Connecting Communities

Sponsored by the Federal Reserve System

Connecting Communities® Presentations

Connecting Communities is the Federal Reserve’s webinar series for community development professionals. These virtual events aim to help you in your work supporting lower-income communities across the United States. The series moved from the St. Louis Fed to Fed Communities in 2022. Looking for information about past sessions? Below you’ll find presentation materials from 2011 to today.

Learn more about Connecting Communities >

Watch featured webinars on demand >

2024


February 15, 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021 the U.S. Department of Treasury deployed $46 billion to support housing stability. Without existing local and state infrastructure to quickly deploy these federal rental assistance dollars, community-based organizations (CBOs) across the country played a key role in helping ensure the funding reached households that needed it most.

On February 15, 2024, we hosted a Connecting Communities webinar featuring experts who will share groundbreaking tactics used by three CBOs across the country. Discover essential principles for effectively distributing aid to marginalized communities and learn strategies to enhance the capabilities of CBOs for future challenges.

Speakers

Erin Barbee, Chief Strategy Officer, DreamKey Partners
Joe Horiye, Western Region Program Vice President, LISC
Elizabeth Kneebone, Assistant Vice President, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Clare Rutz Wallace, Executive Director, South Louisville Community Ministries
Sydney Diavua, Assistant Vice President, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louismoderator.

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

2023


October 12, 2023

Benefits cliffs create economic challenges for workers and employers alike. A benefits cliff may occur when an increase in income—from working more hours, getting a raise, or taking a new position—pushes a worker above the income eligibility limit for one or more public assistance programs, and the loss of assistance is greater than the value of the increase. This forces people to choose between their family’s immediate financial best interest and their own longer-term wage growth and career advancement. These cliffs can also stymie employers seeking to hire workers and develop their skills through internal career pathway opportunities.

Speakers

Brittany Birken, PhD, Director and Principal Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Kwain Bryant, Manager, Career Navigation, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
Geoff King, Program Manager, Career Mobility Action Plan, District of Columbia Department of Human Services
Marielle Lovecchio, Director, Tennessee Alliance for Economic Mobility
Alexander Ruder, PhD, Director and Principal Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Michelle Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Florida Alliance of Children’s Council & Trusts
Gabriella Chiarenza, Communications Advisor, Fed Communities

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Presentation slides

September 7, 2023

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provide financial products and services to underserved markets where it may be difficult to access what traditional financial institutions offer. Every other year, the Fed conducts a survey of CDFIs to better understand the barriers and opportunities that they face. This year’s survey sought input on various topics ranging from demand for products and product innovation.

During the event, speakers discussed the demand for CDFIs’ products and services, challenges to meeting demand—including lending capital—and innovations in products and practices. Speakers also shared Fed Research on CDFIs’ use of secondary markets and explained how the survey results help inform future Fed research initiatives.

Speakers

Surekha Carpenter, Research Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Charlene “Charly” van DijkSenior Advisor, Community and Economic Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Jonathan Kivell, Director of Community Investments, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Carmi Recto, Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Jacob Scott, Community Development Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Whitney Felder, Marketing Communications Specialist, Fed Communities, moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Presentation slides

August 10, 2023

Workers are key to the country’s economic success. Their voices are critical to conversations about understanding the labor market. Last year, the Federal Reserve held virtual focus groups across the US to find out how workers in lower-wage roles and job seekers with less than a bachelor’s degree experienced the labor market during the pandemic.

The Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Philadelphia hosted a Connecting Communities webinar, sharing insights from the Worker Voices 2023 report and how many workers are reshaping the workforce. The discussion addresses enhanced expectations of job quality and how workers are using skill development and self-investment to change their economic opportunities.

During the event, Federal Reserve Presidents Raphael Bostic from the Atlanta Fed and Patrick T. Harker from the Philadelphia Fed share their perspectives about this important topic.

Speakers

Raphael Bostic, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Patrick T. Harker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, SHRM
Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, Vice President, Workforce and Regional Economies, Jobs for the Futuremoderator
David Byard, Teaching Fellow, Per Scholas
Rebecca Hanson, Executive Director, SEIU-UHW Joint Employer Education Fund
Sarah Miller, Principal Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Ashley Putnam. Director, Economic Growth & Mobility Project, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Whitney Felder, Marketing Communications Specialist, Fed Communities, moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Presentation slides

July 13, 2023

How did inflation affect families last year? Did trends shift in the use of emerging financial products?

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors hosted a Connecting Communities webinar exploring findings from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED). For the past decade, the SHED has provided insights into financial challenges families face. The latest report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022 uncovers compelling data around various aspects of people’s financial lives. 

Speakers

Jeff Larrimore, Chief, Consumer & Community Research, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Alicia Lloro, Principal Economist, Consumer & Community Research, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Ellen Merry, Principal Economist, Consumer & Community Research, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Jennie Blizzard, Communications Advisor, Fed Communities, moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

June 1, 2023

Recovering from natural disasters can be difficult for underserved communities, with limited access to disaster funds & insurance. The Federal Reserve & FEMA share how their programs can help low- to moderate-income communities respond.

Speakers

Nishesh Chalise, Manager, Institute for Economic Equity, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louisfacilitator
Mike Pickerel, Voluntary Agency Liaison and Mass Care Specialist, FEMA Region 7
Dan Shulman, Senior External Affairs Specialist, FEMA Region 5
James Sink, Regional Flood Insurance Liaison, FEMA Region 5
Whitney Felder, Marketing Communications Specialist, Fed Communities moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

May 11, 2023

Access to quality early childhood education (ECE) is critical to the well-being of communities and the economy. The pandemic further exposed existing issues, including how a lack of access to reliable and affordable childcare affects the parental workforce, yet also how financing challenges strain provider profitability.

This Connecting Communities webinar presented by the Federal Reserve Banks of BostonMinneapolis, and St. Louis explored recent research around cost and affordability challenges, especially for workers needing nontraditional hours of care and financial constraints on the provider side. The event included a discussion of innovative solutions to help attract and retain ECE workers and sustain quality programs. Parents and experts shared their perspectives on these issues, how they’ve experienced challenges, and insights on community solutions. 

Speakers

Erin Barnease, Parent/Student Teacher
Benjamin Horowitz, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Ana H. Kent, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Dr. Kimberly Krzanowski, Executive Director, Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University
Graciela Major, Workforce Development Manager, MAAC
Jen Roberts, CEO, Agenda for Children
Sarah Savage, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Rachel Spector, Director of Programs, The Children’s Trust
Jennie Blizzard, Communications Advisor, Fed Communities moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, Minneapolis, and St. Louis

Related resources

Presentation slides

April 13, 2023

Small businesses are on the road to recovery, although hiring, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs remain persistent challenges. As small-business owners navigated these challenges through 2022, pandemic-related funding programs ended, and owners turned to other funding sources – including traditional financial institutions and their own savings. How are small businesses doing? How are they accessing credit, and what gaps remain? On April 13, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland held a Connecting Communities webinar exploring new insights from the Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) 2023 Report on Employer Firms.

