Our Mission
To advance the success and ensure inclusion of Tulsa’s Latino community through building prosperity, community ownership and civic power.
Our History
When the rest of the world shut down, we found our purpose.
90% of Latino businesses could not access federal pandemic assistance. We decided it was time for change.
2021
During COVID-19, Growing Together led the change to raise 450K and create the Mi Gente Loan Fund to support 76 small business owners.
2022
Growing Together worked with a collective of Latino business leaders to raise the start-up support to launch Avanzando Juntos.
2023
Over the next year, our goal is to expand the Mi Gente Loan Fund to $2-3 million to provide loan capital and related support to Latino entrepreneurs.
Our Team
Our team is dedicated to promoting community development by providing economic growth opportunities to Latino businesses in Tulsa.
We focus on areas where the barriers of language, culture and conventional lending have impeded the growth of small businesses. By providing access to capital, business education and ongoing mentoring support, we can increase the stability and vibrancy of the Latino community.
Onelia Macchia-Anzola
Executive Director
Mharyale State
Portfolio Manager
Our Board
Francisco Ibarra
Avanzando Juntos Board Chair
Supermercados Morelos
Katia Anaya
Pancho Anaya Bakery
Luisa Krug
Tulsa Global District
Our Clients
Our Success Stories
We are proud to have worked with clients in a wide range of industries, from food service to roof repair. Here’s what they have to say.
“Shortly after I opened my business, the pandemic hit. We were struggling, but the loan support kept our dream and business alive. Now, our business is thriving, and we’ve even been able to expand!”
Emmanuel Lujano
The Red Tacos
“We are very grateful for the support from Avanzando Juntos. They believed in us when no one else could trust our financial trajectory. Thanks to the loan, we were able to grow our catering business, which is a success today. Thank you for the support and for understanding and defending our purpose.”
Arepa Bar
“Due to COVID-19, my client appointments were reduced to one per month. I began to fall behind in my monthly payments. This is when I heard about Mi Gente Loan Fund and decided to apply. The payments were accessible, and I was able to pay off the loan ahead of schedule. I want other people to have the same opportunity that I had to be able to fulfill their dreams.”
Conscious Parenting Program Manager
CDFI Status
Focused on Latino excellence and economic mobility.
Avanzando Juntos is soon-to-be Tulsa’s second Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and the only CDFI whose sole focus will be to advance Latino excellence and economic mobility in our region.