What's Happening

By Joshua Geary
Communications Manager, Center for Economic Opportunity

March 17, 2025, San Diego, California – For many refugees, establishing financial stability in the United States is a daunting challenge. Without a credit history, they are often deemed ineligible for loans by traditional lenders, limiting their ability to secure housing or transportation or to start a small business. Recognizing this critical need, the Adrian Dominican Sisters Portfolio Advisory Board (PAB) approved a loan request in September 2023 to support the Fresh Start Fund, an initiative of International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO).

CEO is a unique loan fund, offering small-dollar consumer, business, and credit-building loans primarily to refugees and immigrants who have resettled in the United States. CEO has expanded its work to support other low-income populations, including public housing residents and people who were formerly incarcerated.

Since 2015, CEO has provided more than 10,000 loans totaling $37.5 million, primarily benefiting refugees and immigrants with limited credit history. The repayment rate of CEO’s borrowers is above 95 percent, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness. CEO is certified by the U.S. Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Loan Fund and a Small Business Association (SBA) Microloan Intermediary.

Through the Fresh Start Fund, CEO offers loans with discounted rates to newly resettled refugees in the United States. Access to credit accelerates refugees’ economic integration, yet traditional financial institutions often label these borrowers as “subprime” due to their lack of credit history. As a result, many face extremely high interest rates or are denied financing altogether. CEO takes a different approach, assessing each applicant’s full financial picture rather than relying solely on credit scores.   

These loans are made in tandem with credit education and other asset-building services delivered by CEO’s national network of community-based partners. These organizations bring deep community ties and cultural competence, ensuring that loan recipients receive not only financial support but also guidance tailored to their unique circumstances. This “Lending as a Service” model effectively extends capital to where it is needed most.

CEO views itself as an entry point for individuals seeking fair credit and an alternative to subprime and predatory lenders and high-interest financial services. One example of CEO’s impact is visible through its auto lending. Reliable transportation significantly expands employment opportunities, allowing individuals access to jobs with higher wages and more flexible hours. CEO’s auto loan product offers an affordable pathway to car ownership without the burden of excessive interest rates – some of which can reach as high as 28 percent. 

This is made possible through CEO’s underwriting policies, which do not rely solely on credit score, but account for the whole person and their ability to repay. CEO can offer flexibility in repayment, which allows borrowers to work with CEO and protect their credit if they cannot make a payment in a given month.

With the Adrian Dominican Sisters investment, CEO is able to offer affordable loans to people who would otherwise be excluded from traditional financing. This initiative aligns with the Sisters’ long-standing commitment to economic justice and empowering marginalized communities.

Check out this YouTube video, featuring staff, partners, and borrowers from CEO explaining the impact of CEO’s zero percent credit building loans.

Feature photo at top: Victoria, owner of Victoria Barrier Solutions, a residential and commercial fence and railing business, receives loans from the Center for Economic Opportunity.

March 14, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The Adrian Dominican Congregation launched two podcasts to tell the stories of individual Sisters and to assist young women who might be deciding, or discerning, whether they are called to religious life. 

The two shows, each with new episodes published weekly, are now available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and the host site, Lisbyn.  

A Sister’s Story, which is available in video format on YouTube, features interviews with individual Sisters who reminisce on what drew them to the Congregation and on some of their experiences in ministry. In A Sister Reflects, members of the Congregation’s Vocations Team share discernment strategies and reflections. 

Sisters Tarianne DeYonker, OP, and Katherine Frazier, OP, members of the Congregation’s Vocations Team, are excited about the ways that the new podcast can help them in their outreach to single Catholic women who might be considering religious life.

“One thing that’s important for me is that we continue to tailor our message for where people are,” Sister Katherine said. “How can we reach out to people in places where they’re already hanging out? When they go searching, we’re in a place where they’re already looking.”

Sister Tarianne believes that A Sister Reflects – both as a written blog and now as a podcast – can benefit people making any major decision, in addition to those who are discerning religious life. “It’ll be nice for young people or anybody to have a short reminder of what it means to think seriously about something and to have some ideas of how to go about discernment,” she said. Sister Tarianne sees podcasts as “a jolt of inspiration” because they can be listened to during a drive to or from school or work or amid other daily activities. “They’re the perfect length for many people.” 

Podcasting as a form of communication continues to grow as people use the medium to  listen to during commutes, and at other times they might not be able to read or watch 
a video, such as exercising or completing chores. 

Research shows that more than half of the U.S. population over the age of 12 have listened to a podcast and 47% are monthly podcast listeners, said Angie Kessler, Director of Communications. Other deciding factors for launching the shows included the fact that podcast listeners spend more time than ever on the platform and it is effective in reaching all generations.

Bringing the idea of podcasting to reality was a team effort. Julia Gurney and Jakob Smith, of the Office of Communications, were instrumental along with Angie in researching the development, technology, and best practices of podcasts.

“We found that we could reach our intended audience more easily through podcasting,” said Julia, Social Media Specialist for the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “It seems like a good way to get our message out there in a new way.” Julia also appreciates the feedback she can receive from a podcast audience, helping her decide what interests the audience.