The Federal Reserve and a diverse group of nonprofits have administered the SBCS since 2016. The only survey of its kind, the SBCS and reports developed from it help the Fed, entities supporting small businesses, lenders, and policymakers better understand the credit experiences and challenges of small-business owners across the country.

Speakers

Jordan Manes, Policy Analyst, Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Lucas Misera, Policy Analyst, Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Maria Thompson, Outreach Manager, Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Emily Wavering Corcoran, Program Manager, Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Whitney Felder, Communications Specialist, Fed Communities, moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey

Related resources

Presentation slides

March 9, 2023

Can centering racial equity help fuel a more inclusive small business recovery? Lead to new solutions to addressing housing or workforce equity challenges in underserved communities? This webinar explores three years of learnings from the Reinventing Our Communities (ROC) Cohort Program.

ROC, a national training program led by national research and practitioner experts, helps participants frame, contextualize, and organize around a community challenge. The program was developed by the Philadelphia Fed and conducted in partnership with Federal Reserve Banks around the country. During this webinar, past cohort members share what they’ve learned and how they’re carrying forward the work they started through ROC to remove barriers to inclusive regional growth.

Speakers

Laurie Girardi, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, United Way of Delaware
Joanne Nelson, Director, Boone County Community Services
Nic Steele, Executive Director, Access Community Capital Inc.
Neelu Panth, Senior Community Affairs Specialist, St. Louis Fedfacilitator
Jennie Blizzard, Fed Communities, moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Presentation slides

February 9, 2023

After almost three years, the economic and health effects of COVID-19 continue to linger for low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. Organizations serving these communities also continue to feel the strain of COVID-19. There are signs of slow stabilization and recovery. There were lower levels of pandemic-related effects in many segments of the economy relative to 2021. But to promote a true recovery that benefits these communities, it is important to monitor the conditions and needs of the organizations who serve those affected most.

This webinar shares findings from the National COVID-19 Community Impact Survey administered by the Federal Reserve System. The survey tracks the significant impact that the pandemic has had on underserved communities and those who support them. Speakers, who work on the frontlines in distressed communities, also discuss how organizations can use this data to advocate for themselves and those that they serve.

Speakers

Dawn L. Brown, Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Kevin Dean, CEO, Momentum Nonprofit Partners
Graciela Kahn, Director of Business Intelligence, NeighborWorks America
Nishesh Chalise, Manager, Institute for Economic Equity, St. Louis Fedfacilitator
Whitney Felder, Fed Communities, moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

2022


December 1, 2022

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City held a Connecting Communities webinar with community-based organizations and bankers who have successfully worked together by developing CRA-eligible project proposals through the Federal Reserve’s Investment Connection program. Watch the video below.

It can be difficult for community-based organizations to fund projects and programs. But if they’re eligible for investment under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), that could give them an edge. The CRA encourages banks to support community development initiatives in low- and moderate-income communities. This legislation has been an important tool for driving innovation in partnerships and delivery models and increasing funding to eligible projects.  During the webinar, you’ll gain an understanding of how to identify potential partners, develop mutually supportive relationships, and shape proposals that speak to the needs of organizations and funders alike.

Speakers

Stacy Clay, Senior Vice President, Midwest Retail Lead, and Director of Community Affairs, First Bank

Sara Middendorf, Director of St. Louis Builds Credit, Prosperity Connection

Casey Sorensen, CEO, PCs for People

James Wareham-Morris, Senior Vice President of Risk Management, Alpine Bank

Ariel Cisneros, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City facilitator

Jennie Blizzard, Fed Communities moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

May 24, 2022

Last year, families in the United States continued to adjust to the shifting economic environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2013, the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) has provided insight into the financial challenges families were facing and monitored their financial circumstances. Over the past two years, this survey has provided valuable insights into how family finances have evolved through the pandemic.

During this session, experts discuss the results from the most recent report on the SHED’s findings which was released on May 23, and the public data file that accompanies it. This survey asked over 11,000 people how their finances fared near the end of 2021.

The virtual event covers findings from the SHED on the ways families fared across a range of dimensions including how parents fared through the pandemic, employment outcomes, retirement decisions, and broader family finances.

Speakers

Jeff Larrimore, chief, consumer and community research section, Federal Reserve Board
Alicia Lloro, senior economist, consumer and community research section, Federal Reserve Board
Ellen Merry, principal economist, consumer and community research section, Federal Reserve Board
Sydney Diavua, director, community partnerships and investment, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (moderator)

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

May 11, 2022

On May 5, the Federal Reserve Board (Board), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) jointly released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would reform the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations. The CRA seeks to address inequities in access to credit for low- and moderate-income, as well as underserved and rural communities. The agencies seek public feedback on the joint proposal and comments are due on or before August 5, 2022.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 3:00 ET, the agencies will jointly host a special Ask the Regulators/Connecting Communities webinar for all CRA stakeholders that will provide an overview of the proposal and its objectives. Topics will include assessment areas, qualified activities, evaluation approach, ratings, and data collection and reporting. The session will be presented jointly by CRA policy experts from the Board, OCC, and FDIC.

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Presentation slides

March 3, 2022

The pandemic highlighted the important role early care and education (ECE) plays in the economy. Without access to reliable childcare, many parents (particularly mothers) left the workforce during the pandemic—and a substantial proportion of these parents have yet to return. ECE is key to parental employment and also aligns with the Federal Reserve’s maximum employment mandate. Research from the Minneapolis Fed shows that children (particularly those from disadvantaged environments) benefit from attending high-quality ECE programs.

This session will include insights from research on the cost of providing high-quality ECE, the challenges LMI families face in paying for it and racial and ethnic equity for families and ECE providers. Findings from focus group discussions with parents of young children and ECE providers will also be discussed.

Speakers

Sam Evans, community development advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, vice president of national policy, Start Early
Marika Hamilton, mother and parent focus group facilitator
Dianne Haulcy, senior vice president of family engagement, Think Small
Suzie Lalich, Senior Director of Employee Success, PrintingForLess.com
Katherine Townsend, research analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Atlanta

Presentation slides

February 10, 2022

Each year, the St. Louis Fed invites financial institutions with accounts certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards to report data to its Bank On National Data (BOND) Hub. The collected metrics were determined in consultation with the Cities Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund and its Bank On National Advisory Board. Data are aggregated and released annually. The 2020 report (released in 2021) shows that over 3.8 million Bank On-certified accounts were open and active. The reports monitor the demand and usage of low-cost transaction accounts across the U.S.

Engaging the mainstream financial system helps individuals and households on their path to economic resilience and enables them to access a broad range of financial services to save, receive funds, and pay bills. In this session, we will share the findings from the 2020 data to better understand the demand and usage of Bank On-certified accounts. We will also hear the experiences of reporting financial institutions in working with Bank On products, submitting data to the BOND Hub, and noting how the report’s information helps their institutions.

