History
The first meeting of the Circle, held at the home of Buck and Cintra Rogers, June 2015
When Judy Wicks founded the White Dog Cafe in 1983, she turned to friends and family for loans to get the business started. After retiring from business many years later, she looked for ways to help other Philadelphians start businesses and realized that many entrepreneurs do not have access to friends and family stage capital, which typically comes before businesses are bank loan ready. Judy saw the opportunity to match the potential of these entrepreneurs with the potential of her retiring baby boom generation to provide time, capital and advice.
During her time working with farmers supplying the White Dog Cafe, Judy developed a strong understanding of regional economies and the importance of producing basic needs such as food, clothing, and energy locally in order to build community wealth and resilience. She started several organizations to support this vision including Fair Food Philly, the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, and most recently All Together Now Pennsylvania.
Katie Houstoun and Judy Wicks, founding co-chairs
In her work to build regional economies, Judy recognized the importance of finding ways to help low income entrepreneurs especially those from economically marginalized groups such as communities of color and women. Judy believes that by investing in our local entrepreneurs who are producing our basic needs and inspiring Philadelphian’s to buy from our local businesses, we can co-create a just and sustainable local economy in our region.
When Judy announced her idea for the Circle of Aunts and Uncles at a gathering of women at her home in June, 2014, Kate Houstoun and Zoe Selzer McKinley offered to help, and the three formed the founding steering committee to work on documents and procedures. Jane Pepper signed up - hooray, our first aunt - and helped review plans for the new organization.
Della Clark, president of the The Enterprise Center, a 30 year old CDFI, offered to house the fund at TEC, which is key to the success of the Circle. TEC provides all services to run the loan fund including receiving contributions, preparing closing documents, collecting repayments of loans and interest, and providing a loan fund manager to assist us.
Hanifah Samad receiving the first loan.
Pete Merzbacher of Philly Bread with his support team of aunts and uncles:; Ted Reed, Dianne Reed, Ted Lebow, Pete, Zoe Seltzer McKinley, Judy Wicks
Judy asked a number of other friends to join the circle and the first gathering was held in June, 2015, at the home of Buck and Cintra Rogers and was attended by 35 aunts and uncles.
Pete Merzbacher of Philly Bread agreed to be a “guinea pig” as our first entrepreneur to present to the group and test how our new process would work. Pete was the first to receive mentoring from the Circle and he called himself our first “nephew.” The term stuck and we often call our borrowers our nieces and nephews, We all gather once a year at our Family Reunion to mark our anniversary in June.
The Circle's first loan was made in November, 2015, to Hanifah Samad for her clothing business, Fason De Viv (Haitian for “lifestyle”).