As a small business owner, I immediately started to seek support and resources to just survive when the pandemic hit, and all work abruptly stopped. When I learned about BECEF, the funding portion sounded promising. Little did I know how extraordinary not only the funding, but the advisory support would be during these trying times. I was skeptical when I learned that a business consultant would also be aligned to work with me in addition to receiving the funds.
Crystal, my FBE business coordinator, reached out to me during the same period that the racial justice protests were happening in response to George Floyd’s murder. This just brought to the forefront again the systemic racism that our Black and Indigenous communities have experienced daily. This was another toll on our fatigued mental and health capacity. Yet, it made me reflect on the support that was being given through BECEF and that I had a rare opportunity to give time and space to work on my business during this period. It is the first time in 18 years as a business owner that I have this type of outside business development consultant support. This is an extraordinary resource to have again. It was more than the just the loan that I had acquired.
They are is very little Latinx representation in the architecture field. Recently a local group of minority-owned design owners and professional leaders came together to spearhead and advocate for more equity in this field.
On a personal note, everything that we have experienced from the pandemic, to the racial justice protests, to our BECEF loan and advisory support, has made me reflect on my personal commitment to connect and support other Latinx and Black business owners. At the end of the day, we all need to work together to address the systemic inequities that have resulted with our businesses being the most impacted during this pandemic.
In the transition to clean energy, low- to moderate-income homeowners in Massachusetts have the odds stacked against them. And given that the Commonwealth wants to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, we need to make clean energy improvements possible for every homeowner. We can’t afford to leave anyone behind.So, how do we bridge the gap? Our Executive Director Glynn Lloyd shared some ideas in this op-ed in CommonWealth Beacon — be sure to check it out.
Read the op-ed
Join Nectar Community Investments as our Controller and help drive the financial health of an organization making real impact. In this leadership role, you’ll oversee all aspects of Nectar’s accounting operations, from day-to-day functions like accounts payable, payroll, lending transactions, and grant accounting, to monthly and year-end closings, audits, and financial analysis that informs our strategy and growth. Reporting directly to the CFO, you’ll be a contributor, helping to improve processes, problem solve and implement new finance initiatives. As part of our management team, you’ll play a key role in supporting our mission to build wealth and opportunity in historically disinvested communities.
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Join Nectar Community Investments as our Accountant and help power our mission to build community wealth. As a key member of our finance team, you’ll handle daily accounting tasks, ensure accurate financial records, and support essential reporting and compliance processes. Reporting to the Controller, you’ll play a critical role in maintaining financial health by managing cash reconciliations, tracking investments, supporting audits, and helping with grant accounting. This is a great opportunity for a detail-oriented, collaborative professional who’s eager to grow their skills while contributing to meaningful community impact.
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