Speakers

Poonam Chawla, senior vice president, Wells Fargo
Amelia Erwitt, managing director, Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Inc.
Melinda Hunze, senior statistical analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Violeta Gutkowski, lead analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Related resources

Presentation slides

January 13, 2022

Enterprise Capital is an approach to philanthropic funding that treats long-term, flexible capital as the high-value fuel that empowers nonprofits to fulfill their social and economic missions. Also referenced as “philanthropic equity” or “net asset grants,” Enterprise Capital refers to any form of long-term, unrestricted funding that targets an organization’s balance sheet—allowing investment where it is needed most. 

This webinar discusses Enterprise Capital and the ways it can increase the effectiveness of philanthropic and nonprofit efforts to advance racial and economic equity. The work of nonprofit organizations is critical to our nation’s economy as we seek to overcome structural racism, wealth inequality and the consequences of climate change. However, many nonprofits continuously struggle to secure the funding that enables them to build financial strength. Addressing this lack of funding will enable them to meet the challenges of this moment more effectively. This session features practitioners who are employing the Enterprise Capital approach, along with other tools, to shift capital and power to those who are closest to the issues at hand and best positioned to create effective solutions.

Speakers

Cory Anderson, chief innovation officer, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Andrea Levere, executive fellow, Yale School of Management; President Emerita, Prosperity Now 
Abigail Suarez, program officer of community development in global philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
Lem White, Co-CEO, Possibility Labs
Sarah Simms, community development finance manager, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco facilitator
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Related resources

Presentation files

2021


December 2, 2021

The current public health and economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on historically underserved individuals and communities of color. Stabilization and recuperation are happening slowly; however, it is important to monitor the conditions and needs of the organizations serving the most severely impacted communities to foster an inclusive recovery. These organizations are the infrastructure that aids in promoting economic resilience and mobility for all. Without them, we risk an uneven recovery from the pandemic. 

The national COVID-19 Community Impact Survey, administered by the Federal Reserve System, was designed to track the significant impact the pandemic has had on low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities and the entities serving them. The survey was created to amplify the voices of people working on the frontlines to serve distressed communities.

In August 2021, the latest iteration of the survey was implemented in collaboration with eight national partners. During this session, we will discuss findings affecting organizations serving LMI communities, and how this research informs decision-making for our partners and other community development practitioners.

Speakers

Nishesh Chalise, director of community-based policy and analysis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ellicia Lanier, founder and executive director, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center
Sabeen Perwaiz, president and CEO, Florida Nonprofit Alliance
David L. Thompson, vice president of public policy, National Council of Nonprofits
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Related resources

Presentation slides

November 16, 2021

Across the country, many vulnerable rural communities were still striving to fully recover from the Great Recession when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The pandemic– and the steep economic downturn caused by the measures implemented to limit its spread– hit many vulnerable rural communities particularly hard: from low-wage meatpacking workers in the Midwest to Native communities in the Southwest, and from Black Americans in the Southeast to immigrant farmworkers in the West.

Recognizing the precarious situation many of these communities faced before the pandemic, and the tough work they have ahead of them in recovery, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis are jointly publishing Investing in Rural Prosperity, which details a framework for advancing shared economic prosperity in rural communities across the United States.

The session celebrates the unique assets in rural communities, while making the case for continued investment—specifically in low-income or otherwise under-resourced rural communities. In making this case, speakers will reveal a new “TRIC” framework from the book. The “TRIC” framework proposes the most successful rural development efforts are tailored to the specific goals, assets, and organizational infrastructure of the community; designed to be resilient to changing circumstances; intentionally inclusive about who is at the decision-making table and who benefits from local development; and are created and carried out through a collaborative process.

As rural communities seek to recover from the pandemic, this approach will help economic development practitioners, policymakers, funders and researchers in providing inclusive, sustainable access to economic opportunity.

Speakers

Daniel Paul Davis, vice president and community affairs officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Andrew Dumont, senior community development analyst, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Donna Gambrell, president and CEO, Appalachian Community Capital
Justin Maxson, deputy undersecretary for rural development, United States Department of Agriculture
Lisa Mensah, president and CEO, Opportunity Finance Network
Marietta Rodriguez, president and CEO, NeighborWorks America

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

October 7, 2021

Throughout the pandemic, important conversations about the challenges, support, and recovery of small businesses have been ongoing. This session will highlight data from the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) that help to more deeply examine how the pandemic impacted a diverse range of small businesses, including nonemployer firms (businesses with no employees other than the owner), and firms owned by people of color. This virtual event will also discuss how SBCS data continue to inform small-business recovery and resilience.

The SBCS is a national collaboration between all 12 Federal Reserve Banks. As the largest annual and national survey of its kind, it is a unique source of data on the credit experiences of small businesses. The SBCS is supported by a diverse network of more than 400 community and business groups throughout the country.

Accion Opportunity Fund—a nationwide nonprofit organization that provides small-business owners with access to capital, networks, and coaching—is a 2021 SBCS partner organization. Accion Opportunity Fund will join this conversation to offer insight into ongoing challenges, note methods of innovative support, and provide ways that data inform action.

Speakers

Joshua Miller, vice president of policy and research, Accion Opportunity Fund
Maria Thompson, SBCS outreach manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Emily Wavering Corcoran, SBCS program manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey and Accion Opportunity Fund

Presentation slides

September 2, 2021

Imagine that racial and gender gaps in the labor market did not exist. Would economic benefits extend beyond people no longer facing disparities? A team of Federal Reserve community development experts created a data simulation to find out, and the short answer is yes. For every state in the U.S. and Washington DC, eliminating gaps in average hourly earnings, hours worked, educational attainment and employment-to-population ratio would produce significant GDP gains.

During this session, national experts and Federal Reserve colleagues will engage in dialogue to explore and share the data simulation tool. They will discuss what it means for the ecosystem of public, private and nonprofit sector partners­—all of whom have roles to play in narrowing racial and gender gaps in labor market outcomes. The implications of this project are especially important after more than a year of economic challenges related to COVID-19. In bringing people off the sidelines and back into the economy, there are individual and institutional actions that can be taken to make sure that women and people of color are not left behind. The discussion will surface ideas for policies and practices that can be implemented in communities around the nation to create an economy that works for everyone.

Speakers

Mary Daly, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Rachel Korberg, executive director, Family and Workers Fund
C. Nicole Mason, president and CEO, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
Vanessa Palmer, data scientist, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Kathi Thomas-Gibson, director of community services, City of Las Vegas
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (moderator)

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco and Minneapolis

Related resources

Presentation slides

August 12, 2021

The pandemic exposed deep structural inequities in America’s financial system. When COVID-19 hit the U.S., it became clear that millions of Americans and small businesses were disconnected from our banking system. This session will cover the kinds of partnerships and innovative programs that were created to help fill the capital void for the small businesses that are struggling the most. The public and private sectors collaborated in a number of states to set up funds to provide responsible and affordable credit to these small businesses. The California Rebuilding Fund and the Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund are key examples of these partnerships. Both programs saw community groups, community development financial institutions, and private and philanthropic capital (and in California’s case, the state government) come together to provide low-interest loans to businesses.

A number of new models have arisen that may continue to be used long-term to provide small-business owners—particularly those that are underserved by traditional financial institutions—with capital to survive and grow. This panel brings together thought leaders within these sectors to discuss these new partnerships and models, as well as methods of creating opportunities for a more equitable lending landscape. Speakers will also inform the ways federally-funded and state-led capital access efforts can help scale these innovative programs to help them thrive long-term.

