Capital One Impact Initiative
Veterans across the country are struggling to find stable housing. This affordable housing community is ensuring Los Angeles vets have a place to call home.
02.13.21
Courtesy of Creative Commons
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After years of service as a military nurse in the naval Marine Corps, Los Angeles, California-resident Rhonda Jackson became one of the 37,000 retired veterans in the U.S. who are currently experiencing homelessness — roughly eight percent of the entire homeless population.
"I was living in a one-bedroom apartment with no heat for two years," Jackson said. "The Department of Veterans Affairs was doing everything they could to help but I was not in a good situation."
One day in 2019, Jackson felt a sudden sense of hope for a better living arrangement when she caught wind of the ongoing construction of Veteran's Village in Carson, California — a 51-unit affordable housing development with one, two and three-bedroom apartments and supportive services to residents through a partnership with U.S.VETS.
Her feelings of hope quickly blossomed into a vision for her future when she learned that Veteran's Village was taking applications for residents to move in later that year after construction was complete.
"I was entered into a lottery and I just said to myself, 'Okay, this is going to work out,'" Jackson said. "The next thing I knew, I had won the lottery — in more ways than one."
<p>Communities like Veteran's Village are contributing to the national decline in homeless veterans. <u><a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">According to The Department of Housing and Urban Development</a></u>, 793 fewer veterans experienced homelessness between 2018 and 2019.</p><p>That drop continued a steady decline over the past decade, as the number of veterans experiencing homelessness <u><a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf" target="_blank">has fallen nearly 50 percent</a></u> since 2009.<br></p><p><a target="_blank"></a>National Equity Fund (NEF), a nonprofit LIHTC syndicator and partner to Capital One, brought Veteran's Village to the bank, which responded by providing a $14.3 million construction loan and $15.6 million long-term equity investment through the purchase of low-income housing tax credits.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY0NDgyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODYwOTQ1N30.9Hx_lOBHw7k-4oEOdCCFG11hRY2rgQwgmlOKCFy7YmE/img.jpg?width=980" id="cc95e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ebfbc8429462c2ce7ca0764081868223" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2349" data-height="1320">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Courtesy of Thomas Safran & Associates </small></p><p>"Everyone deserves safe, secure, stable housing — especially the heroes that protect our rights and freedoms," says David Musial, a Capital One Senior Director of the Bank's Community Finance team, which specializes in financing affordable housing. "We are honored to be able to support communities like Veteran's Village as stable affordable housing is fundamental to physical and financial health and access to opportunity."<br></p><p>Veteran's Village strives to be more than just an affordable housing development. Its staff functions as a support system to help residents navigate their individual situations to ensure that each resident is equipped with the tools they need to thrive.</p><p>"Through the support of Capital One, we were able to provide much-needed housing for U.S. Veterans," said Amy Hyde of Thomas Safran & Associates, an affordable housing development and management organization whose properties include Veteran's Village. "Our goal is to enrich the lives of the people who reside in our buildings and Capital One's funding is helping us do just that," Hyde said.</p><p>For Jackson, that goal is realized through the sense of community throughout Veteran's Village.</p><p>"It's home for people who served their country and want to serve each other," Jackson said. "We take care of each other and we look out for each other. We're a family here."</p><p>In addition to supporting housing for veterans, Capital One supports affordable housing for residents throughout the Los Angeles area, including <u><a href="https://nationalcore.org/communities/vista-grande-court/" target="_blank">Vista Grande Court</a></u>, an affordable development that supports people over 60 years of age and Palo Verde Apartments, which includes 49 affordable units with 25 reserved for formerly homeless veterans and their families.</p><p>Capital One's support to affordable housing communities in Los Angeles comes as part of its larger <u><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capital One Impact Initiative</a><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">,</a></u> an initial $200 million, multi-year commitment to advancing socioeconomic mobility through advocating for an inclusive society, building thriving communities and creating financial tools that enrich lives.</p><p>Jackson said that while she is grateful for her living arrangement at Veteran's Village, there is a long road ahead in ensuring that every veteran has access to stable housing.</p><p>"I pray that there will be more communities like this built because there are so many of my veteran brothers and sisters on the streets that don't even realize their living situation doesn't have to be the way it currently is," Jackson said.</p>
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Cats are notoriously weird. Everyone who's had cats knows that they each have their own unique quirks, idiosyncrasies, preferences, habits, and flat-out WTFness.
But even those of us who have experience with bizarre cat behavior are blown away by the antics this "cat dad" is able to get away with.
