Carver Savings and Loan Association facts for kids
| Savings and loan association | |
| Founded | 1944, in Omaha, Nebraska |
| Headquarters | North Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Products | Financial services |
The Carver Savings and Loan Association (Carver S&L) was a special bank that opened in 1944. It was the very first financial institution in Omaha, Nebraska, created by and for African Americans. It was located at 2416 Lake Street, right in the middle of the Near North Omaha neighborhood, which was a busy area for African-American businesses.
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Helping the Community: A Bank for Everyone
Fighting Unfair Rules
In the 1950s, a leader named Whitney Young worked with Carver S&L. He was in charge of Omaha's Urban League, an organization that helps people. Together, they started a special program to help African-American families buy homes.
This program was important because of unfair rules called "redlining." Redlining was when other banks would not lend money for homes in certain neighborhoods. These neighborhoods were often where minority and immigrant families lived. This made it very hard for these families to get loans and buy houses.
Making Homeownership Possible
Carver S&L's program helped many families overcome these challenges. Thanks to their efforts, African-American families in Omaha bought more homes in just three years than they had in the previous ten years from other banks. This shows how important Carver S&L was for its community.
The Building's New Life
A Historic Landmark
The old building where Carver S&L used to be is very important. It tells a big part of the neighborhood's history and the history of African Americans in Omaha.
Becoming an Arts Center
In 2012, there were plans to give the building a new purpose. It became a key part of a project to create an arts district on North 24th Street. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, along with Theaster Gates and the Rebuild Foundation, began renovating the old bank. They wanted to turn it into an art gallery.
Students from Omaha North High School and the University of Nebraska-Omaha even volunteered their time to help fix up the area. Today, the building continues to be a symbol of community and creativity.
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