Speakers

Beth Bafford, vice president of syndications and strategy, Calvert Impact Capital
Tahreem Kampton, Treasurer, Microsoft
Luz Urrutia, CEO, Accion Opportunity Fund
Rocio Sanchez-Moyano, senior researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco facilitator
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Related resources

Presentation slides

June 3, 2021

Last year, the United States faced unprecedented challenges stemming from the pandemic. The Federal Reserve Board’s annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) provides insights into the challenges that people faced as a result of COVID-19, as well as who was most affected by the disruptions.

During this session, experts will discuss the results from the 2020 SHED, which asked over 11,000 people how their finances fared near the end of 2020. Findings showed nearly one-fourth of adults were doing worse in 2020 than they were a year earlier; despite this setback, most people noted their finances were “at least okay” overall.

The virtual event will cover findings from the SHED on the ways families fared across a range of dimensions, including employment, children’s schooling and childcare, and finances. Speakers will also discuss recent trends on disparities in financial well-being by education, race, and ethnicity.

Speakers

Jeff Larrimore, chief, Consumer and Community Research Section, Board of Governors
Alicia Lloro, senior economist, Consumer and Community Research Section, Board of Governors
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

May 13, 2021

Good health enables individuals and families to engage in their social and economic lives. It allows them to contribute and benefit from the economy; although, the ability to achieve this level of health is not equal for all. Differences in health outcomes exist across many factors, including economic status, education, race and ethnicity, and geography. Working towards health equity means that every person has the opportunity to attain their full health potential, and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of their position in society or other socially-determined circumstances.

As COVID-19 spread throughout the country, its impact rippled through all facets of communities and the economy. As a result, the interdependency between health and the overall economy was made even more evident than it previously was. The pandemic reminds us of the importance of health as we work towards economic equity.

In this session, speakers will focus on the impact of COVID-19, historical and structural barriers to health equity, the relationship between health and economic equity, and practices to encourage equitable health.

Speakers

Bobby Milstein, director of system strategy, ReThink Health
Jason Purnell, vice president of community health improvement, BJC Healthcare
Ruth Thomas-Squance, senior director of field building, Build Healthy Places Network
Nishesh Chalise, director of community-based policy and analysis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of special projects and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

April 8, 2021

Minority small-business owners and community lenders, some of whom described how they were surviving the COVID-19 pandemic in a Fed Communities story series, will share their experiences. During this session, panelists will ponder the following questions.

  • Where are they now?
  • What do they need going forward?
  • Who can and should help?
  • What’s at stake for us all when small businesses in underserved areas—and the community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions that support them—struggle?

Speakers

Suzanne Anarde, CEO, Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Elmy Bermejo, owner, Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant
John Chin, executive director, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
Gary R. Woods, former chairman, Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce
Alfreda Norman, senior vice president, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Fed Communities

Presentation slides

2020


November 12, 2020

As regions across the country grapple with what it will take to re-stabilize and rebuild their economies, the COVID-19 crisis continues to make clear that our health, jobs and livelihoods are inextricably linked. What will it take to rebuild?

We can learn a lot from the experience of the 80+ regional partnerships that make up the national Next Generation Sector Partnership community of practice operating in 18 states around the country. “Next Gen” partnerships mobilize business leaders from a single industry sector in a shared regional economy to work with one another and with a coordinated team of public partners to strengthen their industry and their community.

This session will feature three Next Gen Sector Partnerships, based in Chicago, El Paso and Northern Colorado. Each are examples of how activating local manufacturing business leaders to tackle shared challenges can have a dramatic impact on the overall resiliency of an industry and its community.

Speakers

Lindsey Woolsey, Co-Principal, Institute for Networked Communities/Next Gen Sector Partnerships
Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership — Sylvia Robinson, Communications & HR Program Manager, Tolmar and Board Chair, NoCO Manufacturing Partnership and Heidi Hostetter, Vice President, Faustson
Calumet Manufacturing Industry Sector Partnership — Nancy Wilson, CEO, Morrison Container Handling Solutions and Kindy Kruller, Economic Development Program Manager, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
El Paso Manufacturing Sector Partnership — Jackie Butler, U.S. Director, Bio El Paso-Juarez and Jose Gerardo, Founder and President of General Labels & Printing LLC
Elizabeth Sobel Blum, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Presentation slides

October 8, 2020

Financial fraud is a major economic problem that effects millions of people annually. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing approximately $1.9 billion to fraudulent activities and scams in 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic contraction that followed, consumer complaints about fraud in bank accounts, credit cards, and pre-paid cards have increased. As of July 20, 2020, the FTC estimated that $90.04M had been lost to coronavirus-related fraud alone. Lower-income and older Americans, especially those receiving Economic Impact Payments through the federal government’s CARES Act, maybe particularly susceptible to fraud.

In this session, speakers will provide an overview of financial services fraud, including recent data trends. Speakers will also share stories about fraud in lower-income and older households and provide information about key resources available to community-based organizations and consumers seeking assistance.

Speakers

Colleen Tressler, Senior Project Manager, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Michael Herndon, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Older Americans, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Robin McKinney, CEO, CASH Campaign of Maryland
Kathy Stokes, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs, AARP
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

September 24, 2020

Learn about the Federal Reserve Board’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) for the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The CRA is a seminal piece of legislation enacted to address systemic inequities in access to credit as part of a reinforcing set of laws to expand financial inclusion and combat redlining. The CRA ensures that federally insured banks and institutions meet the credit needs of the communities in which they are chartered and remains as important as ever in today’s circumstances.

During this session, speakers discuss how the Federal Reserve Board’s ANPR seeks to strengthen, clarify, and tailor the CRA regulations to reflect the current banking landscape and better meet the core purpose of the CRA. In addition to providing an overview of the ANPR and highlighting its key features, speakers will also identify how individuals and organizations can comment on the ANPR.

Speakers

Suzanne Killian, Senior Associate Director, Consumer & Community Affairs
Joseph Firschein, Deputy Associate Director and Community Affairs Officer, Consumer & Community Affairs
Carrie Johnson, Manager, Community Reinvestment Act Policy, Consumer & Community Affairs
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

September 23, 2020

Millions of people lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting lower-income communities and people of color particularly hard. Join Mary C. Daly, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, for a discussion on the current challenges affecting the labor force and the opportunities they present for meaningful change. Daly will be joined by Stuart Andreason, Director of the Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and their discussion will include a focus on what we can currently do to create a more inclusive economy for the future.

The session also highlights findings from the Federal Reserve System’s COVID-19 Community Impact Survey, which gathers nationwide input from nonprofits, financial institutions, government agencies and other organizations that serve low- to moderate-income communities.

Speakers

Mary C. Daly, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Stuart Andreason, Director of the Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Director of Communications and Strategic Support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco and Atlanta

Presentation slides

August 20, 2020

Food insecurity is a symptom of economic vulnerability (the opposite of economic resilience). Additionally, household food insecurity can significantly diminish both the mobility and development of children and adults. In addition to being associated with a lack of liquid assets, it is also a detrimental outcome that inhibits stability and upward mobility for households.

