Over the past year, our team has been on the move meeting with state legislators, building strong coalitions, and organizing lobby days. Together, we have worked to advance legislation that unlocks economic opportunity for underinvested communities.

We’re inviting mission-driven restaurant and commissary owners across LA County to partner with us and open your commercial kitchens to sidewalk food vendors ready to take the next step. We’re looking for partners who believe in an LA that works for everyone. If your business values community, equity, and collaboration, then this is your moment to act.

Through workshops and using our free Inclusive Action Business Curriculum, participants explored essential topics such as pricing food items, writing detailed descriptions, and refining their menu offerings. Our Menu Creation Workshop highlighted the importance of incorporating vegan and vegetarian options – not just to cater to diverse tastes but to expand their customer base and increase revenue potential.

Financial inclusion and innovation are hard work. In a rapidly evolving economic and legislative environment, it’s important our team at Inclusive Action also continues to innovate and to take informed risks to stay ahead of the curve. At the same time, change can create confusion for staff, and it’s important that everyone knows their jobs are safe, and – even more importantly – they feel safe to raise questions and disagree with decisions.

As a business coach, nurturing deep relationships with business owners is paramount. These connections and ongoing support enable us to accurately assess current and future business needs, proactively seek out resources, and provide timely interventions during critical moments in their business journey.By cultivating trust early on, we empower businesses to feel comfortable seeking support during challenging times without fear or shame. For instance, one of our clients urgently needed capital to settle tax obligations and acquire essential equipment. Our team rallied together to provide the necessary assistance.  This proactive approach ensures that we can intervene and support our clients before…

Just 24 hours into the emergency, our team knew we couldn’t just sit on the sidelines – it was clear that we had to act and move quickly. Within hours, we launched our Open Air Worker Emergency Fund to provide cash assistance to vulnerable workers – like street vendors, recyclers, and landscapers who work outside full-time – that were impacted by the fires. We focused on these workers, who our organization has a long history of supporting and advocating alongside, who are often informal workers, are self-employed, and rely on their daily work to sustain themselves. They are often ineligible or have barriers to accessing social safety net programs.

CDFIs should not only be writing to protect their certification, we must also join in with calls to defend free speech, protect immigrants, and preserve the social safety net. We must resist the urge to focus only on self preservation and instead broaden our view to center the threats faced by our clients, neighbors, and our country.

The Open Air Economy Collaborative joined LA Central Library to host a successful resource fair dedicated to supporting Black and Brown Women street vendors. This event offered a wealth of business resources, workshops, and networking opportunities to help these micro-entrepreneurs who often navigate the challenges of the informal economy alone. The day kicked off with a powerful screening of “Hollywood Vendor Film,” a documentary that…

This is the second post in Inclusive Action’s “Doing Capital Differently” series, offering stories, lessons, and tips to financial services and CDFI practitioners from our experience of providing capital to underserved communities. Subscribe to the series!

At IAC, we advance economic justice policy by building the power of our clients, community partners, and historically excluded communities to break open opportunities in this economy, while also building the foundation for a new economy where all communities can thrive. The work to make a more inclusive economy happens in multiple spaces – in the community, in the legislature, and importantly, at the ballot box. That’s why we created an Inclusive Action Voter Guide this year, available in both English and Spanish! Our goal is to educate the public and increase their confidence by providing voter recommendations on state propositions and local ballot measures. We hope to empower and encourage folks to vote for policies that uplift economic justice and take into account the communities we work alongside.

by Associate, Community Research and Innovation Chih-Wei Hsu and Fellow Keyara Sims Join us as we set out to better understand the state of informal recycling in Los Angeles County over the next year! This overview captures what we have learned from existing studies and organizing efforts in other parts of the country. Next up…

For Mychael Darwin and his wife Yasmeen Muqtasid, hanging out with superstars is no big deal. He proudly shows a denim jacket he designed for Prince, embroidered with the famous sign. “It’s not even work for me,” he said.Mychael and Yasmeen own Omnific Studios, a clothing design studio that specializes in leather apparel, accessories, and…

by Senior Director, Policy & Legal Strategy Doug Smith It’s a new day for L.A.’s street vendors. The City has repealed its discriminatory no-vending zones and inked a settlement that will begin to repair some of the harms that vendors have endured by canceling citations and issuing refunds. What comes next is a different kind…

The first post in Inclusive Action’s “Doing Capital Differently” series, offering stories, lessons, and tips to financial services and CDFI practitioners, from our experience of providing capital to underserved communities. Subscribe to the series!  by Director, Lending Andrea Avila, and Associate, Technical Assistance Luis MoranEdwin’s Story: Loan Readiness to Business GrowthHaving recently migrated to the…

Like so many of us, Manori Sumanasinghe was scrolling through Instagram when she came across a post about Inclusive Action for the City and the numerous loan products. Little did she know that this post would change her life. Manori, who moved to the U.S. from Sri Lanka in 2007, is an architectural designer who has…

By Josephine Gardner, Senior Associate of Technical Assistance What sparked Benjamin’s interest in the coffee industry? Boketto Cold Brews LLC, a black-owned business in Los Angeles, is fueled by passion, curiosity, family, and fatherhood. Growing up, Benjamin Westley was no stranger to the small business world. His grandparents owned a concession stand at a baseball field…

“I am the owner and can oust you anytime I want.” That’s what Juana Dominguez said her landlord told her.Juana Dominguez is the proud owner of Paloma Market, a small business in South LA that offers fruits, vegetables, baked goods, cleaning products, and gifts. Like many immigrants, Juana came to the United States from Mexico with…

Maria Rojas stood on the sidewalk, hugging her three children, Rudy, 20, Steven, 17, and Stephanie, 16, as tears streamed down her cheeks. “They are tears of joy,” she said. After a long and arduous journey, Maria’s unwavering determination finally bore fruit. She received her United States residency card, a testament to her resilience and the…

By Julie Jung, Operations and Finance Director At Inclusive Action, we’re proud to have a diverse and inclusive team. For us, this means our board and staff reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and share cultural experiences with community members to ensure our services meet their needs. For example, our team is nearly…

By Nicole Anand, Deputy Director A Seat at the Table is a Learning Journey September marked one year of service on the US Treasury Committee for Racial Equity (TACRE) in my two-year term. This seat at the table gives economic justice advocates and community lenders, like us at Inclusive Action, the opportunity to advocate for…

By Chih Wei Hsu, Research Associate Suehiro, a restaurant and community hub in Little Tokyo, was forced out of a Los Angeles neighborhood after 50 years of service. Suehiro is not alone. Super Pan, a Mexican bakery in Virgil Village, said goodbye to its customers after 20 years of baking delicious sweet bread. If you…

By Estefanía Lopez Perez, Senior Policy Associate Yumabeli, a street vendor, shares a public comment at the Kenneth Hall of Administration on January 30th, 2024. Inside the Kenneth Hall of Administration on January 30, a group of over 50 street vendors sat across the Board of Supervisors to participate in the public hearing on a…

By Chih-Wei Hsu, research associate What would it mean for a society if community members collectively owned real estate instead of individuals owning land? Empowerment. Self-Determination. Racial and economic justice. Equity.That is what community-owned land would achieve.The National Equitable Recovery Alliance, known as NERA, held the first webinar on community ownership and stewardship in a…