In 1987, New Mexico earned an unwelcome distinction as the poorest state in the nation, ranked #1 in U.S. poverty. Alarmed by this crisis, a diverse coalition of faith and community leaders began meeting under the New Mexico Conference of Churches to seek long-term economic solutions. Catholic sisters, pastors, and civic activists all came together in this task force, sharing first-hand stories of hardship from across the state. Their goal was ambitious and human-centered: to move beyond charity and “promote peace and justice” by empowering people economically. These 1987 discussions, fueled by frustration at being “Number One” in poverty and hope for change, laid the groundwork for a new kind of non-profit lender that would serve those whom banks overlooked.