In this session, speakers will highlight the current trend of rising food insecurity during the COVID-19 recession and the prevalence of self-reported food insecurity in the U.S., as measured by the Census Bureau’s weekly Household Pulse Survey. They will disaggregate the overall trends into demographic groups and highlight geographic variation across states and the 15 largest metropolitan statistical areas; thus, allowing organizations to identify the households likely to be in most need of support in their communities. The virtual event will also provide insight on the existing policy and programmatic interventions—within various levels of government and nonprofits—that offer examples of what could be implemented in communities to meet nutritional needs.

Speakers

Lowell Ricketts, Lead Analyst at the Center for Household Financial Stability, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Kristen Wild, Executive Director at Operation Food Search
Elaine Waxman, Senior Fellow at The Urban Institute
Daniel Paul Davis, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

August 6, 2020

Speakers

Julia Barfield, Senior Manager of Policy and Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Eric Buchanan, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Bevin Parker-Cerkez, Managing Director, Program Services & Senior Director, Early Childhood Education, Reinvestment Fund
Ben Horowitz, Senior Project Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Director, Communications and Strategic Support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Minneapolis

Presentation slides

July 14, 2020

Join us for a session focused on the Federal Reserve’s response to the pandemic and the important role small businesses play in communities. The session will feature reflections from Patrick T. Harker, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and Claire Kramer Mills, assistant vice president and director of community development analysis at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The virtual event will also feature key findings from the Federal Reserve System’s COVID-19 Community Impact Survey on low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities and the entities serving them, which was most recently conducted in June. The survey gathers information on the effects of COVID-19 on the nation’s LMI communities and its associated report summarizes responses from representatives from nonprofits, financial institutions, government agencies and other community organizations.

Speakers

Patrick T. Harker, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Claire Kramer Mills, assistant vice president and director of community development analysis, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, director of communications and strategic support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and New York

Presentation slides

June 25, 2020

In a new report, researchers at the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland analyze tens of millions of online job ads — and the skills listed therein — to identify viable career transitions between lower-wage occupations and better-paying occupations requiring similar skills. This webinar highlights the findings of this new research on a skills-based approach to occupational mobility, which could offer economic pathways out of lower-wage work for those without a bachelor’s degree and help meet the talent needs of employers. The session will also include a practical illustration of the research and lessons learned from Education Design Lab’s work in regional economies that are attempting to solve their skills gaps through education and training. The takeaways from this webinar are especially relevant in the COVID-19 environment and recovery as employers attempt to refill positions with skilled workers and millions search for jobs that leverage and reward their abilities.

Speakers

Kyle Fee, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Marta Urquilla, Chief Program Officer, Education Design Lab
Keith Wardrip, Community Development Research Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Director, Communications and Strategic Support Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland

Related resources

Opportunity Occupations Skills Based Mobility Report

Presentation slides

June 10, 2020

This is the fourth and final installment of the virtual CDFI Symposium Webinar Series. This series exclusively focuses on research surrounding the purpose and influence of community development financial institutions (CDFIs). It centers on the following research paper advancing understanding of the impact of CDFIs within Native American communities:

  • Community Development Financial Institutions and Individuals’ Credit Risk in Indian Country — explores how the presence of Native and non-Native CDFIs affects the credit risk scores of Indian Country residents.

Speakers

Chrystel Cornelius, First Nations Oweesta Corporation
Mike Eggleston, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ian Galloway, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Peter Grajzl, Washington and Lee University
Miriam Jorgensen, University of Arizona

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Richmond, and San Francisco, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and CDFI Fund

Related resources

June 3, 2020

This is the third installment of the virtual CDFI Symposium Webinar Series. This series exclusively focuses on research surrounding the purpose and influence of community development financial institutions (CDFIs). 

This webinar will center on research papers advancing understanding of CDFI capitalization, including:

  • Addressing the Capitalization and Financial Constraints of CDFI Microlenders — presents the results of the Aspen Institute’s initiative to explore capitalization and liquidity strategies among CDFI microlenders that could address the financial challenges associated with growth.
  • Raising Capital When the Going Gets Tough: Determinants of Capitalization Among Minority Depository CDFIs — examines the sources of heterogeneity in changes to equity capital for minority CDFIs, compared to non-minority CDFIs and other community banks in similar markets.

Speakers

Jessel Amin, Capital Impact Partners
Maude Touissant-Comeau, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Emily Wavering Corcoran, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Eric Hangen, University of New Hampshire
Joyce Klein, Aspen Institute

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Richmond, and San Francisco, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and CDFI Fund

Presentation slides

May 28, 2020

This webinar will elevate necessary policies and practices to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 on low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. Leading experts will explore the importance of community agency to rebuilding economies and creating an infrastructure for growth based on local assets, education, and skills. They will also address challenges to this process, which include confronting systemic and structural barriers that have created disparities, especially for LMI populations and communities of color. By leading with equity in three pillars of our economy – housing, jobs, and wealth – we can transform policies and practices that are essential to creating stronger households and communities.

Speakers

Patrick T. Harker, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Raghuram G. Rajan, Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and former governor of the Reserve Bank of India
Andre Perry, fellow with the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings Institution
Heather Boushey, president and CEO of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth
Daniel Paul Davis, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Related resources

May 27, 2020

This is the second installment of the virtual CDFI Symposium Webinar Series. This series exclusively focuses on research surrounding the purpose and influence of community development financial institutions (CDFIs). 

This webinar will center on research papers surrounding minority-owned firms, including:

  • Minority-Owned Enterprises and Access to Capital from Community Development Financial Institutions — examines the CDFI loan application process and acceptance probability for minority-owned firms.
  • Just How Risky? Comparative Institutional Risks of Minority Depository Institutions and Community Development Financial Institutions — concentrates on the relative institutional failure risks for MDIs, community development banking institutions and non-mission depository institutions.

Speakers

Gregory B. Fairchild, University of Virginia
Russell Kashian, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Victor Eduardo da Motta, Fundação Getulio Vargas
Amanda Roberts, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Kim Saunders, National Bankers Association

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Richmond, and San Francisco, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and CDFI Fund

Presentation slides

May 20, 2020

This is the first installment of the virtual CDFI Symposium Webinar Series. This series exclusively focuses on research surrounding the purpose and influence of community development financial institutions (CDFIs). 

The first webinar will center on research papers surrounding CDFI impact and evaluation, including:

  • A Longitudinal Impact Study of Accion and Opportunity Fund Small Business Lending in the U.S. — details the post-loan stories of 350 Accion and Opportunity Fund borrowers and the impact of small-business lending services on their businesses, personal financial security and their overall quality of life.
  • A Qualitative Model for the Evaluation of Community Development Financial Institutions — focuses on the ways CDFI lending affects small-business borrowers and the communities in which they work.

