Fewer than 2% of plumbers are women, but Anna Hall, the president of P&H Divine Plumbing in Chicago, is a barrier-breaking entrepreneur in the field. The first female plumber to work for the city’s Department of Water Management, Hall started her company to employ more people who looked like her and serve communities other contractors often avoided. Now, with an investment from LISC Fund Management’s Diverse Supplier Grant Initiative, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, Hall is realizing her vision for growing Divine Plumbing. Meet her and learn more in the video below!

This holiday season, support LISC small business borrowers and find the perfect gift for everyone on your list! All of the businesses featured here have received LISC capital to acquire their location, hire new staff, or increase inventory to help their business grow.

Not really a top ten, because we heard and told so many great stories this year—of challenges overcome and impact made—that it would be impossible to pick that few. But here is a selection of our favorites from 2022 (okay, ten) in words, pictures and social media characters. They help narrate some of what happened over the past 12 months, and we think they're too good to miss!

To mark Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, four LISCers with roots in Latin America shared their reflections on the relationship between their heritage and their commitment to community development and social justice. Hear what they have to say in the videos that follow.

By Jennifer McClain, Senior Director, LISC Chicago

Last year, LISC’s national network of 130 Financial Opportunity Center® sites served more than 25,000 people looking to launch careers, build savings and credit, or buy a home. LISC’s Jennifer McClain takes a closer look at the ingredients – one-on-one coaching, new data management tools, storytelling – and determination needed to build a program that truly empowers community members to build careers and boost financial health.

The first round of grants through the $3 million Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program will help bridge gaps in racial equity with support for mentorship, career development, and civic engagement programs for youth.