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A priest, a rabbi, and an NBA player walk into an impact investing conference...
Nope, that’s not the start of a joke. While faith leaders and professional athletes represent very different worlds, recent reports suggest they share a common interest — aligning their capital with their values to make a positive impact on the issues they care about. To learn more about these trends, keep reading.
This month we also spotlight a wide range of entrepreneurs in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and feature founders who are tackling mental health issues head-on.
But first, we have a profile of an influential chef who traveled in the same social circle as James Beard and Julia Child, but whose name isn’t as familiar. We hope you enjoy her inspiring story.
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A Recipe for Resilience
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If you plan to celebrate Cinco de Mayo tonight with some enchiladas or fajitas, take a moment to honor Elena Zelayeta, a chef with a fascinating story who popularized Mexican cuisine in the United States.
Zelayeta immigrated to the U.S. as a child during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. She opened her home-based restaurant, Elena’s Mexican Village, in San Francisco after losing her job during the Depression. The business flourished, attracting loyal customers who loved Zelayeta’s great cooking and charming personality. However, her eyesight began to deteriorate until she went completely blind, ultimately leading to the restaurant’s closing.
After a period of deep depression, Zelayeta taught herself to cook again, relying on her other senses to make up for her lost vision. She came back stronger than ever — going on to star in a TV show, publish cookbooks, launch a line of frozen foods, and consult for major food companies.
In addition to her cookbooks, Zelayeta wrote a self-help book to share her story of resilience with the world. In “Elena’s Lessons in Living,” she wrote, “Of all the handicaps that afflict us, the greatest by far is fear. All of us have it. All must work to conquer it.”
Now that’s a lesson worth savoring. |
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| Playing for a Cause: Athletes Invest in Impact |
While most athletes strive to leave a legacy in their sport, many are also trying to make an impact off the court or field by getting involved in impact investing. ImpactAlpha recently reported on the growing number of elite athletes who are supporting efforts to advance climate tech, close wealth gaps, and expand affordable housing, among other priorities. These impact investing “players” include tennis superstar Serena Williams, NBA ballers like Tobias Harris and Jaylen Brown, NFL linebacker Jaylon Smith, and many more professional athletes around the world.
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Faith Leaders Want to Invest in the Common Good
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| Faith organizations holding billions of dollars in investment assets recently came together to explore how they can collaborate and use their combined investment power for the common good. Faith-based principles have shaped investment decisions for generations, but shared terminology, networks, and frameworks that cut across traditions have only begun to emerge, and organizers hope the conference was a productive step toward increasing collaboration across faiths. For investors looking to align their capital with their faith, the Global Impact Investing Network and FaithInvest have a wealth of resources. |
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Help Inspire a New National Monument
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| The Women’s Suffrage National Monument, authorized by Congress in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, will honor the generations who fought for the right to vote and ensure that women’s stories are woven into the monumental fabric of the National Mall. Now, as the project moves toward design, organizers are inviting Americans to help shape its vision through the “Monumental Ideas” campaign. If you would like to participate, submissions are open through July 4, 2026. |
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