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​​For many Americans, purchasing a home is not only about establishing roots in a community, but it's also a step towards building generational wealth.
However, barriers exist and, for Black Americans in particular, homeownership dreams have been historically diminished or denied and their neighborhoods and communities devalued.
Ayesha Selden grew up in the '80s in a Philadelphia neighborhood which she describes as, "The kind of neighborhood where you played outside at your own risk. It was rough, however, it was just walking distance to downtown Philly."
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/AdobeStock_282398904.jpg" alt="A young couple moving items into their home.">
When Selden was nine years old, her mother purchased a small home where she, her sister and grandmother lived until her mother married and decided to sell the home. At this same time, Ayesha was moving on to begin her studies at nearby Temple University, but she advised her mom not to sell &mdash; Selden had a feeling the house would be worth more in the future.
Selden was correct in her housing market predictions. By the time Selden was 24 and able to purchase her first home, she'd been priced out of the neighborhood she grew up in. The neighborhood, revitalized with green space, is now seen as desirable for its walkability and proximity to downtown. Selden says the house her mom once owned is worth over $600,000. Her mom had sold it in the late '90s for just under $40,000.
Selden, now a successful certified financial planner, private wealth advisor and real estate investor, tells her clients and followers on social media to "not sell grandma's house" in an effort to protect Black communities against housing instability and focus on ownership. "I knew our communities would turn," Selden reflects. "The only way we get out of the rent being too high, is through ownership."
Unfortunately, Selden's experiences are not unusual. Her advice to Black communities to maintain prior generations' assets to build wealth is wise. What's more, it could take root for more people as lasting efforts to address these inequities by changing policies and lending practices to create more equitable access to homeownership.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/AdobeStock_409659275.jpg" alt="Two young girls run through stacks of moving boxes.">
<h2>Black homeownership historically</h2>
A 2015 Social Science Research Council report commissioned by the ACLU notes that the 2008 crisis all-but wiped out the gains of homeownership amongst Black Americans that hadn't been seen since the 1960s. Compounding that, the pandemic exacerbated housing instability for Black families across the country.
However, this inequity is not just the result of economic ups and downs over the last few decades.
"Because of anti-Black legislation, many Black residents or residents of Black majority neighborhoods of the past could not pass on wealth to their children, and those children could not pass on wealth to their children," explains Dr. Andre Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Dr. Perry's research points not just to barriers to homeownership, but also to how Black homes in Black neighborhoods are often devalued by as much as 23%, or about $48,000 per home, resulting in about $156 billion in lost equity.
"It goes without saying, we also need to remove the dredge of racism that extracts wealth from those neighborhoods: like bad appraisal practices, bad real estate agent behavior and predatory lending," Dr. Perry says.
While efforts to make capital more accessible to Black citizens seeking to purchase is key, it also requires a community. Selden even suggests that new homeowners "house hack": rent out a spare bedroom to help with payments and find unique ways to use their homeownership to help put others in a position to buy a home of their own.
"Group economics will give [Black people] the ability to accomplish more together than individually. We need to make sure that we put [Black communities] in a position to win," says Selden.

Generational Wealth Starts at Home

When Meena Sankaran was a child growing up in India, her mother boiled the water &mdash; once a day for bathing and three times for drinking.
Access to clean water was not as simple as turning on a tap. Tankers pulled up to Sankaran's neighborhood to provide households with their daily supply of water, and the family had exactly one hour to fill up their buckets. This experience taught Sankaran to never take water safety for granted.
And as she pursued her career in engineering, Sankaran knew she wanted to use technology to solve one of the world's greatest challenges: access to clean and safe water. Today, she's the founder and CEO of <a href="https://ketos.co/shield" data-link-source="tiny">KETOS</a>, a San Francisco-based startup whose goal is to make water safe and sustainable now and for future generations. Founded in 2015, KETOS has automated critical water monitoring and safety testing that is used by industrial and agricultural companies as well as public works departments for cities and towns.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/ketos_body_1_958652786_0.jpg" alt="A young girl drinks a glass of water in a kitchen" />
KETOS' flagship product, the KETOS SHIELD&reg;, is an intelligence platform that integrates the hardware, software, reporting and analytics necessary to help water operators efficiently measure and monitor water to ensure that it meets EPA-quality and safety standards. This platform monitors for over 30 environmental parameters of water, such as temperature, pH and metals. Most importantly, it detects dangerous contaminants before they reach communities.
This fully automated solution streamlines slower, more costly methods that require the installation of monitoring hardware and the manual collection of water samples that then need to be sent elsewhere for testing.
KETOS demonstrates how double-bottom line companies can thrive while effectively tackling global challenges, and Sankaran, at its helm, is also forging a path forward for women in engineering and tech.
Supporting companies creating innovative solutions to help address some of society's most pressing challenges is a priority for Citi, which is why Citi invested in KETOS through the Citi Impact Fund. Through the <a href="https://blog.citigroup.com/2022/09/citi-impact-fund-expands-to-500-million-doubling-down-on-the-double-bottom-line/" data-link-source="tiny">$500 million</a> Impact Fund, Citi uses its own capital to make equity investments in "double bottom line" U.S.-based private sector companies that are applying innovative solutions to help address some of society's most pressing challenges, and actively seeks to invest in those owned or led by women and/or minority entrepreneurs.
Life and Money by Citi talked to Sankaran about KETOS' innovative technology and finding a team that's just as passionate as she is about water safety and sustainability standards.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/ketos_body_Meena-headshot.jpg" alt="Meena Sankaran, CEO, KETOS" />
Why did you choose to work with the Citi Impact Fund? 
When I interviewed investors to discuss our impact, I paid attention to their reactions. The Citi team wasn't afraid to learn. They did their due diligence with an open mind, and that tells me a lot about the kind of investment community they're building. Citi reached out with meaningful questions like, "Why do you think this is going to make a difference? How can we help?" They genuinely meant what they said. That was a gift.
Citi invested in us during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which by itself is a great testament, and it also meant that we were able to build the foundation to scale as we come out of the pandemic. Then, as we're getting into this period of market volatility, Citi stepped up again and invested in us again. They said, "We're here. How are you growing? What do you need?"
How do you know if a candidate is a good fit for the KETOS team?
I look at what they're made of. Do they have resilience? Do their experiences show grit? I focus on the attitude of the person, what they think of themselves and how they want to be perceived. But also, what do they bring to the table in terms of collaboration? I'm looking for someone who has the humility to know what they don't know, is willing to learn and wants to be part of a community. That has served us well. We currently represent 16 countries as a team, and we speak about 25 languages.
You wear many hats as a CEO, mom, non-profit executive and women's empowerment group leader. Is work-life balance possible?
Honestly, I think work-life balance is a myth. I think people need a better way to recharge. I made a list of things and said: What's depleting me? What's rejuvenating me? And how do I get more of what rejuvenates me in the day? When I spend time with my little one, that's absolutely rejuvenating. Physically exhausting? Yes, but I love it because it's nothing but true joy.
As founder and CEO of KETOS, do you feel like you've made it?
No, not yet. The way I measure myself every year is by how many roles my staff are doing for me. It's not about piling tasks on my plate. If people still come to me for a lot of decisions, I'm like, "Hmm, I'm not there, yet." Becoming sustainable would be the "I made it moment," when I know KETOS is completely sustainable and cash-flow positive.

