Mufti Ibrahim Essa, Islamic Scholar

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned and want people to take away from our experience it is that for every “No” you hear, there are 100 “Yeses” waiting on the other side. If you stay authentic to who you are, what you stand for, and how you can raise up your community, then the sky can’t even hold your greatness.”

When traditional banks couldn't help with an early-stage ownership transition at a popular Astoria eatery, Craft3 stepped in with an $85,000 loan to enable one co-owner to buy out the other. This quick action helped stabilize Frite and Scoop. By saying "yes" when others said "no," Craft3 helped ensure this beloved local institution could continue serving its community.

"Working with Craft3 and BuildUp Oregon has significantly enhanced CAIRO's capacity to serve the African immigrant and refugee community," says Abdisalan Muse, CAIRO's Deputy Executive Director.