Cornerstone CDC’s first economic empowerment program serving the West End/Visitation Park

In partnership with the St. Louis Community Credit Union

Update (as of 3/11/24):

The “In the Black” Fellows Selection Committee put forth recommendations and the remaining applicants were randomly selected. As promised, here is the video of the randomly selected applicants. Applicants should check their emails for their Applicant IDs. See the Key to see if your Applicant ID was selected.

Note: Jump to 05:05 in video below to see selection.

About in the Black fellows

Cornerstone CDC recognizes poverty as a form of trauma and is disrupting historical approaches associated with financial trauma by addressing it the pain in a coaching setting. The “In the Black” Fellows program is a 9-month matching savings fellowship program that invites West End/Visitation Park residents to build their savings while healing their relationship with money together in intimate community.

Why is it called “in the Black”? Where does the name come from?

Most people are more familiar with the phrase, “in the red,” which means more money is owed than is made, but “in the black” means the business or venture is profitable and successful. Because we are a pro-Black organization, there is also a play on words as we intentionally target Black folks in the West End, which is currently a predominantly Black space and we do it with the intention to heal from money trauma and create abundance for Black people...hence, In the Black.

why Should I participate?

Participants in the program are eligible to receive a 5:1 match on what they save through the nine months. You also will receive financial coaching and be offered the opportunity build healthy money management and growth practices with your fellow peers.

who is eligible?

Although anyone can apply, we are most interested* in residents who:

Live or work in the West End/Visitation Park neighborhood
Identify as Black and/or African-American
Identify as a woman
Rent
Have a lived, personal experience with poverty at one point in their life

*All are eligible, but we are giving preference to those who meet our targeted criteria. For example, owning a home or identifying as a man will not disqualify you, but you may not have preference over a woman who is a renter.