Engineering the Future of Safe, Sustainable Water

Amy King's life mission is an ambitious one: to completely end unsheltered homelessness in America.
The spark for this cause was ignited when the company she heads, <a href="https://palletshelter.com/" data-link-source="tiny">Pallet</a>, established its first shelter village. Founded in 2016, the Seattle, WA-based company takes a fresh approach to solving unsheltered homelessness by providing easy-to-build private cabins as well as wrap-around services for residents.
The quick-build cabins and scalable villages have been successfully realized at sites around the country. Shelters can be assembled in under an hour and villages with up to 110 shelters have gone up in months. The result is a safe, temporary stop as residents get back on their feet and move towards permanent housing.
Pallet is a standout in the rapid-response construction field and King, as a CEO and entrepreneur who also happens to be a woman, is a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry. According to a 2022 report by Fixr, a home remodeling information website, women account for only 11% of the construction industry overall, but there has been significant growth of women entering the field in the last decade. The same article reports that in terms of jobs held by women in construction, sales and office roles are the most common with 37% of women in the industry at the management or professional level.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/pallet_body_1_107697822.jpg" alt="Workers constructing shelters" />
To further narrow the gender gap in construction and across industries, barriers need to be addressed for women entrepreneurship at various stages of the development cycle &mdash; especially funding. To help break down those barriers, Citi launched the <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/communities/citi-impact-fund.html" data-link-source="tiny">Citi Impact Fund</a>, a $500 million dollar initiative that invests in U.S.-based businesses that are applying innovative solutions to some of society's most pressing problems. The fund actively seeks opportunities to invest in companies that are led or owned by women and minority entrepreneurs &ndash; companies such as Pallet.
Life and Money by Citi talked to King about Pallet's groundbreaking model, the importance of support &mdash; particularly from Citi &mdash; for growth and King's vision for ending unsheltered homelessness.
What led you to the employment model of creating stability for people recovering from traumatic experiences such as substance abuse, homelessness or the criminal justice system? 
My husband, Brady, and I founded Square Peg Fabrication in early 2016. We hired five contractors &mdash; they were really good, conscientious workers, and we later learned that all five of them had very significant offense types from criminal justice involvement.
We sat down with them to better understand their experiences, and found a common thread of significant trauma, including homelessness, that led to decisions for which they took full responsibility. But they were stuck in this perpetuated cycle of justice system involvement and poverty and bumping up against barriers to employment and stability.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/pallet_body_2_1252381355.jpg" alt="Couple setting up their temporary housing" />
How do Pallet shelters differ from congregate or group shelters?
Once a person goes through intake, they'll get a Pallet shelter. The most significant difference is that most congregate shelters take people in for a night. This is a huge help but, in the morning, they're evicted with all their stuff. They hang out on the streets, protect their things and go back for a place to sleep at night.
The Pallet shelter is a housing-first model that says, "This is your space and it's yours for as long as you need it." You can store your things. You have a locking door. You have heat. You have electricity. You have beds and shelves. You can bring your pet. You can bring your partner. Most residents stay three to six months and they're engaging with service providers. They're building community, both in the community where they live and the community they plan to return to.
Also, we don't operate the shelters. We partner with local service providers who are boots-on- the-ground experts working with the population and who understand the broader service landscape in that area.
Outside support is essential for growth. How has the Citi Impact Fund helped to fuel Pallet's success?
The Citi Impact Fund has been a huge support for us. They've provided networking opportunities and helped us to understand how to navigate barriers and build strategies. They've helped us with educational opportunities and other resources as we scale and grow the company.
The more we can leverage the knowledge and expertise of our investors like Citi to help us grow in a really achievable, feasible way is helpful. Citi has always come to the table and said: "How else can we help? What resources do you need?"
The primary thing is the people at Citi. They've been so supportive, caring, helpful and available &mdash; particularly when we were raising funding. It was really stressful for me raising money, especially as a woman, and I don't know if people realize that. Citi was so positive, like: We love female founders. We love your energy. We are so passionate about your vision. And that's what you want to hear. You want investors that are behind you, that are supportive.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/pallet_body_3_Amy-King_0.jpg" alt="Photo of Pallet CEO Amy King" />
What's your favorite part about being the CEO of Pallet? 
My favorite part of being the CEO of Pallet is the opportunity to learn from amazing people and be invited to incredible tables. I share those invitations with people who don't usually get to be there. I'll bring someone from the floor, and I'll give them the microphone if they want it.
I want someone from my team to tell you their story because everyone should hear it. I love smashing my way into the rooms with other people who don't usually get to be there.
Is being founder and CEO of Pallet your "I made it!" moment?
It's a huge privilege and an honor to do this work. I have an incredible team, and I've been intentional about hiring people smarter than me. So, I can't say I've made it. I think we've made it. It's been a group effort.
When we end unsheltered homelessness in America, that'll be my "I made it!" moment. I intend to see it achieved in my lifetime. When that happens, I'll celebrate with all my heart. Until then, we've got a lot of work to do.

