfest, National GearUp in Indianapolis and the Matthew Dickey Winter League.

Go JRock Chosen Few – on and off the court!