news & stories
Inspiration and Resources for Change Makers
At Access Ventures, we believe our impact will reach only as far as the stories we tell.
We view storytelling as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners, without which we cannot realize our mission.
Explore some of these stories below, and let us know what you think.
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We view storytelling as a powerful way to spark change, exchange ideas, and build empathy. We are currently producing two podcasts that serve as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners.
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We continually share learnings and best practices that advance our collective mission of human flourishing.
Held Back By The Social Support System
Organizations like Leap Fund advocate for transparency and education, enabling workers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
A Little Help Goes A Long Way
Through the programs at VOA and the support of Samaritan users in his community, Trenton is able to connect to resources and training to help him explore his options and reach his career goals.
Housing is a Fundamental Right
Our goal for this workshop was to generate and collect meaningful ideas to address challenges within regional homelessness, while facilitating a larger and longer conversation among those who work in or have the ability to enact change within this space.
TikTok, Medical Debt, and The Power of Forgiveness
Dollar For is working to educate patients about the policies at non-profit hospitals and aid them through the process of applying for Charity Care.
A Place To Call Home
Timothy Wilkins, once homeless and struggling with addiction, transformed his life through hard work and support from Facility Management Services and the Working Your Way Home program, ultimately achieving the dream of homeownership and providing stability for his family.
Corporate Rest
Drawing from experiences in the military and manufacturing, AV founder Bryce Butler created a "corporate rest" policy, closing the office twice a year for complete disconnection, which has boosted team productivity and morale by allowing everyone to return to work refreshed and ready for new challenges.
Clean Water Through Crypto
Mrs. Fasoro Christina, a dedicated teacher in Lagos, Nigeria, provides safe drinking water to her students through Impact Water, a non-profit supported by blockchain-based funding from Goldfinch, highlighting how decentralized finance can facilitate access to essential resources in underserved communities.
What Causes Homelessness?
Homelessness is a complex issue with varied causes unique to each individual, often misunderstood and surrounded by myths. The KNOW Homelessness campaign seeks to dispel these myths and challenge assumptions by providing insights into the realities of homelessness, encouraging a deeper understanding and proactive action to address the issue.
Knowing Is Caring
Homelessness requires a multifaceted, community-wide approach involving emergency services, housing, workforce development, and public perception. Access Ventures' Know Homelessness campaign in Louisville and Southern Indiana aims to change misconceptions and increase empathy through stories and partnerships with local coffee shops, encouraging community action and support.
Impact Through Renewable Energy
Greenbacker Capital, an investment management firm focused on sustainable infrastructure, connects investors with green energy projects to support renewable energy and combat climate change, emphasizing the importance of values-driven investments and their impact on future energy solutions.
Making Affordable Housing More Efficient
Caroline Caselli, founder of Haven Connect, created a user-friendly platform to modernize the affordable housing process by enabling applicants to manage their waitlist status and property managers to streamline operations, addressing inefficiencies and injustices in the current system to help low-income individuals access housing more efficiently and equitably.
Working Your Way Home
The Working Your Way Home program, created by New Directions, LHOME, and HPI, offers homebuyer readiness courses and down payment assistance to help employees transition from renting to owning, addressing the affordable housing crisis in Louisville and Southern Indiana through collaboration and community-focused solutions.
Supporting Those Who Support Our Community
Service providers for people experiencing homelessness, such as shelters and food pantries, are critical for addressing regional homelessness, especially during the pandemic which has increased their challenges; collaborative efforts and community support are essential to their ability to serve the most vulnerable effectively.
Understanding The Eviction Crisis
Eviction is a traumatic and widespread issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with millions at risk of losing their homes, highlighting the urgent need for multifaceted solutions to housing insecurity and increased empathy towards those affected.
Know Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex, community-wide issue requiring both emergency services and preventive measures, and Access Ventures' Know Homelessness campaign aims to change public perception and increase empathy in Louisville and Southern Indiana by sharing real stories and encouraging community involvement to address housing insecurity.
Bringing Neighborly Love to Affordable Housing
Nesterly addresses the housing crisis by connecting empty nesters with spare bedrooms to young tenants, fostering intergenerational home-sharing, reducing housing costs for students, and allowing seniors to age in place while earning extra income.
Founder Stories: Bolt
Bolt Labs is developing zkChannels, a privacy-preserving protocol for off-chain cryptocurrency transactions, enabling users to maintain anonymity while transacting, thereby enhancing privacy and scalability for digital currencies.
Food Insecurity During A Pandemic
Many Americans, including over 11 million children, experience food insecurity, with $13 billion in unclaimed food stamp benefits annually, and mRelief helps simplify SNAP applications to ensure eligible families receive necessary assistance, especially during crises like COVID-19.
MobileServe: Helping Volunteers Tell Their Story
MobileServe is a company dedicated to streamlining volunteer tracking and fostering service-oriented company culture, which Access Ventures has supported through investment, aligning financial returns with social impact by enabling users to log over 3 million service hours with an economic impact of more than $79 million.