Pallet Is Tackling Homelessness, One Shelter at a Time

His leg function was saved by a risky emergency surgery, and he started to repair other aspects of his life, too. &ldquo;I had a lot of trials and tribulations in my life. But I think I've become a stronger person because of that,&rdquo; says Zuniga, adding that he&rsquo;s grateful to all those who helped to make his new life possible.
An epiphany came to Zuniga when he saw the &ldquo;Hope Lives Here&rdquo; sign adorning the brand-new complex completed in early 2022. &ldquo;I said a prayer right then and there and I said, &lsquo;Jesus, if you can get me an apartment right there, that would just put the icing on the cake, and I appreciate everything you've done.&rsquo;&rdquo;
On a recent tour of his apartment, Zuniga proudly showed off his sweeping view of the city as a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies cooled in his compact, well-organized kitchen. His life has taken a radical turn for the better.
<blockquote>
An epiphany came to Zuniga when he saw the &ldquo;Hope Lives Here&rdquo; sign adorning the brand-new complex completed in early 2022.
</blockquote>
Albert Zuniga, 61, grew up just three miles from where he now lives in a bright, tidy studio in downtown San Diego, CA.
But the journey that brought him to his current home at <a href="https://my.neighbor.org/take-action/hopeliveshere/" data-link-source="tiny">Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa</a> was a long, bumpy one, fraught with addiction and homelessness, which also resulted in fallouts with family and friends. He'd finally found a sober living facility and a job as a janitor at a shopping mall, but that work ended when an injury left his legs numb.
&nbsp;
<div><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/body_2_DJVProfessional.jpg" alt="Deacon Jim Vargas" /></div>
<div>Deacon Jim Vargas, President and CEO of Father Joe's Villages</div>
<h2>The power of partnership</h2>
According to May 2022 data surfaced by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, there were approximately 8,500 people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County, marking a 10% rise from 2020. This increase has made the need for Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa &mdash; the largest affordable housing tower in San Diego &mdash; even more critical. The affordable, subsidized building serves veterans, families, people with disabilities and single folks.
Citi, recognized by Affordable Housing Finance magazine's 2022 survey of affordable housing lenders as the largest <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/global/news/press-release/2023/citi-ranked-number-one-u-s-affordable-housing-lender-for-2022" data-link-source="tiny">affordable housing lender</a> for the 13th year in a row, provided <a href="https://www.citibank.com/icg/sa/citicommunitycapital/" data-link-source="tiny">$116 million in financing</a> for this project as part of its <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/communities/social-finance.html" data-link-source="tiny">Social Finance</a> commitment to expanding access to basic services for 15 million low-income households globally. This work is a key component of Citi's $1 trillion commitment to sustainable finance by 2030.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa is part of a larger solution to homelessness brought forth by <a href="https://my.neighbor.org/" data-link-source="tiny">Father Joe's Villages</a>, a nonprofit organization that also rehabs motels and older buildings into permanent housing. Deacon Jim Vargas, a former corporate executive, runs Father Joe's Villages as its president and CEO.
"When Citi came in and toured Father Joe's Villages, they listened to our vision. Vision is what it's all about. Not only for Saint Teresa of Calcutta, but just in general as it relates to affordable housing," says Vargas. He explained that creating lasting solutions to homelessness requires the funding to scale, which is why Citi's partnership has been invaluable in terms of helping to realize the work they do.
From a development financing perspective, the Saint Teresa project demonstrates just how much a successful private-public partnership can achieve. "It involves the collaboration of numerous public and private entities, all with their own requirements and guidelines," says Hao Li, vice president of Citi Community Capital, who worked on the initiative.
"And it brought together the affordable housing development expertise of Chelsea Investment Corporation with the supportive housing and services expertise of Father Joe's Villages. Coordinating with so many parties is not always easy, but we made it happen because we all are driven by the mission of providing housing for those in need," Li says.
<div><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/body-1_CitiBank-Albert-76.jpg" alt="A man stands proudly in his home" /></div>
<div>Albert Zuniga, Saint Teresa of Calcutta resident</div>
<h2>Stable housing benefits residents and the community</h2>
Vargas himself grew up in public housing in New York's South Bronx. But there are two elements that separate this 14-story LEED-certified housing tower with a gym, community rooms and outdoor courtyards with communal grills, from the housing projects of Vargas' youth: supportive services and targeted expertise.
"It's not just the four walls," says Vargas. "It's the comprehensive services that we provide within the structure there." More than a permanent shelter, they also provide wraparound services &mdash; education, childcare, addiction treatment, health care, mental health and other support &mdash; for residents.
Vargas points out that there's a range of needs to be met with any housing program&mdash; it's not just a question of affordability. "Typically, people who will reside there have some level of disability in terms of physical or behavioral-health challenges," he says. "A lot of them have been chronically homeless. They've been on the streets for a long period of time. When that happens, you develop a whole host of other issues. And so, it becomes very challenging for those individuals to move off the streets into four walls."
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/body-3_CitiBank-Albert-227.jpg" alt="A man sits at a table in front of a colorful mural" />
The 407 units provide housing for over 500 residents. Of these, 270 units are earmarked for supportive services and the rest are available to individuals and families unable to afford market-rate rentals, but who are otherwise stable. According to Rent Caf&eacute;, a typical rental in San Diego, for example, starts at about $2,900 per month for a 875 square foot apartment, well above the $1,700 national average.
Vargas makes it a point to meet with local community residents and businesses to help them understand housing plans and the positive impact they will have on the neighborhood. "There's a lot of animosity and a lot of misunderstanding," he says. "My hope is that I'm able to sway them as to how this is good all around. I wouldn't say we're always 100% successful because there are those who we won't reach in that regard. But at the end of the day, as we do that, we're helping the community to become stronger."
For the residents, who now have safe and consistent housing, Saint Teresa of Calcutta has been life changing. Now that he has his own space Zuniga has been able to concentrate on healing and staying sober. He's back in touch with his family and occasionally hosts them in the community room down the hall. He is also working towards becoming an addiction counselor.
Zuniga is now able to pass on advice &mdash; and hope &mdash; to others looking to find stable housing and change the direction of their life. "Don't give up and don't ever say you can't," he says. "Because if you say you can't, that means you won't."

