OUR PROGRAMS
Recognizing the enormity of the challenges our society faces, Community Ventures is dedicated to making a lasting impact through our campaigns and programs. While our efforts are driven by our organization’s singular focus, we spread a wide net by investing in a variety of progressive strategies. Learn more about our initiatives and get involved yourself.
A BETTER COURSE
A Better Course improves the nutrition children receive by improving access to healthy foods through public programs such as school meals, SNAP/ CalFresh, and makes that food safer by advocating to improve transparency in our food system regarding allergens, pesticides and GMOs.
BALTIMORE COMMUNITY COMMONS
Program Directors: Jenny Kassan, April Harper, & Tyron Harper
Baltimore Community Commons, located at The Mulberry, is a community wealth building ecosystem that supports underrepresented entrepreneurs with access to capital and grows community connections using timebanking.
Program Director: Zetta Reicker
BOLD IMPACT FOR GOOD
Program Director: Vicki Pozzebon
BIG, or Bold Impact for Good, provides quality programming centered on transformational leadership, systems change, and equity, inclusion, and justice in order to create meaningful, positive change for nonprofit organizations and professionals.
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Program Director: Andrew Connor
Center for Community Ownership Community Engagement Programs provides technical and strategic assistance, education, and other support services to catalyze local investment and cultivate community-owned businesses.
EMPOWERING CHANGEMAKERS
Program Director: Kristin Joys, Ph.D.
Empowering Changemakers educates and empowers the next generation of social entrepreneurs, impact leaders, and changemakers with strategy to cultivate collective action and accelerate systems change
Program Director: Claudia Viek
The Invest in Women Entrepreneurs Initiative seeks to create wealth for women. Our mission is to significantly increase resources that support the growth of women-owned businesses by leveraging private, corporate, and government grants and capital.
MOVE MONEY FOR GOOD PROGRAM
INVEST IN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Program Director: Jenny Kassan
The Move Money for Good Program consists of three parts:
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The CoCap (Community Capital) conference held in Oakland, CA
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The Force for Good Fund/Accelerator, which is designed to nurture, grow, and launch women- and people of color-owned, high-impact, “Best for the World” B Corporations (i.e., companies that score in the top 10% of B Corps worldwide
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The Crowdfunding for All Campaign which, in partnership with community-based nonprofits and government agencies, helps underserved entrepreneurs take advantage of the federal investment crowdfunding exemption, Regulation Crowdfunding.
NEXTNOW COLLABORATORY
Program Director: Claudia Welss
NextNow Collaboratory is a collaboration lab for cultivating connective intelligence for collective action toward a world that works for all. We focus on social benefit projects emphasizing innovative information visualization and collaboration technologies to benefit the planet.
THE TECH THRIVE INITIATIVE
Program Director: Noel Shatananda
TechThrive is a program dedicated to uplifting underrepresented entrepreneurs by providing expert guidance in selecting and implementing the most fitting software solutions. Our mission is to empower these aspiring business owners with the technological tools necessary to navigate the competitive landscape. Through personalized consultations and hands-on assistance, TechThrive ensures that every entrepreneur receives tailored support to enhance their operational efficiency, productivity, and overall success.