Who can become a Member of the New Leaf Coalition?
Anyone who has ever been incarcerated in a federal or state prison – or country or municipal jail – is eligible to become an individual member of the New Leaf Coalition. Any Returning Citizen who wishes to become a member can do so by going to the Coalition’s Homepage at https://newleafcoalition.us and clicking on the “Join Now” button.
What are Affiliates?
Affiliates are public sector agencies, individuals and community-based organizations that advocate on behalf of Returning Citizens and/or that provide assistance and services to Returning Citizens and their families. Together with its affiliates, the Coalition co-sponsors workshops on Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment and other topics that can help Returning Citizens attain financial security and stability. Any agency, individual or organization that wishes to become an Affiliate can do so by contacting Melvin Lowe at MelvinLowe@NewLeafCoalition.us.
What are Sponsors?
In addition to the funding it receives from its various donors, the Coalition is also supported by individuals and entities that make a one-time donation of $100,000 or more (Prime Sponsors) – or an annual contribution of $10,000 for at least five years (Sustaining Sponsors). Any individual or entity that is interested in becoming a Sponsor should contact Flores A. Forbes, the Chair of the Coalition’s Board of Directors, at FloresForbes@newleafcoalition.us.
What are Advocates?
Advocates are individuals, companies, and professional organizations that support the mission of the Coalition – and that provide financial support and/or services to the Coalition on a voluntary basis. Advocates can become members of the Coalition by going to the organization’s website at www.NewLeafCoalition.us, clicking on the “Join Now” button, and completing the informational form that pops up. Advocates are periodically solicited by the Coalition in conjunction with its fundraising efforts.
Will New Leaf Coalition offer any online workshops?
Although the Coalition currently presents its workshops to small in-person groups, it plans to begin making videos of those workshops whenever it can afford to do so. Thereafter, the Coalition will make those videos available online so that more Returning Citizens will be able to benefit from them.
How can I make a contribution to the Coalition?
Anyone who wants to make a contribution to the Coalition may do so online by clicking on the “Donation” button on its Homepage at https://newleafcoalition.us – and following the instructions there (Online donors can make their contributions via American Express, MasterCard or Visa – or via PayPal or Venmo).
Those who wish to contribute via a check can send their donation to the following address: New Leaf Coalition, 55 East 115th Street – Level C – Suite 101 – New York, NY 10029.
All donors will receive a receipt from the Coalition that documents the amount and date of their contribution.
Are donations to the Coalition tax-deductible?
The Coalition has been granted tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code. As such, all donations to the Coalition are tax-deductible per the standard rules and conditions for such deductions.
If I make a donation, how will my money be used?
The Coalition’s long-term goal is to establish a federal credit union that will be designed to meet the unique financial needs of Returning Citizens. Your contribution will be used to help us achieve that goal.
How can I submit a story to New Leaf Coalition?
Anyone who wishes to submit a story about their own experience as a Returning Citizen – or about the experience of someone they know who is a Returning Citizen – can do so online by going to the “Contact Us” tab on the Coalition’s Homepage and filling out the form in the drop-down menu.
Those who wish to submit such a story in hard-copy form can send it to the following address: New Leaf Coalition, 55 East 115th Street – Level C – Suite 101- New York, NY 10029.
When do you expect that the credit union would be in operation?
Once the Coalition has been able to attract at least five hundred members – which we hope to do by June 30, 2020 – we will begin the formal process of applying to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for a charter for the proposed New Leaf Federal Credit Union (We have been working with the NCUA since 2017 on this project). The various steps in the approval process that must be completed before the credit union can begin operations are expected to take approximately 18-months – which means that the credit union will become operational on or before January 1, 2022.
What types of financial services will the credit union offer – and will those services be available online?
The proposed credit union will offer all the traditional financial services that are offered by banks and credit unions: e.g., checking and savings accounts; credit and debit cards; automobile loans; mortgages and home equity loans; etc. In addition, the proposed credit union will also offer loans that are meant to meet the unique financial needs of Returning Citizens and their families: e.g., rental loans (first and last month’s rent and security deposit); loans for employment-related training programs; loans to obtain franchises; etc.
Will the credit union have a physical location—and, if so, where might it be?
As required by the NCUA, the New Leaf Federal Credit Union will have at least one bricks-and-mortar location. Although selecting the site for that initial location will be part of the application process, it is expected that it will be located somewhere in Harlem.
Who would be eligible to open an account in the credit union?
Any Returning Citizen – as well as anyone who is part of their household or family – will be eligible to become a member of the New Leaf Federal Credit Union (As is true for all federal credit unions, the members will actually be the owners of the New Leaf Federal Credit Union). Thereafter, the membership will be expanded in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NCUA.