Women-led Oweesta honored at the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for its dedication to empowering Native communities and supporting their growth and prosperity
LONGMONT, Colo., Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Oweesta Corporation, a national Native CDFI intermediary helping to strengthen the foundation in Native communities for sustainable, equitable growth and prosperity, has been named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Nonprofit Organization of the Year category at the 21st annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
"Oweesta is deeply honored to receive this award, as it reflects the remarkable achievements of Native communities across the nation in their journey toward economic sovereignty," said Chrystel Cornelius, CEO of Oweesta Corporation. "We are proud to facilitate access to financial tools, resources, and opportunities that enhance the lending efforts of Native CDFIs and drive sustainable economic growth. This award is a testament to the collective power of Native communities and the resilience they demonstrate in empowering their communities with financial tools and resources. By fostering economic independence and inclusion, we hope to inspire future generations while amplifying our impact and supporting the shared vision of prosperity for all Native communities."
As one of the largest facilitators of capital to Indian Country, Oweesta offers financial products and services to Native CDFIs and provides expert technical assistance and training to propel Native people with the knowledge and skills to support strategic financial decision making. This empowerment is key to advancing economic growth and independence and contributes to the resilience and prosperity of Native communities.
Since July 2022, Oweesta has achieved significant milestones in supporting Native communities by launching comprehensive training and certification programs. These include the Native CDFI Practitioner Certification program, covering all aspects of Native CDFI operations, and the Building Native Communities Curriculum (first published in 2001), designed to help Indigenous organizations establish financial education programs. In 2024, Oweesta introduced specialized courses, such as Financial Coaching with Families Next Level, Coaching for Credit Building, Trauma-Informed Financial Practitioner and Financial Confidence for Elders, addressing unique community needs. Additionally, Oweesta expanded its capital base to over $90 million in total assets and $58 million in lending and secured $156.4 million in Solar for All funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further its impact.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run worldwide. The Stevie Award is nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for "crowned." Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on seven juries.
Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, said, "In its 21st year, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business received an outstanding body of nominations. We are gratified by how meaningful it is to women to win a Stevie Award, and how impactful it can be on the futures of their careers and their organizations. We congratulate all of this year's Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners for their achievements."
More than 1,500 entries from organizations and individuals in 36 nations and territories were submitted this year for consideration in more than 100 categories, including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Women Run Workplace of the Year. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on seven juries. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of winners in all categories are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women.
About the Stevie® Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, and the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations and territories. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
About Oweesta Corporation
Oweesta Corporation is the longest-standing intermediary for Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), serving as an essential bridge between traditional lenders and underserved Native areas. By addressing historical inequities and promoting economic inclusion, Oweesta plays a vital role in fostering sustainable and equitable growth that helps to strengthen the foundations of Native communities. As the largest facilitator of capital to Indian Country, Oweesta offers financial products and services to Native CDFIs and provides expert technical assistance and training to ultimately equip Native people with the knowledge and skills to support strategic financial decision making. This empowerment is key to advancing economic growth and independence and contributes to the resilience and prosperity of Native communities. Based in Longmont, Colorado, Oweesta is a majority-Native, woman- and minority-led nonprofit organization. Since its inception in 1999, it has funded more than 4,350 Native businesses in 36 states, with its network of over 245 partners disbursing more than 26,000 loans totaling over $826 million. For more information, visit https://www.oweesta.org.
Media Contact
Michiko Morales, Gabriel Marketing Group (for Oweesta Corporation), 202-805-2345, [email protected]
SOURCE Oweesta Corporation
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