Speakers

Greg Bischak, CDFI Fund
Lance Loethen, Opportunity Finance Network
Caroline Loyas, Impact Seven
Meredith Medlin, Accion
Michael Swack, University of New Hampshire

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Richmond, and San Francisco, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and CDFI Fund

Presentation slides

May 14, 2020

Join experts from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors as they share key findings from the seventh annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED). Since 2013, the goal of the survey has been to gather and share a wide range of information about the financial challenges and opportunities facing individuals and households in the United States. The annual Report on the Well-Being of U.S. Households, which describes the SHED results, will be released shortly before the webinar.

The seventh round of the survey includes a special supplemental survey of individuals and household regarding their financial well-being in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The supplemental survey was fielded during the first week of April and provides a unique first look at household conditions as the economy contracted in response to the pandemic.  

The 2019 survey findings provide a picture of how US households were situated in the months leading up to the public health and financial crises.  The supplemental survey found that self-reported financial well-being had declined in early 2020, most notably among those who lost a job or had hours reduced in March. The survey also tracks a number of other important individual and household characteristics related to employment, income, working from home, retirement, and savings.

Speakers

Jeff Larrimore, Section Chief, Consumer and Community Research Section, Board of Governors
Mike Zabek, Economist, Consumer and Community Research Section, Board of Governors
Ellen Merry, Principal Economist, Consumer and Community Research Section, Board of Governors
Daniel Paul Davis, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

2019


October 31, 2019

Experts discuss insights and recommendations and also the role that funders and grant makers can play in supporting quality middle-skill jobs and opportunities for partnership.

Speakers

Sam Evans, Senior Community Affairs Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Melissa Johnson, State Policy Director, National Skills Coalition
Allison Gerber, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Meredith Covington, Community Affairs Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Related resources

Presentation slides

September 5, 2019

This webinar focuses on the results of the 2018 Small Business Credit Survey and showcases how partner organizations are using the survey to shape products, services, and policies for small businesses.

Speakers

Mary Hirt, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Jessica Battisto, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Amir Kirkwood, CFO, Opportunity Finance Network
Lance Loethen, VP, Research, Opportunity Finance Network
Joyce Klein, Director, Economic Opportunities Program, Aspen Institute
Meredith Covington, Community Affairs Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Atlanta

Related resources

2018


December 13, 2018

This webinar explores the Duty to Serve Program, an effort in the secondary mortgage market. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have ambitious plans to increasing affordable housing options in three markets – manufactured housing, rural housing, and affordable housing preservation.

Speakers

Lance George, Housing Assistance Council
Jim Gray, Federal Housing Finance Agency
Anna Canfield Roth, Fannie Mae
Dan Ticona, Freddie Mac
Faith Weekly, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Meredith Covington, Community Affairs Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

November 29, 2018

Learn about new research that features eight case studies on CDFI partnerships.

Speakers

Yonina Gray, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership and Reinvestment Fund
Paul Woodruff, St. Louis Community Credit Union
John Reger, Capital Venture Consultants, Inc.
Jeanne Milliken Bonds Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Emily Wavering Corcoran, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Meredith Covington, Community Affairs Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Presentation slides

October 18, 2018

Learn about the opioid epidemic and its impact on the economy; specifically labor force participation. Examples of local models and practices used to address aspects of the opioid epidemic are shared.

Speakers

Barbara Marsh, Assistant to the Health Commissioner at Public Health – Dayton and Montgomery County
Anita Brown-Graham, ncIMPACT
Jeanne Milliken Bonds Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Kyle Fee, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Meredith Covington, Community Affairs Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Cleveland

Presentation slides

July 26, 2018

Learn about the new Opportunity Zones tax incentive, which aims to drive long-term equity capital to distressed communities by providing tax benefits on investments in Opportunity Funds. Speakers will provide details on how the tax incentive is expected to work and highlight emerging national and local strategies to engage residents around how these funds are deployed in their communities.

Speakers

Rachel Reilly, Director, Impact Investing, Enterprise Community Partners
Eric Robertson, President, Community LIFT
Amanda Roberts, Senior Community Development Analyst, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Daniel Davis, Community Development Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Presentation slides

March 29, 2018

The workforce development system trains, educates and provides social services to working-age individuals to help them succeed in the labor force and, at the same time, meet employers’ demand for quality talent. Banks and organizations partnering with them can play an important role in workforce development and the economic health of low- and moderate-income communities. Our two-part Connecting Communities® webinars present tools and information for banks to engage in workforce development activities that may help them fulfill their obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Speakers include workforce development entities and their bank partners.

Speakers

Steven Shepelwich, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Barbara Mahnen, Bank of America
Andrea Stiles Pullas, Mi Casa Resource Center
Ruben Ramos, BBVA Compass
Priscilla Dinn Alvarez, Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA)

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City

Related resources

Engaging Workforce Development: A Framework for Meeting CRA Obligations

Presentation slides

March 8, 2018

The workforce development system trains, educates and provides social services to working-age individuals to help them succeed in the labor force and, at the same time, meet employers’ demand for quality talent. Banks and organizations partnering with them can play an important role in workforce development and the economic health of low- and moderate-income communities. Our two-part Connecting Communities® webinars present tools and information for banks to engage in workforce development activities that may help them fulfill their obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Speakers include workforce development entities and their bank partners.

Speakers

Elizabeth Sobel Blum, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
John Galante, Year Up
Mark Estrada, State Street Bank

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City

Related resources

Engaging Workforce Development: A Framework for Meeting CRA Obligations

Presentation slides

January 11, 2018

Just as broadband access plays a critical role in our lives, access to broadband has become critically essential in community development—education and workforce development, health, housing, small business development and access to financial services. The ability to access the internet is an important tool for workers to use to find and keep jobs in both urban and rural markets. Broadband access lags in many population segments, including low-income and rural communities.

Under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), infrastructure investment includes facilitating the construction, expansion, improvement, maintenance or operation of essential infrastructure or facilities for health services, education, public safety, public services, industrial parks or affordable housing. Broadband is included as a form of infrastructure investment—an essential community service.

This Connecting Communities webinar highlights possible opportunities for financial institutions to receive CRA consideration and take advantage of new opportunities to help close the digital divide across communities and improve economic stability.

Speakers

Jeanne Milliken Bonds, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Jordana Barton, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Adrian Franco, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Chelsea Cruz, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Yolanda Davila, BBVA Compass

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond, Dallas, and New York

Presentation slides

2017


November 2, 2017

In a number of cities across the country, neighborhood revitalization has been stymied by the impact of blight. Whether it’s in the form of abandoned properties, houses in severe disrepair, or vacant homes, blight is a major cause of what’s become known as the “appraisal gap”—the situation in which the cost of rehabilitating a home is greater than the home’s post-construction value. The appraisal gap can hamper the recovery of a city’s housing market and also foster a favorable environment for bottom-feeding investors, who build up large rental portfolios by buying up foreclosed homes that were previously owner-occupied.

During the housing crisis, the temporary Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) provided gap financing that enabled housing developers to build or rehab a high volume of single-family homes. But what approaches are available to help fill the gap now, post-NSP?

This Connecting Communities webinar will highlight two innovative programs and a policy strategy that offer working solutions to address the appraisal gap and mitigate the impact of blight, vacancy, and abandonment in distressed communities across the country.

