MCNW’s mission provides a domestic context to the parallel mission of our parent organization, Mercy Corps, which is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Our six program areas include three in economic development for low income-entrepreneurs: loans, matched savings accounts and business training (classes, seminars, counseling and mentoring). We also provide three programs to address more intransigent economic development challenges for those trapped in a cycle of intergenerational poverty. These include programs to reduce recidivism with incarcerated women and ex-offenders, to connect and train refugees in farming enterprises and, our latest program development effort and subject of this letter of inquiry, to develop long-term neighborhood-based real estate investment options for low-income renters.