Kareem and Fifi are the cat parents of Chase, Skye, and Millie—literally the most chill kitties ever. They share their family life on TikTok as @dontstopmeowing, and their videos have been viewed millions of times. When you see them, you'll understand why.
Take Chase's spa days, for example. It may seem unreal at first, but watch what happens when Fifi tries to take away his cucumber slices.
@dontstopmeowing Chase was vibing ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##catsoftiktok ##VideoSnapChallenge ##Seitan ##trending ##duet
♬ original sound - Kareem & Fifi
When she puts them back on his eyes? WHAT?! What cat would let you put them on once, much less get mad when you take them off?
This cat. Chase is living his best life.
@dontstopmeowing Spaw day🐾 ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##catsoftikok ##somethingyoulearned ##upcycling ##trending
♬ original sound - Kareem & Fifi
But apparently, it's not just Chase. Skye and Millie have also joined in "spaw day." How on earth does one couple end up with three hilariously malleable cats?
@dontstopmeowing When will it end? ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##catsoftiktok ##Science101 ##ThriftFlip ##trending ##duet
♬ original sound - Kareem & Fifi
Oh, and if you think they must have been sedated or something, look at how wide awake they are during bath time. That's right, bath time. Most cats hate water, but apparently, these three couldn't care less. How?
@dontstopmeowing What I come home to ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##catsoftiktok ##FanTheory ##TikTokFitness ##trending ##duet
♬ original sound - Kareem & Fifi
They'll literally do anything. The Don't Stop Meowing channel is filled with videos like this. Cats wearing glasses. Cats wearing hats. Cats driving cars. It's unbelievable yet highly watchable entertainment.
@dontstopmeowing Where are they going? ##catsoftiktok ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##duet ##trending ##bakedoats ##homecook
♬ Surfin' USA - The California Surfers
If you're worried that Kareem gets all the love and Fifi constantly gets the shaft, that seems to be a bit for show. Look at Chase and Fifi's conversation about her leaving town for a business trip:
@dontstopmeowing Chase hates when I leave town ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##catsoftiktok ##clingypets ##winterbeautytips ##trending
♬ original sound - Kareem & Fifi
The whole channel is worth checking out. Ever seen a cat being carried in a baby carrier at the grocery store? A cat buckled into a car seat? Three cats sitting through storytime? It's all there. (Just a heads up: A few of the videos have explicit language, so parents might want to do a preview before watching with little ones.) You can follow the couple and their cats on all their social media channels, including Instagram and YouTube if TikTok isn't your thing, here.
If you weren't a cat person before, these videos might change your mind. Fair warning, however: Getting a cat because you want them to do things like this would be a mistake. Cats do what they want to do, and no one can predict what weird traits they will have. Even if you raise them from kittenhood, they're still unpredictable and weird.
And honestly, we wouldn't have them any other way.
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We're redefining what normal means in these uncertain times, and although this is different for all of us, love continues to transform us for the better.
Love is what united Marie-Claire and David Archbold, who met while taking a photography class. "We went into the darkroom to see what developed," they joke—and after a decade of marriage, they know firsthand the deep commitment and connection romantic love requires.
All photos courtesy of Marie-Claire and David Archbold
However, their relationship became even sweeter when they adopted James: a little boy with a
huge heart.
In the United States alone, there are roughly 122,000 children awaiting adoption according to the latest report from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. While the goal is always for a child to be parented by and stay with their biological family, that is not always a possibility. This is where adoption offers hope—not only does it create new families, it gives birth parents an avenue through which to see their child flourish when they are not able to parent. For the right families, it's a beautiful thing.
The Archbolds knew early on that adoption was an option for them. David has three daughters from a previous marriage, but knowing their family was not yet complete, the couple embarked on a two-year journey to find their match. When the adoption agency called and told them about James, they were elated. From the moment they met him, the Archbolds knew he was meant to be part of their family. David locked eyes with the brown-eyed baby and they stared at each other in quiet wonder for such a long time that the whole room fell silent. "He still looks at me like that," said David.
The connection was mutual and instantaneous—love at first sight. The Archbolds knew that James was meant to be a part of their family. However, they faced significant challenges requiring an even deeper level of commitment due to James' medical condition.
James was born with
congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare condition that causes his body to overproduce insulin, and within 2 months of his birth, he had to have surgery to remove 90% of his pancreas. There was a steep learning curve for the Archbolds, but they were already in love, and knew they were committed to the ongoing care that'd be required of bringing James into their lives. After lots of research and encouragement from James' medical team, they finally brought their son home.