Speakers

Kim Graziani, Vice President and Director of National Technical Assistance for the Center for Community Progress
Steve Lockwood, Executive Director of Frayser Community Development Corporation in Memphis, Tenn.
Krysta Pate, Program Director for Detroit Home Mortgage
Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of Policy for LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

October 12, 2017

According to the Aspen Institute, more than 50 million Americans live in or near financial crisis, and a growing number lack savings cushions to weather emergencies. Far too many of these households lack access to basic, affordable financial services, and spend too much of their limited earnings on fees and interest. According to the Center for Financial Services Innovation, this amounts to more than $145 billion annually.

This marketplace is encompassed largely by non-bank financial services, such as check cashers, payday lenders and subprime loans, but also includes mainstream banking fees like overdrafts. These fees and their negative impact are compounded by the growing number of households with volatile or unpredictable income.

Organizations across the country are developing solutions to address volatility and financial inclusion and to support households in managing cash flow and building savings, increasing credit and confidence along the way. Tune in to this free, one-hour Connecting Communities® webinar to hear from leading experts as they engage in dialogue about research, current initiatives and best practices to help address the challenges low-income households face in the financial marketplace.

Speakers

Lauren Leimbach, Community Financial Resources
Anne Leland Clark, Prepare + Prosper
Joanna Smith-Ramani, The Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Presentation slides

September 14, 2017

This Connecting Communities® webinar explores using regional food system investments to drive entrepreneurial activity and small business development. Speakers discuss technical support that can be provided to entrepreneurs, as well as creative tools for financing regional food enterprises. The webinar draws on research in a new book, Harvesting Opportunity. The speakers are all contributors to the publication; they highlight how organizations are working to ensure that the opportunities created through regional food investments are available to all, including traditionally marginalized populations.

Speakers

Lisa Benson, Director, Rural Development, American Farm Bureau Federation
Donna Leuchten Nuccio, Director, Healthy Food Access, Reinvestment Fund
Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of Sustainability, The George Washington University

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

July 27, 2017

In this free Connecting Communities® webinar, learn how guarantees can be used as a form of credit enhancement to channel more private capital to impact investing deals and projects.

Leaders from the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and the Kresge Foundation share their analysis of how guarantees have been used in U.S. community investing to date, including common features of guarantees based on a database of 58 deals. They discuss recommendations for scaled use and also address barriers to using guarantees at greater scale in U.S. community investing.

The program highlights specific case studies to show how guarantees have been used to effectively motivate capital to finance projects such as healthcare centers, affordable housing development and preservation, energy efficiency retrofits, and neighborhood revitalization.

Speakers

Abhilash Mudaliar, Research Director, GIIN
Hannah Schiff, Research Manager, GIIN
Kimberlee Cornett, Managing Director of Social Investment Practice, The Kresge Foundation

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Related resources

Scaling the Use of Guarantees in U.S. Community Investing

Presentation slides

May 4, 2027

Thousands of affordable rental properties in rural communities are in danger of being lost to disrepair or market forces in the next decade. This Connecting Communities® webinar explores strategies that are being implemented to try and preserve them, with a focus on recently released data and tools that can help community organizations and their partners better understand the current landscape of rural affordable rental housing. Presenters from PolicyMap and USDA Rural Housing Service describe the tools and data their organizations have developed or are hosting. You’ll also get the practitioner’s perspective, as the leader of Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership discusses how his organization is using those tools and resources to identify at-risk properties and assess preservation strategies.

Speakers

Elizabeth Nash, ‎Vice President of Data and Product Development, PolicyMap
Bryan Hooper, Deputy Administrator for Multifamily Housing, USDA Rural Housing Service
Rick Goodemann, Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Related resources

Key housing organizations take coordinated approach to preserving rural Minnesota’s affordable rentals

Presentation slides

April 25, 2017

Young workers in the U.S. experience higher rates of unemployment than the population as a whole. Nonetheless, they are generally optimistic about their job prospects, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s new report, “Experiences and Perspectives of Young Workers.” The report, which presents data collected through a 2015 survey, provides a snapshot of the educational attainment, employment experience, job market outlook and financial self-sufficiency of 18- to 30-year-olds.

 Findings from the survey include:

  • Sixty-one percent of respondents are positive about future employment opportunities, compared with 45 percent in 2013.
  • Respondents with postsecondary education and those who are currently employed are more likely to be optimistic about future job opportunities.
  • Despite the flexibility of some contingent or contract work, young adults prefer jobs that are permanent and steady. They also prefer steady employment to higher pay.
  • Seventy-three percent of young workers said they were able to cover monthly expenses with their income in 2015, compared with 64 percent in 2013.

Join us for this one-hour Connecting Communities® webinar to learn more findings from this new Federal Reserve report. You’ll hear from leading experts on young workers and the labor market.

Speakers

Heidi Kaplan, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Ofronama Biu, The NYC Labor Market Information Service (NYCLMIS), Center for Urban Research, City University of New York
Amy Blair, Economic Opportunities Program, Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

April 13, 2017

Much has been made about the skills gap that exists in the U.S. economy today. Employers argue that they cannot find qualified workers to fill open positions and sometimes ask for a higher level of education than the job requires in order to find the right candidate. New research from the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Atlanta finds that the level of education requested to fill similar jobs across metro areas in the U.S. varies substantially. Employers’ preferences for a bachelor’s degree are higher where recent college graduates are relatively more numerous, where wages are higher, in larger metro areas, and in the Northeast. The report finds this to be true overall and for four middle-skills occupations that can provide less-educated workers with a toehold in the middle-class.

The status quo is counterproductive for both workers and employers. Are there solutions that connect talented workers with decent-paying jobs based on their demonstrated skills and competencies rather than on their degree?

Tune in to this free, one-hour Connecting Communities® webinar to hear from leading experts within the Federal Reserve and across the field as they engage in a dialogue about recent research and current initiatives to close the skills gap.

Speakers

Keith Wardrip, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Mels de Zeeuw, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Andi Rugg, Markle Foundation
Sally Smyth, Opportunity@Work
Papia Debroy, Opportunity@Work

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Presentation slides

January 26, 2017

The gap between the rich and poor has been called one of the world’s most widespread and pressing concerns. A key focus of the Federal Reserve, economic mobility was a theme of a recent national research conference, bringing together viewpoints from hundreds of experts across academia, policy and practice. In December 2016, the Fed released a collection of selected works presented at the conference, entitled Economic Mobility: Research & Ideas on Strengthening Families, Communities & the Economy, which explores a range of issues and concepts central to understanding how—and how well—people are able to move economically.

What is the current state of economic mobility across our nation? What challenges remain as we look to the future? And perhaps even more important, what opportunities exist to help shape a better future for those affected by economic inequality?

Tune in to this free one-hour Connecting Communities® webinar to hear from leading experts within the Federal Reserve and across the field as they engage in a dialogue about recent research and current initiatives that will shape the future. David Buchholz, from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and Ray Boshara, of the St. Louis Fed’s Center for Household Financial Stability, will provide a general introduction to the recently published collection of essays and provide updates on work across the Federal Reserve System.