A Model for Affordable Housing and Hope in San Diego

When it comes to women-owned businesses, the needle is definitely moving in the right direction, but an entrepreneurial gender gap still remains.A March 2022<a href="https://www.citivelocity.com/citigps/women-entrepreneurs/"> Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions</a> report noted that while there has been an increase in women-owned businesses in the past two decades, women still engage in entrepreneurship at a lower rate than men (11% vs. 14%). And the gaps grow wider through each stage — from intention of starting a business to establishing one — in large part, the report finds, because women still lack access to finance at the venture capital stage.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Eleanor Cooper_0.png" alt="Eleanor Cooper, Co-Founder and CEO of Pathstream" class="right_image" />Through its <a href="https://blog.citigroup.com/2022/09/citi-impact-fund-expands-to-500-million-doubling-down-on-the-double-bottom-line/">$500 million</a> Citi Impact Fund, Citi is using its own capital to make equity investments in "double bottom line" U.S.-based private sector companies that are applying innovative solutions to help address some of society's most pressing challenges. Citi's Impact Fund actively seeks opportunities to invest in businesses that are led or owned by women and people of color to help combat the gender and race gaps that exist in the VC-funded startup ecosystem.Businesses like Pathstream. Founded in 2015 by Eleanor Cooper, the San Francisco-based company is on a mission to create accessible career pathways for in-demand digital jobs. They do this by providing certificate programs and career support for data analytics, digital marketing and project management roles that will, in turn, help people achieve greater economic mobility.As a result of Citi's investment in Pathstream, Cooper says that they were better able to meet the rapid demand for growth in 2021. According to Pathstream's 2021 Impact Report they delivered +80% career advancement success rate with a salary increase of 30% on average. Pathstream also delivered on employer's DE&I goals by supporting the career advancement of learners who are 71% non-white, 62% women or non-binary and 55% non-degree holdersLife and Money by Citi sat down to talk to Cooper about Pathstream's successful programs, the importance of celebrating success and seeking out role models.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/body_1_GettyImages-651423139.jpg" alt="Adult students paying attention in class" class="right_image" />How has the Citi Impact Fund fueled Pathstream's success?They provided capital, but they go above and beyond that. Our contact there is always following up with something helpful — making an introduction, sharing resources or an idea from a different industry. The Citi team makes sure that they're part of our journey and not merely watching from the sidelines.How does your team celebrate professional wins?We have a very woman-driven leadership team and woman-driven culture. It's high communication and high collaboration in terms of being open and sharing success with one another. Every Friday, we get together as a team and the first item on our agenda is to talk about the students and the progress they've made. When we have a student success story, our social channels light up. It means so much to people — from the instructors to the operations team, to the folks in finance and our engineering team. Startups are hard, and those success stories are probably the number one fuel that keeps all of us going, even in tough times Did you have role models for your career when you were growing up?I grew up in a traditional Southern culture with an emphasis on: Who are you dating? Are you getting married soon? Thinking about having kids? How are you dressed? There were very few women I knew with careers as a main focus. I moved to New York when I was 21 and worked in finance, and it was then that I saw how many career paths and opportunities were open for women. If you're in an environment that doesn't encourage you or you don't see how you can be successful, there are other places you can go where that isn't the case. I just urge people to explore new environments that will embrace you for who you are.What do you absolutely love about being the CEO of Pathstream?The CEO job is hard. The reason why I find it fulfilling is that I do love the creativity of it. No one's going to tell you what the right answer is — you just need to figure it out. And I value creating an organization where it's not bureaucratic. We have an organization that values service-oriented leadership, where moving up the ladder means you support individuals, and your job is to help others to be successful.This will be the work of my life. Finding a solution for economic mobility is the one thing I've always been passionate about. I'm really grateful I've found a way to wake up every day and get to do that thing I care about.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Folakemi Seun Adeosun (1).jpeg" alt="Folakemi Seun Adeosun, Pathstream student" class="right_image" /><h2>Pathstream success stories</h2>Last year, the company delivered an 80-percent career advancement success rate while serving almost 7,000 students. Like these former students who changed their career trajectories.● After giving birth to her first son, Keilandra Bridges began driving a school bus to have greater flexibility to care for her son. She wanted to switch to a tech-based career path for greater financial mobility. Bridges pursued Pathstream's data analysis program and within a few weeks of completion began her career as a safety data analyst. ● Folakemi Seun Adeosun went from working for a non-governmental organization to the tech industry when she moved from Nigeria to the U.S. Seun Adeson, who had earned an MBA in her country, studied cloud-based software with Pathstream. Seun Adeson now combines her love of humanitarian causes by working for a non-profit that provides emergency assistance.