Today, three-year-old James is thriving, filled with infectious joy that bubbles over and touches every person who comes in contact with him. "Part of love is when people recognize that they need to be with each other," said his adoptive grandfather. And because the Archbolds opted for an open adoption, there are even more people to love and support James as he grows.
This sweet story is brought to you by Sumo Citrus®. This oversized mandarin is celebrated for its incredible taste and distinct looks. Sumo Citrus is super-sweet, enormous, easy-to-peel, seedless, and juicy without the mess. Fans of the fruit are obsessive, stocking up from January to April when Sumo Citrus is in stores. To learn more, visit sumocitrus.com and @sumocitrus.
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A college student who was fed up with his classmate has gone viral for calling out his own ignorance
08.08.19
You know that feeling you get when you walk into a classroom and see someone else's stuff on your desk?
OK, sure, there are no assigned seats, but you've been sitting at the same desk since the first day and everyone knows it.
So why does the guy who sits next to you put his phone, his book, his charger, his lunch, and his laptop in the space that's rightfully yours? It's annoying!
<p>All you want to do was walk in, sit down, get out your notebook and (try to) pay attention. But now? Now you've got to talk to a stranger about moving their stuff and there goes your day, already bogged down with petty annoyances.</p><p>Sound familiar? It should. </p><p>We've all got so much to do these days that interacting with people we see every day — not our friends, but our classmates, fellow commuters, co-workers, the people in line for coffee with us every day — can feel like a burden. </p><p>So, when these people do something we perceive as annoying, like putting their stuff on our desks, we don't have the time or the energy to assume their intentions or think about the lives they're leading. </p><p>But if we stepped out of ourselves for a second, we might just realize that we're all much more connected than we think, that our preconceived notions of others are usually just that — preconceived. And, often, inaccurate.</p><p>That's why this Twitter story about a guy who learned an important life lesson from a classmate he was frustrated with is going viral. </p><p>It's the perfect example of that "don't judge a book by its cover" adage we should have all learned in preschool but sometimes forget. And it starts the exact same way as this post — with a college student groaning on the inside as he sees someone's stuff on his desk. </p><div id="eee9e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="V1L9NG1565719086"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334328620011520" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Hey guys, I know I usually just post shitty jokes on my Twitter but bear with me because I wanted to share somethin… https://t.co/akgh4o7wNy</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334328620011520">1523280148.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="dabe2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Z99REZ1565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334330121510912" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">barely speaks English. The most advanced thing I've heard this guy say in English is "Wow, my muffin is really good… https://t.co/UeNtGqzktS</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334330121510912">1523280148.0</a></blockquote></div><br><div id="7a9f1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="O9K3WL1565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334332935868416" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I was ALWAYS annoyed with this guy. I'm thinking "Dude, you know I sit in this seat every day. Why are you always s… https://t.co/am1nNvLqNE</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334332935868416">1523280149.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="b37f8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="CT1A1A1565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334334789832704" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">But today I came to class and was running a few minutes late. I'm standing outside because I had to send a quick te… https://t.co/AEZqFuDwDr</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334334789832704">1523280149.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="65350" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="JXHCY41565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334336022896640" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">As I'm standing there on my phone another guy who was also late walks into the class before me and tried to take my… https://t.co/IfLRfNyPBi</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334336022896640">1523280149.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="1966e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="RVXXRG1565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334337327370242" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It was then that I realized this guy wasn't putting stuff on my seat to annoy me. He was saving me the seat every m… https://t.co/D6KzZecdqQ</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334337327370242">1523280150.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="82a6b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="WDGTU21565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334338996658177" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I ended up going into class and of course he cleared the seat and said "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And I did get a h… https://t.co/VOYPDnL2em</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334338996658177">1523280150.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="7a88e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AZ42RQ1565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334341131538432" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The guy moved here from the Middle East to pursue a college education in America. He plans to go back after he gets… https://t.co/IUpWCCLtwN</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334341131538432">1523280151.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="ce92e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XAKSXP1565719087"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334342473797632" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I asked him how he liked America as well. He said he misses his family but it's exciting to be here. He also said "… https://t.co/2aSbFRRJOl</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334342473797632">1523280151.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="b691d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="I16YHZ1565719088"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="983334343841075201" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Moral of the story? Don't do what I do and constantly only think about yourself. It took me nearly the entire semes… https://t.co/z8gYObep25</div> — Thomas McFall (@Thomas McFall)<a href="https://twitter.com/thomas___mcfall/statuses/983334343841075201">1523280151.0</a></blockquote></div><p>If not for this one day running late, McFall may have never realized what his classmate was trying to do. And he may have continued to think of him as annoying, maybe telling others about "the weird guy who was always trying to take up my space"... when all the guy was really trying to do was be kind. </p><p>We all misinterpret the actions of others sometimes. It's easy to do that! </p><p>But if there's one thing this story reminds us, it's that it's important to stop and remember that while you're living your life, other people are living theirs, so assuming best intentions can do us a great favor. </p><p>That's why we should step outside of our bubbles and engage with the world on a regular basis. </p><p>You could make a new friend. You might brighten someone's day. </p><p>But most importantly, getting out of your own head, checking your own biases, and giving others the benefit of the doubt will make you a more compassionate person. </p><p>You don't have to engage with everyone you meet, but the next time someone smiles and offers you a high-five? </p><p>Maybe just take them up on it. </p><p><em>This article was originally published on April 16, 2018.</em></p>
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This Nicholas Brothers' legendary tap routine was unrehearsed and filmed in a single take
03.04.21
There have been many iconic dance routines throughout film history, but how many have the honor being called "the greatest" by Fred Astaire himself?
