Blog

This year, endurance will require us to invest in what makes us effective in times of crisis. As the same communities who have been impacted by natural disasters are being threatened by masked agents, we must make a choice on how we will respond.

2025 has been a long year – and it’s brought unimaginable challenges to our region and the communities we serve. Despite these obstacles, our team at Inclusive Action has persevered and risen to meet the moment with programs, initiatives, and advocacy that center economic justice – and the needs of working people, immigrant entrepreneurs, and…

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.