The Future of Work: Unlocking Hidden Potential

Dependable business lending — or access to capital — is essential to the growth of businesses.And yet Black businesses track behind white ones in terms of access to business loans to help launch their operation; the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy stated in a 2018 report, based on a 2014 Census survey, that just 15.2% of Black business owners relied on this source of financing.The same survey found that more than a quarter of Black businesses don't apply for business loans and, of those, nearly 60% said they did so because they thought they'd be turned down.This lack of investment by lenders in Black businesses has wide revenue implications. According to a <a href="https://ir.citi.com/%2FPRxPvgNWu319AU1ajGf%2BsKbjJjBJSaTOSdw2DF4xynPwFB8a2jV1FaA3Idy7vY59bOtN2lxVQM%3D">September 2020 Citi report</a>, providing fair and equitable lending to Black entrepreneurs over the past 20 years might have resulted in the creation of an additional $13 trillion in business revenue and potentially created 6.1 million jobs per year.Today, efforts to improve lending to Black-owned businesses are trending in the same direction as venture capital firms targeting new tech-enabled Black startups. By making lending and funding more accessible, business growth for Black businesses could create new wealth opportunities.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-1199696901.jpg" alt="A couple is congratulated at a bank" class="right_image" /><h2>The banks behind Black business</h2>When many banks failed at the height of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Jessie H. Mitchell raised funds from local Black businessmen to stand up Industrial Bank, Washington, D.C.'s only Black-owned bank at the time.According to the DC Preservation League, Industrial Bank "contributed to the growth of Washington's Black middle class by offering mortgages and business lending and by hiring African Americans when white banks refused to do so well into the mid-20th century."Black-owned banks like Industrial — which today fall under the federal designation MDI, or Minority Depository Institution — have been key in turning the tide, lending to Black people who have been locked out from capital opportunities with other institutions.Following in his grandfather and father's footsteps, Doyle Mitchell Jr. has served as president and CEO of Industrial Bank since 1984."Most of the 4,000 business clients we have are small businesses, many mom-and-pops, and then you've got others that range between $1 million and $10 million a year in revenue," explains Mitchell, who goes on to note that about 90% of Industrial Bank's customers are Black and have had a long history of leveraging bank services to finance their first house or car.As businesses were forced to shut down across the country as a measure of protection against the coronavirus, government support skipped over more vulnerable business populations early on. According to several analyses, the majority of the first wave of SBA Paycheck Protection Program dollars, earmarked to help businesses from going under, went to white-owned businesses.Mitchell says that, despite the loss of over 41% of Black-owned businesses during the pandemic, in 2020 Industrial Bank still managed to lend upwards of $25 million in business and commercial real estate loans to its business customers, and over $29 million in home mortgages between its D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Newark, NJ, branch locations.But many Black MDIs themselves have also faced a troubling financial outlook in recent years. Since 2001, their ranks have shrunk by more than half, and as of the end of 2020, only 20 remain in operation. Much like other Black businesses, barriers to capital to sustain and grow their operations puts them at risk.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-531265958.jpg" alt="A woman participates in a meeting with coworkers" class="right_image" /><h2>Equitable venture capital</h2>Other forms of financing have also been historically discriminatory — and venture capital is no exception. Less than 3% of all venture capital dollars went to Black founders in 2020, with VC firms historically favoring white and male founders. "Pattern matching," where venture capitalists have traditionally invested in the same archetypes, has persisted for decades.But these trends have been slowly shifting as access to capital becomes democratized across racial groups and geographies. And the pandemic and subsequent racial uprisings sparked institutional investors and traditional venture capital firms to direct more funding to invest in Black founders."Investors need to understand that instead of applying the same expectations that they have for the stereotypical founder who's 22 and came up with something in his dorm room, not everyone's going to fit that profile," says Rashmi Pendse, a Senior Vice President within the Citi Impact Fund.In January 2020, Citi established the <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/communities/citi-impact-fund.html">Citi Impact Fund</a>, a social impact investment initiative targeting companies focused on sustainability, workforce development, and other physical and social infrastructure solutions. A particular area of focus was increasing investments in women and minority-led companies.<a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/news/2021/210920a.htm">Later that year in September</a>, Citi made a $50 million capital commitment of its $200 million in equity capital specifically for Black founders. Since then, <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/news/2021/211109a.htm">nine of the first 24 investments</a> by the Citi Impact Fund were directed to Black founders, accounting for 40% of the Fund's portfolio and 20% of the Fund's total equity invested to date.Others at the table working to capitalize Black founders and business owners include Black-led venture firms like Lightship Capital, Backstage Capital, Black VC and Panoramic Ventures. "We have received amazing support from individuals and foundations in the Midwest, and large tech firms on the coasts," says Brian Brackeen, co-founder of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Lightship Capital.Brackeen believes that community foundations can play a critical role in economic justice to help close racial wealth gaps by making investments in Black-led firms well-positioned to help Black entrepreneurs grow and scale. Having raised over $50 million for the fund in 2020, Lightship Capital has made more than 10 investments into people-of-color-led companies thus far, including the cooking oil filtration pod company FreshFry, led by Black founders in the Midwest.Options for capital empower Black business owner success. A move toward removing barriers by banks, institutions, and investors, could spark a new era of opportunity for both businesses and communities.

