ACCION

I worked for a year working for ACCION New Mexico as an Americorps VISTA volunteer. I would take back streets to and from ACCION, located downtown in the Civic Plaza building. I would park in the parking lot across the street and walk to the ACCION office. At the time, we were in the “clubhouse”, a common room for all of the VISTA interns.My job was to discuss the agency with prospective clients, secure collateral, and review closing documents to ensure that intending clients received their loans. ACCION was unique in that the agency would lend micoloans to those who were not able to get capital from traditional lenders for multiple reasons. I bonded with the other interns: Karla and Graciela in particular. We would go to areas all around the state for interviews with prospective clients and to close loans at banks around the state that partnered with ACCION. The agency’s was led by Anne Haines, a dynamic powerhouse of a woman. I was in awe of her leadership abilities.