The Circle of Aunts & Uncles

Hosted by Louis Padulo

Presented by Judy Wicks

The Circle of Aunts & Uncles offers qualified local entrepreneurs with demonstrated needs a new vehicle for accessing local lenders offering low interest loans, as well as advice, business and connections. The Circle intentionally creates trusting relationships between lenders and borrowers, in the spirit of actual aunts and uncles, enabling investors to understand the true needs of the business and provide advice and contacts.

Judy Wicks started the White Dog Café in 1983 as a simple muffin shop on the first floor of her house, then grew it into a “Philly institution,” with over one hundred employees including the adjacent retail store, the Black Cat. After launching White Dog, Wicks went on to start several nonprofits—all organizations that focus on building local economies and communities. She was co-founder and chair of the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (now called Common Futures) and founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and Fair Food Philly.