Why Equitable Access to Capital is Essential for Growth

Lenience Flowers plays several roles these days: Mom, wife, tech professional and, most recently, teacher.
Like millions of American families, when the pandemic hit and schools closed, she and her partner were faced with juggling the responsibilities of managing their four-year-old twins at home. "I think the pandemic has sort of made visible all of the ways in which our government doesn't support families or parents, and how that really negatively affects women, especially moms," Flowers says.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that nearly all the job losses occurred in 2020 affected women, particularly Black and Latina women who disproportionately work in some of the hardest-hit sectors in the pandemic, often in roles that lack paid sick leave and the ability to work from home.
Studies show that Black and Latinx children are facing the greatest disruptions to learning and disadvantages since the pandemic began. The digital divide, hallmarked by inadequate internet connectivity and access to computers and other digital learning aids, made for a rough transition to remote learning as lockdown restrictions tightened.
Investment in education, both traditional and non-traditional, could play a factor for advancing opportunities for Black Americans from the start and lead to a more equitable future once they enter the workforce.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-1138450247.jpg" alt="A mother helps her son with homework" />
<h2>A heavy price to compete in the workforce</h2>
"It hasn't been easy, this last decade," says Amanda Spann, a business consultant and entrepreneurship ecosystem builder. When the 2008 recession started, work in certain industries simply dried up. "I'd done all this work to become the next executive in the music industry in the PR and marketing space, and then everyone was getting laid off."
She also took on odd jobs, moved back in with parents or roommates, and pieced together wages to survive the tumultuous climate, forgoing years of economic opportunity as the country recovered.
Spann is among the 44 million people in the U.S. who took on student loan debt to finance their education &ndash; a roughly $1.4 trillion balance. But as a Black borrower, her student loan debt burden may have a disproportionate effect on her economic outcome.
A 2020 research study conducted by Education Data found that Black Americans carry the largest student loan debt in the country &mdash; an average of $25,000 more than white college graduates. The data showed that 32% of Black undergraduate loan recipients borrow from $40,000 to up to $60,000, whereas 40% of white undergraduate students borrow less than $10,000.
While Spann does feel as though she can breathe a bit, the road was fraught with challenges, of having to rent rooms and take on additional student loan debt as she completed her graduate education.
"But without it, I couldn't open the doors I needed to," Spann says.
Obtaining loans is often the only pathway to education and access to the middle class that many Black students can get. So, in turn, Black professionals must prioritize short-term expenses, such as paying off student loans, and put off goals like purchasing a home, which may help build longer-term equity.
One potential strategy to help balance the college loan burden is to prioritize savings early on. Citi provides <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/communities/citi-start-saving.html" data-link-source="tiny">Citi Start Saving</a>&reg;, a product and technology platform that can be used by sponsors of children's savings account (CSA) programs, which are designed to place higher education within reach by putting participants on a path to a brighter future and starting smart saving habits.
Such programs are vital, as a 2013 report from the Assets and Education Initiative showed that children with a savings account are three times more likely to go to college and four times more likely to graduate. Providing financial education and some planning can help set students on pathways to higher education and, ultimately, higher incomes.
<img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/A-senior-graduate-is-hugged-by-her-husband_body image_0.png" alt="A senior graduate is hugged by her husband" />
<h2>Reinforcing the avenues to higher learning</h2>
Investment in education, both traditional paths such as college and non-traditional vocational and certificate programs, could play a factor in advancing opportunities for Black Americans.
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have long been looked to as a means to educational attainment, a ticket to the middle class and a talent pipeline.
&ldquo;Historically Black Colleges and universities are good places to invest in,&rdquo; said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). &ldquo;Strengthen those institutions so that they can recruit individuals to join the workforce, particularly as executives and future senior executive level. Those institutions disproportionately produce a large number of individuals who matriculate and are successful.&rdquo;
<blockquote>
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have long been looked to as a means to educational attainment, a ticket to the middle class and a talent pipeline.
</blockquote>
Recently, investment in HBCUs ramped up in response to the pandemic. CARES Act funding alone resulted in an additional $1.4 billion in support for Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) and minority serving institutions (MSIs), which include HBCUs.
Philanthropic and corporate donors have invested much needed capital in HBCUs, too, especially following the racial equity movement catalyzed by George Floyd&rsquo;s death in May of 2020. In June of 2020, the Citi Foundation, which works with community organizations to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities, announced a multiyear grant collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation's largest organization exclusively representing publicly supported HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).
In addition to the Citi Foundation&rsquo;s financial commitment to TMCF, Citi leaders will connect directly with students as part of a personal and professional career development program in an effort to help narrow the racial wealth gap students of color face when entering professional life. Students will have access to the career readiness training, coaching and mentoring, academic support and financial coaching needed to pursue professional next steps.
<h2>Meaningful investments in education</h2>
As multifaceted as educational inequities are, there are meaningful steps institutions can take to remedy the problem. The path to improved student outcomes includes expanded and enriched learning time like after-school programs, culturally relevant curriculum that connects to students' lived experiences, and establishing a policy office at the federal level dedicated to addressing structural and systemic racism, according to a 2021 report issued by the Brookings Institute.
"Far too many communities continue to face the enduring impacts of systematic racism and generational poverty," the report reads. "Taken all together, this situation presents a series of linked challenges, as well as what may be a once-in-a-century opportunity to reimagine school in ways that nurture the gifts and talents of every child and family."
The <a href="https://www.citivelocity.com/citigps/closing-the-racial-inequality-gaps/" data-link-source="tiny">Citi GPS Report</a> on the racial wealth gap outlines other routes of access to education and social networking opportunities for career success including participation in programs like Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), Jack and Jill of America Incorporated and offerings through the United Negro College Fund.
Working toward better and adequate funding of early education and training programs will help to onboard Black communities into technical and skills-based careers. As outlined in the Citi GPS Report, these investments can lead to greater distribution of higher-paying jobs among Black Americans, which will in turn, help to narrow wage gaps between white and Black workers.

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap: Education

The journey to get here was never assured.
Erica Plybeah, the founder of a technology startup called MedHaul, veered from her career path and staked her retirement savings in order to launch her company.
Based in Plybeah's hometown of Memphis, TN, MedHaul's mission is to make it easy for people with special needs to get to the doctor. MedHaul has built a technology platform to help healthcare providers find and book rides for vulnerable patients and those with special needs so they can reach their medical appointments and receive care.
It solves for a challenge that is bigger, and more detrimental, than many realize. Millions of people miss medical appointments due to transportation issues, and healthcare providers lose millions of dollars due to no-show patients. In fact, transportation is a leading social determinant of health (SDOH) &mdash; meaning a lack of access to transportation to medical care may worsen a person's health outlook.
It was Plybeah's struggle to help her mom get her grandmother, a diabetic, to and from her doctor visits that led her to launch MedHaul. "It was just honestly a nightmare for our family," she says of the experience. "I thought that there had to be an easier way to find and book this transportation."
A breakthrough moment came when Plybeah crossed paths &mdash; digitally at first &mdash; with Rashmi Pendse.
"Erica and I met at a conference that was being held online due to COVID," says Pendse, a Senior Vice President with the <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/communities/citi-impact-fund.html" data-link-source="tiny">Citi Impact Fund</a>, a $200 million VC fund launched in January 2020 aimed at investing in so-called double-bottom-line startups: private companies that are seeking be profitable and achieve social or environmental good.
"During that conference," Pendse continues, "I happened to look at who had checked me out on LinkedIn. Erica had viewed my profile, so I viewed her profile and saw that she was leading a startup involved in bringing folks transportation to healthcare. I messaged her." They got to talking, and Pendse learned MedHaul was seeking seed-stage funding. The Citi Impact Fund soon became an investor in MedHaul.
"I think I basically LinkedIn stalked her," Pendse laughs.
Their connection came as Citi was enacting broad and groundbreaking commitments to help address inequalities that have perpetuated the racial wealth gap. Citi's $1 billion <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/racial-equity/" data-link-source="tiny">Action for Racial Equity</a> initiative, launched in September 2020, cuts across a host of issues including those related to housing, banking and business. The Citi Impact Fund received a $50 million infusion to specifically support Black founders as a means to help correct the lopsided landscape of VC investment.
"From the beginning, the Citi Impact Fund had a mission of supporting minority and women entrepreneurs," Pendse notes, "but in conjunction with Citi's broader Action for Racial Equity initiative, this was seen as another way that the Impact Fund could further those goals." And funding is only part of the commitment: "When the Citi Impact Fund invests in startups, we really are trying to bring all of Citi's resources to bear and support that founder."
The COVID-19 pandemic has at once laid bare and worsened inequalities in access to healthcare. "If we're going to have a more cohesive society and country, it's really important that we address those gaps," Pendse says. "It's exciting to watch Erica be part of that change."
With Citi as a supporter, MedHaul has expanded its footprint outside Tennessee. Plybeah says MedHaul recently surpassed 8,500 rides facilitated. "To see that growth is really exciting," Pendse says. "I'm just so happy to see Erica shine."
Don't miss the video above for more on MedHaul and the Citi Impact Fund.

