Corps Member Spotlight: Delphia Simmons
Delphia Simmons is known in ‘the D' for her passion surrounding micro-enterprise! In fact, Delphia was one of Michigan Corps' inaugural Kiva Detroit loan recipients. She used a microloan to launch Thrive Detroit, Detroit's first street newspaper geared toward providing a low-to-no barrier microenterprise opportunity for Detroiters who can pick up a paper at a local distribution center and sell it for a profit. "I can't even adequately describe why I'm so passionate about microlending through Kiva Detroit", says Delphia, "I mean, here you have people unfamiliar with each other, but who have a desire to help one another in a very concrete way."
Well, that passion certainly does shine through with Delphia, who now chairs the volunteer advisory board of Team Kiva Detroit, a network of citizens leading the way to nominate local businesses for funding through Kiva Detroit. Delphia herself recently nominated Alicia, a business entrepreneur who secured a loan to grow her car detailing business. Alicia had reached out to Delphia after attending a financial literacy workshop at the non-profit where Delphia works. The workshop leader had heard from Delphia about Kiva Detroit as an alternative lending source for those who were interested in starting or upgrading an existing business. Alicia expressed interest as she had recently been turned down by a bank for business funding. Needless to say after talking it through with Delphia, Alicia was encouraged to apply and was fully funded through Team Kiva Detroit!
We want to spotlight Delphia's leadership in building a supportive environment for small business in Detroit through nominations for Kiva Detroit, as well as her own entrepreneurial aspirations! As Delphia says, Kiva Detroit "is an awesome display of what it means to be your "brother's keeper." We recognize and celebrate the support that Delphia extends to others in her community.
