Partners for the Common Good

12/23/2025

We hope that you take a moment this holiday season to reflect on all we have achieved together this year — a year of incredible impact in communities across the country. We wish you peace and joy and look forward to our ongoing partnership in the New Year.

Happy holidays!

11/10/2025

For nearly 20 years, Carmen Schools of Science and Technology has prepared young people in Milwaukee for life after high school by providing a rigorous, STEAM-based curriculum and hands-on support to students in grades 6-12. Currently operating in leased facilities, the public charter school network is now developing a purpose-built high school that will enable expanded academic and extracurricular offerings, bolster Carmen’s ability to provide robust college and career readiness programming, and positively impact the surrounding community.

IFF was proud to provide financing for the development of the new school alongside Partners for the Common Good, Low Income Investment Fund, and Nonprofit Finance Fund. Learn more about the transformational project in our recent feature: https://iff.org/carmen-schools-of-science-and-technology-builds-for-the-future-with-a-55-million-home-for-steam-success/

07/29/2025

Supporting the Arts and Community in Chattanooga

Partners for the Common Good and Reinvestment Fund joined forces to provide a $3.4 million loan to the Tivoli Theater Foundation, with Partners contributing half. Partners and the Reinvestment Fund have joined forces on several projects over the years.

Project Overview:
The Tivoli Theater Foundation is spearheading a substantial redevelopment project to restore and expand the iconic Tivoli Theater. Our collaboration with the Reinvestment Fund, which is lending an aggregate $17.5 million to the foundation, supported the initial redevelopment phase.

The theater foundation plays an active role in the community and has several educational programs designed to reach students in Chattanooga and throughout Hamilton County, including summer camps, seminars, touring shows at schools, teacher training, and subsidies for area performing-arts programs that attract students. Roughly a third of the students that participate in these programs are from low-income communities, and the foundation’s goal is to reach 50%.

Mission-driven lending revitalizes communities and expands access to the arts.

Stay connected: linktr.ee/partnersforthecommongood

07/14/2025

PCG CEO Jeannine Jacokes: "These resources help small banks retain branches in remote rural areas, offer small dollar loans that keep people from going to payday lenders, and make homeownership a reality to a family that otherwise would remain renters."

Read the full article:

Calls for applications for a bank-specific program within the Community Development Financial Institution Fund have been delayed, raising the possibility that those funds are unspent before the appropriated money expires.

06/26/2025

Partners is excited to welcome our new Executive Assistant to the CEO, TeCora Washington!

With over 15 years of experience supporting high-level executives across federal agencies, TeCora brings a strong background in organizational efficiency, executive coordination, and confidential administrative support. Prior to joining PCG, she served as a federal contractor with notable roles—including her most recent position supporting the Policy Department at the Pentagon.

06/25/2025

Partners is excited to welcome our new Manager of Community Development Impact and Research, Sierra Stoney!

Drawing on her background in both research and practice, Sierra will be leading the effort to demonstrate how PCG’s lending and advocacy are transforming the communities we serve. She is excited to tell PCG’s story by managing rigorous impact measurement paired with nuanced narratives on what investment has meant to borrowers and their beneficiaries.

Most recently, Sierra worked as a research analyst with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's Regional and Community Analysis team where she had the opportunity to learn directly from community development practitioners and CDFIs. Sierra brings further research experience from the Urban Institute’s Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center and has even worked as a practitioner herself — directing a statewide affordable housing pilot program in Indiana and serving as the demographer for the City of Alexandria (Virginia).

Sierra holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Mary Washington, a M.A. in applied economics from Georgetown University, and a M.P.P. from the University of Chicago Harris School. She is currently working towards her PhD in public policy and public administration from George Washington University's Trachtenberg School, focusing on inclusive place-based community development.

03/31/2025

Advancing Economic Empowerment in Southern Africa
Partners for the Common Good is proud to announce a second $250,000 loan to Shared Interest-Investing in Southern Africa's Future, bringing our total lending to this impactful organization to $500,000. Our partnership with Shared Interest spans nearly two decades, beginning in 2006 when we extended an initial $150,000 note and continued with a loan in 2009.