Breaking Down Barriers in Healthcare and Venture Capital

Diversity, and the voices and perspectives that come with it, can be a powerful force for positive change and innovation, be it in the arena of political discourse or education or professional life.The fields that are responsible for conceiving and building the physical spaces people inhabit, including architecture, real estate development and construction, can have a profound impact on how communities come together. And yet there is a troubling scarcity in the representation of Black women in these roles; it's a growing concern, because they have valuable perspectives to offer on the spaces they create where a community can thrive.Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2020 show that architecture, engineering and construction are dominated by white males, while Black people and women are extremely underrepresented: 88% of construction workers and 85% of architecture and engineering professionals are white, and only 10.9% of construction workers and 27% of architecture and engineering professionals are women; meanwhile, Black people make up only 6% of the workforces respectively in construction and in architecture and engineering. According to the National Association of Home Builders' 2019 Builder Member Census, just 9% of members are women, and less than 0.5% are Black.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Kimberley_Robles_Concrete_Design Contractor.jpg" alt="Kimberley Robles, Concrete Design Contractor" class="right_image" /><h2>The contractor crafting community spaces</h2>Through a friend's connection, Kimberley Robles got her feet wet in the skilled trades as a carpenter's apprentice in 1985, and decided to make a career out of construction work. She eventually landed on concrete work in 1992, and launched her own business in 2018. She is now the owner and project manager of Robles Concrete Design in San Francisco, CA, a firm specializing in residential and commercial projects.As the head of a small business, Robles believes that continuing education is key to sustaining a competitive advantage. "A lot of people think they can just buy equipment and start doing these floors with no knowledge of construction or concrete or business," Robles says. On the flip side, she adds, "You can be the best type of builder or construction worker, but if you don't know the business side, then it's not going to work out for you."Robles has also found that to be successful, you need to support — and, at times, look for support from — your community. Robles Concrete Design was thriving, but the onset of the pandemic — when construction projects were halted — disrupted her business. To keep the business going, she secured funding through a local non-profit CDFI serving the San Francisco area called Main Street Launch, which received <a href="https://blog.citigroup.com/2020/11/supporting-cdfis-the-original-social-entrepreneurs/">a grant</a> from the Citi Foundation intended to help small businesses owned by people of color impacted by COVID-19.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/LaShun_Clark_Business_Consultant.jpg" alt="LaShun Clark, Business Consultant" class="right_image" /><h2>The business consultant championing affordable housing</h2>As she drives through the neighborhoods of Memphis, TN, LaShun Clark sees the economic disparities of her city firsthand. The burden of rising housing costs, Clark says, amounts to a growing crisis facing many homeowners and renters. Clark notes that housing is a particularly heavy burden on single mothers, who may be struggling to meet the basic needs of day-to-day living.As a former single parent, Clark made it her priority to find a safe, affordable home. "Now I take notes in terms of what we need to do to create a place where women can become homeowners and provide legacies for their children in neighborhoods that are safe," she says.The city stands out in terms of risk factors for inequity. "Memphis for the longest [time] has been at the top percentile of poverty, bankruptcy — a myriad of things that have not been a shining light from a financial standpoint," explains Clark. (The state of Tennessee itself has had one of the highest rates of bankruptcy filings in the U.S. in recent years.)CEO of Memphis-based InDigo Strategic Management, Clark is a professional consultant and an entrepreneur in her own right. She also serves as operations chairwoman for the National Association of Black Women in Construction, which represents the unique interests of Black women in construction and construction-related fields throughout the country. The organization offers its roughly 300 members an opportunity to expand personal and business networks, maintain awareness of industry developments, improve skills and knowledge, and make a contribution to other women in the construction industry. And through her many roles, she advances her personal mission to provide innovative ideas and strategies that will help close the persistent gap in homeownership rates between white and Black people in Memphis.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Pascale_Sablan_Architect_and_Community_Advocate.jpg" alt="Pascale Sablan, Architect and Community Advocate" class="right_image" /><h2>The architect advocating for diverse perspectives</h2>While in her first semester at an architecture school in New York, in 2001, Pascale Sablan got a stark indication of how she was seen by the field she had aspired to join since age 11.Out of a group of about 70 students, the professor suddenly singled out Sablan and another student, asking them to stand up. "We stood up and he said, 'These two will never become architects because they are Black and they are women'," Sablan recalls. "I was shocked by the professor's audacity to make that claim and the silence of my peers in the room."But instead of feeling intimidated by the professor's lack of confidence based on gender and the color of her skin, a lightbulb went off in her head. Sablan says she knew from that point on architecture was the right fit for her."It was powerful for me to start my journey there, understanding that I would always be representing my gender and race when I am in a room and in a space. And that gave me the privilege of having purpose to know I needed to always show up and show out. And whenever I did, I was able to flourish," she says."I have been very honest and very persistent about pushing those values of community engagement and community focus in design justice," says Sablan, explaining that she takes on projects that are designed with input from the communities that will benefit from them.For example, when Sablan was handling community engagement opportunities for a project focused on addressing shortages of affordable housing and jobs in a rent-burdened and low-income section of the South Bronx neighborhood of New York, community surveys yielded a large number of requests for additional barbecue grills for an adjacent park. "The barbecue area in the park was not a part of our jurisdiction or project development," says Sablan. "Traditionally, requests like this would have been dismissed. But with a team who prioritized the voice of the community, the client chose to request that the city include this area in their scope and made it part of the project. They designed the barbecue area to substantially increase the number of grills, an amenity that will allow families to gather and celebrate as a community."When you walk into a community meeting and have people be vulnerable enough to tell you what they are scared about, you cannot just dismiss their answer if it doesn't align with your vision," she adds. "You need to handle it with care and to consider how to address it."<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Areletia_Gibson_Construction_Business_Owner.jpg" alt="Areletia Gibson, Construction Business Owner" class="right_image" /><h2>The builder unlocking potential in unused space</h2>Tagging along with her father on construction jobs in Memphis as a teenager left a lasting impression on Areletia Gibson, and laid the foundation for a love of design and the built environment.Starting at the age of 14, Gibson learned the basics of plumbing, carpentry and electrical work. Getting the experience and skills under her toolbelt led Gibson to start her own business, Gibson Girls & Smith Guys Construction, which services residential as well as commercial properties. "We handle everything from heating, ventilation and air conditioning to plumbing, electrical, roofing, landscaping and complete remodels," Gibson says.It's not uncommon for would-be clients to doubt her credibility as a contractor. "The only challenge I have is clients look at females like, 'okay, I don't really think she knows how to do this type of work'," Gibson explains. "But when they actually see me do the work, they are like, okay, she's got this, and they want me to come back. And I get a lot of referrals."In addition to operating her construction business, Gibson is thinking outside the box about ways to marshal her skills, creativity and connections for greater impact. She has set her sights on addressing affordable housing by preparing to learn how to transform steel shipping containers into new homes that can fit on small lots in the North and South Memphis neighborhoods through her partnership with three Black women-owned businesses.Though Black women are noticeably underrepresented in the construction industry, still they persist in seeking access to the tools needed to improve the lives of others around them. They continue to knock down barriers as they challenge the norms, and are making positive headway in closing gaps and creating equity when it comes to something critical and foundational for people: their home.To learn more about how Citi is helping close the racial wealth gap and increase economic mobility in the U.S., visit <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/racial-equity/">citi.com/racialequity</a>.