Fayard and Harold Nicholas, known collectively as the Nicholas Brothers, were arguably the best at what they did during their heyday. Their coordinated tap routines are legendary, not only because they were great dancers, but because of their incredible ability to jump into the air and land in the splits. Repeatedly. From impressive heights.
Their most famous routine comes from the movie "Stormy Weather." As Cab Calloway sings "Jumpin' Jive," the Nicholas Brothers make the entire set their dance floor, hopping and tapping from podium to podium amongst the musicians, dancing up and down stairs and across the top of a piano.
But what makes this scene extra impressive is that they performed it without rehearsing it first and it was filmed in one take—no fancy editing room tricks to bring it all together. This fact was confirmed in a conversation with the brothers in a Chicago Tribune article in 1997, when they were both in their 70s:
"Would you believe that was one of the easiest things we ever did?" Harold told the paper.
"Did you know that we never even rehearsed that number?" added Fayard.
"When it came time to do that part, (choreographer) Nick Castle said: 'Just do it. Don`t rehearse it, just do it.' And so we did it—in one little take. And then he said: 'That's it—we can't do it any better than that.'"
<p>Harold breathed a sigh of relief: "I sure was happy he said that—I didn't want to be doing that all night, over and over and over."</p><p>When you see the brothers' musical athleticism in action, you'll understand why:</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="eb5e56aefe68d9a77a83b7c32df7e8bc"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_8yGGtVKrD8?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Jumpin Jive - Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://youtu.be/_8yGGtVKrD8" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>
</small>
</p><p>As Black performers, the Nicholas Brothers faced an uphill climb in Hollywood. But no one could deny their exceptional talent. <br></p><p>''Oh sure, you`d see blacks playing Stepin Fetchit and maids, but you didn`t see many blacks really doing what we did,'' Harold told <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-12-22-9104240883-story.html" target="_blank">the Tribune</a>. ''Somehow, it turned out that we were becoming stars—and, man, did we love it.''</p><p>However, they were usually cast as guest artists, not the main stars. According to <a href="http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/nicholas-brothers/" target="_blank">the L.A. Times</a>, this was a strategy that allowed their scenes to be cut from film showings in the racist American South. </p><p>Throughout their career, they worked with other famous dancers. The brothers told the Tribune a funny story about working with Gene Kelly, whom Harold called "a perfectionist." Harold said he didn't think Kelly appreciated his laid-back approach to rehearsing and the fact that he wasn't a workaholic.</p><p>''He and Fayard would be rehearsing this number over and over, as if the camera was running, which means that you're doing it full force," Harold told the Tribune. ''But I never liked to go all out during the rehearsal—I liked to reign it in, reign it in.''</p><p>What Gene Kelly didn't understand was that once the lights went on, Harold would go all out. </p><p>Fayard said that Gene once said he wanted to see Fayard do a routine by himself because he didn't think Harold had gotten it down. </p><p>''And then Harold did it and didn't miss a step," Fayard said, "so Gene looked at me and said: 'Well, I'll be an SOB.'''</p><p>The Nicholas Brothers continued to perform throughout their lives, long after their particular style of dancing had waned in popularity. Harold Nicholas passed away in 2000 at age 79, while the older of the brothers, Fayard, passed in 2006 at age 91. </p><p>Thank goodness for film that allows their legacy to live on and allows us to enjoy their contributions for generations to come.</p>
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