About Shared Interest:
For over 30 years, Shared Interest has been a driving force in Southern Africa, empowering low-income communities of color. Through its loan guarantee program, Shared Interest has:

- Provided $34,000,000 in loan guarantees
- Unlocked $132,000,000 in local capital
- Supported 237,000+ small microenterprises.
- Created 1,940,000 permanent and temporary jobs.
- Built or improved 121,620 secure, low-cost homes.

This latest loan will help Shared Interest continue its vital work, fostering economic justice and opportunity for underserved communities.

🔗 Stay connected: linktr.ee/partnersforthecommongood

03/18/2025

Preserving Affordable Housing in Takoma Park, Maryland
Partners for the Common Good and Opportunity Finance Network, through our joint Economic Justice Partnership Fund, are proud to partner with the MHP on a $2.5 million loan to MHP TPP, LLC. This marks our seventh collaboration with MHP and the first through the EJP Fund!

Project Highlight:
The loan supported MHP, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to affordable housing in high-cost areas. The funds refinanced three apartment complexes in Takoma Park, MD—Sligo View, Merrimac Gardens, and Crossroads at Flower—preserving 75 affordable rental units.

Affordable Housing Impact:
-67 units reserved for tenants earning 30-60% of Area Median Income (AMI).
-Remaining units offered below market rate, ensuring housing affordability in a high-cost region.

This project exemplifies how collaboration between mission-driven organizations can address critical housing needs and promote economic justice.

🔗 Stay connected: linktr.ee/partnersforthecommongood

02/28/2025

Partners for the Common Good teamed up with 22Beacon, formerly known as Charter Schools Development Corporation (CSDC) to help expand opportunities for students and adults with autism in Phoenix, AZ. Through a $1.1 million participation in a $2.2 million loan, we’re supporting the purchase and renovation of a 7,400-square-foot facility for Arizona Autism, a charter school dedicated to serving this community.

The space will also be shared with Essential Piece Enterprises (EPE), which provides critical adult services like day treatment, employment support, and transition programs. Planned upgrades—including new HVAC systems, fresh paint, and improved flooring—will create a more welcoming and functional environment for all.

This collaboration reflects our commitment to inclusive communities and expanded access to education. Learn more about our work: https://bit.ly/3t5vzQr

Additionally, to learn more about what 22Beacon is working on and to stay engaged, check out their website at: https://www.22beacon.org/

02/10/2025

Partners Welcomes Laurie Schoeman!

Laurie Schoeman is a dynamic leader with deep expertise in housing policy and finance. As the chief investment and impact officer at Partners for the Common Good, Laurie drives strategic growth, leads capitalization efforts, and spearheads initiatives that align public and private capital to create scalable, high-impact solutions for housing stability.

Previously, Laurie served in senior advisory roles, where she played a key role in advancing national housing initiatives, increasing housing production, and securing significant funding for development. She also led efforts to enhance investment strategies for risk reduction and long-term resilience.

With a strong background in structuring complex deals, fostering investor relations, and integrating risk assessment into financial systems, Laurie has held leadership roles at Enterprise Community Investment and Enterprise Community Partners.

02/06/2025

At Partners for the Common Good, we know that winning takes strategy, teamwork, and a strong playbook—whether on the field or in community development. As we get ready for the Super Bowl, our team is sporting their favorite jerseys, but when it comes to strengthening local economies, we’re all playing for the same team.

No matter who takes home the trophy, we’ll keep backing the organizations and investors that help communities grow and thrive. Here’s to smart plays—on and off the field!

01/22/2025

Partners for the Common Good and Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) , through our joint EJP Fund, are collaborating with City First Enterprises on a $2.7 million loan to JAG Real Estate LLC. This financing will support the development of a new 12-unit affordable housing project in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC, with City First Enterprises taking on half of the loan.

This project funds the creation of a 3-story building with modern two- and three-bedroom apartments, all reserved for Section 8 Housing Voucher holders, ensuring that families earning
50% or less of the area’s median income (AMI) have access to quality, affordable housing.

By supporting JAG Real Estate, a family-owned company founded in 2021, we are helping to make a meaningful impact in the Washington DC community by providing much-needed
affordable housing.