How Black Women Builders' Voices Have Championed Communities

This holiday season it might take a little more ingenuity and creativity to keep everyone connected.But, age-old rituals and family traditions don't have to be abandoned — just rewired for new times. Brand new customs can be welcomed into the fold to <a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/culture/food/catching-up-with-dinner-a-love-story">infuse the holidays with meaning</a>.With an added dose of gratitude, humor, hope, whimsy and maybe a splash more eggnog, even the smallest groups can execute big ideas and get into a celebratory mood.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Brightly lit snow-covered tree outside at night during the holidays.jpg" alt="Brightly lit snow-covered tree outside at night during the holidays" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Turn all eyes on the house</h2>Holiday decorating is trending to be even bigger and bolder this year, given how much more time everyone is spending at home. As a bonus, decorations are a fun and creative way to get into the holiday spirit and show people outside how you're feeling inside.Lighting up the exterior of your house, dressing windows or tricking out the yard brings joy to both the people making the magic happen and the people that are happening by. No need to buy single-use disposable plastic decorations when you can get crafty with pine cones, leaves and various decorative gourds (they last a long time!).Indoors, the money that families would have spent on vacations and experiences are going into nesting impulses. So, why not put a bow on that request to turn the <a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/milestones/career/home-office-ideas">guest room into an office</a>?Home beautification projects not only make nice gifts but <a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/milestones/home/different-types-of-home-loans-and-improvements">improvements are investments</a> that last. Take stock of the things your housemates have been procrastinating on — getting artwork framed, hanging up a new light fixture, replanting the flower boxes for the season — and then take on the job to completion.Your work may be hard-earned, but it will definitely be highly appreciated and meaningful.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Little girl sitting in father’s lap at holiday dinner table.jpg" alt="Little girl sitting in father's lap at holiday dinner table" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Don't just set the table. Make it a tablescape.</h2>Did you have to cancel that spring trip to Morocco? Scuttle your big summer reunion in Italy? Postpone the usual vacation with grandma at the lake cottage?Get inspired by the places you've been (<a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/home">or long to go</a>) and create a meal around it — in other words, make the place the guest of honor. Break out the special dishware, light new candles, and decorate the table with souvenirs, flowers or produce that remind you of that special destination.Split up the menu so that everyone in your pod can take part in cooking, preparing drinks, or assembling apps or dessert around the theme. Further get into the spirit with cool music or an old film set in the destination.And, don't just dress up the table — have everyone wear something that evokes the mood and play games or print photos to pass around during storytelling time.<h2>Make your neighborhood your extended family</h2>You've been meaning … to do something meaningful. But you just haven't found the right outlet yet. Build something from scratch in your community.Start small — set up a holiday-themed lending library on your stoop. Or coordinate a food drive to help local organizations. Send a message or distribute flyers to your neighbors, then arrange to pick up (you can have people put goods directly in the trunk of your car) and drop off their donations.Feeling ambitious and in-tune? Gather your pod and fill up the thermos with eggnog for a caroling stroll through the neighborhood. Keep up the pace and knock on friends' doors so that they can join your parade, too.If you live in an apartment building or are connected to your local school, organize a massive cookie exchange — or, better yet, open the exchange up to whatever homemade goods your friends and neighbors have perfected while spending time at home (hello, sourdough).Up the ante on the usual office gift swap by leaving presents in mailboxes and on doorsteps for an additional layer of surprise.Buy a big box of colored chalk and spend time with the kids writing out the words to popular holiday poems and songs all along the sidewalk. See if that won't put a little spring into your neighbors' steps.Promote random acts of kindness by paying for the pumpkin spice latte of the person in line behind you at the coffee shop or leaving a thank you note for your mail carrier near the mail slot.And, for gifts from (or for) loved ones that keep on giving, consider replacing your own wish list with <a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/home">ideas that go beyond the box</a> — such as donations to local organizations you support.<img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Family on a video calling using digital tablet at home.jpg" alt="Family on a video calling using digital tablet at home" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Celebrate with faraway family</h2>When everyone can't be together, stretch the imagination a little to come together in new ways. Start with <a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/well-being/family/how-to-stay-connected-long-distance">video calls with a purpose</a>: Instead of hosting all 32 cousins in a chaotic video chat room, come through with an actual game plan — set up a virtual round of celebrity, charades or trivia.Reach out to elderly relatives who may be missing out on the action or are generally just a little more tender these days. Have everyone in the group make a portrait and submit a story or anecdote to be read aloud.Or, in lieu of a typical gift exchange, family members near and far can send time capsules of this year in the mail or ship each other presents and unbox these gifts over video chat.Do you usually cap a holiday dinner with zany parlor games? It's still possible to get everyone in on the fun with an activity — like acting out a play or movie. Assign everyone a role and give them a few minutes to pluck some props or costume elements from around the house before settling in for the production. Perform together or remotely. Hilarity is sure to ensue.The bottom line: Stay positive and open-minded and flex those creative muscles to craft your own series of silver linings this holiday season.

Well, this is embarrassing...