Joining the conversation will be Nisha Patel, executive director of the US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty, as well as Erin Currier, director of financial security and mobility at the Pew Charitable Trusts, who will share their reflections and insight from current initiatives they lead.

For a preview of possible discussion topics, check out the Economic Mobility publication online.

Speakers

Nisha Patel, Executive Director, US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty
Erin Currier, Director of Financial Security and Mobility, The Pew Charitable Trusts
David Buchholz, Deputy Associate Director of Consumer & Community Affairs, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Ray Boshara, Director, Center for Household Financial Stability, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Related resources

Economic Mobility: Research & Ideas on Strengthening Families, Communities & the Economy

Presentation slides

2016


December 15, 2016

A good job has long been the entryway to financial stability and economic opportunity, but labor markets are changing. The share of middle-skill jobs—those that have traditionally provided entry to the middle class—has fallen while the share of frontline, service sector, and lower-skill jobs has increased. In addition to lower wages, these jobs in industries such as home health care, retail sales, food preparation, and service often have irregular hours, limited benefits, and limited opportunities for advancement.

In this Connecting Communities® webinar, learn how health care employers are investing in frontline workers. Kelly Aiken, Vice President at the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and Director of CareerSTAT, discuss how an employer-led national collaboration of health care leaders promotes employer investment in the skill and career development of frontline health care workers. She discusses CareerSTAT’s framework and strategies outlined in the new Guide for Investing in Frontline Health Care Workers. Representatives from UnityPoint Health and Homebridge, both Frontline Health Care Worker Champion organizations, discuss how these strategies work in practice and their impact on employees and business outcomes.

Speakers

Kelly Aiken, Vice President, National Fund for Workforce Solutions, and Director, CareerSTAT
Mark Burns, Executive Director, Homebridge
Emily Brown, Retention Specialist, UnityPoint Health
Steven Shepelwich, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

November 17, 2016

While impact investing continues to grow, it remains difficult to articulate, analyze and differentiate the impact in impact investing. While tools exist to understand investments on the basis of financial characteristics, the same cannot be said of impact characteristics.

In traditional and impact investing, asset classes provide tremendous benefits as a frame for grouping investments with similar financial characteristics, but there is not equivalent shorthand for the impact in impact investing.  Without an improved classification, the market risks increased misunderstandings, inefficiencies, and misalignment that will impede its development. 

In a new report from Tideline, Navigating Impact Investing, social investment experts propose the creation of impact classes as a way to optimize the process of matching an investor’s unique risk, return and impact preferences with the right investment opportunities. In this one-hour session, report co-authors Ben Thornley of Tideline and Cathy Clark, a professor at Duke University, will share their proposed impact classes, the feedback they’ve received from stakeholders, and how to turn this concept into reality. Sasha Dichter of Acumen will offer a practitioner’s reflections on what an impact class framework may mean for the impact investing field. 

Speakers

Ben Thornley, Tideline
Cathy Clark, Duke University
Sasha Dichter, Acumen
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

November 3, 2016

Small business has been increasingly used as an economic development tool in hard to develop communities. This session will discuss what is occurring in the emerging field of entrepreneurship based economic development and provide information from communities that have effectively used entrepreneurship to generate local economic growth.

Speakers

Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Deborah Markley, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
Maria Meyers, Executive Director, KCSourceLink
Erik Pedersen, Vice President of Entrepreneurship, NetWork Kansas

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

Experts from the Federal Reserve Board and New York University share key findings from the Board’s 2015 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED). Jeff Larrimore discusses recent trends in the survey on economic well-being, preparedness for financial emergencies, income volatility, and differences in outcomes in the survey by race and ethnicity. Jonathan Morduch and Julie Siwicki provide insights about the implications of the survey’s results on financial well-being by drawing upon their research expertise.

Speakers

Jeff Larrimore, Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Board
Jonathan Morduch, Professor of Public Policy and Economics at NYU and the Managing Director of the Financial Access Initiative
Julie Siwicki, Research Associate at NYU

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

July 7, 2016

Small business experts from across the Federal Reserve System discuss the results of the 2015 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS). The SBCS from the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond and St. Louis, in partnership with local business and civic groups, gathered information from small businesses on general business conditions and firm financial and credit experiences. Responses to the SBCS provide insight into the dynamics behind aggregate lending trends and shed light on noteworthy segments of the small business credit market (as reported by firms). The SBCS captures the perspectives of businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

Speakers

Claire Kramer, Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Karen Leone de Nie, Community and Economic Development (CEC) Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Tammy Halevy, SVP, New Initiatives at AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity)
Lauren Stebbins from Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)

Presented by

Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey

Related resources

June 14, 2016

Every household’s financial health matters to the success of the U.S. economy, but financial insecurity is widespread and impacts a broad range of outcomes, such as health, educational attainment, and employment. What It’s Worth: Strengthening the Financial Future of Families, Communities and the Nation offers a collection of essays from some of the nation’s leading experts that examines the systemic causes of financial insecurity, the enormous creativity and innovation already happening to increase financial well-being, and how we can implement proven and emerging solutions.

Speakers discuss promising practices for building financial well-being, such as integrating services across sectors and ideas for policies and financial products designed to expand economic opportunity for lower-income Americans. Topics will include approaches and services that integrate financial capability in families’ lives such as peer-to-peer lending circles and homebuyer education and counseling.

Speakers

Laura Choi, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Kate Griffin, CFED
Jose Quinonez, Mission Asset Fund
Paul Weech, President & CEO of NeighborWorks America

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Presentation slides

May 12, 2016

Gentrification and displacement are growing concerns in community development and urban revitalization. Cities are in a period of resurgence, gaining renewed interest from people who want to live and work in urban centers. This has resulted in gentrification pressures in a number of low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods that are in or near city centers and core business districts and historically have had modest property values.

Research has explored tools to measure the extent of gentrification and the long-term effects of displacement on the financial stability and future mobility of populations that leave gentrifying areas. For example, findings from a recent Philadelphia Fed study show that when more vulnerable residents moved from gentrifying neighborhoods, they were more likely to move to lower-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods with lower values on quality-of-life indicators.

In this webinar, participants will hear about emerging research that explores how gentrification is being defined, its causes, and its impacts on vulnerable residents. Two practitioners from Boston and Philadelphia will discuss practical solutions for addressing the effects of gentrification and displacement on LMI people and communities. Presenters will discuss how equitable and inclusive development policies and practices have supported commercial, residential, and transit growth and community revitalization.

Ingrid Gould Ellen of the New York University Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy will provide an overview of research on the drivers and effects of gentrification and displacement in communities. Harry Smith of Dudley Neighbors, Inc., a Boston-based community land trust that has been active for over 25 years, will describe how his organization has secured affordable housing opportunities for families in the city’s rising real estate market. John Chin of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation will discuss preservation and revival in Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood, including a new mixed-used development that will feature market-rate and affordable rentals and a community center.

Speakers

Ingrid Gould Ellen, New York University Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
Harry Smith, Dudley Neighbors, Inc.
John Chin, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Presentation slides

February 18, 2016

The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program is an innovative federal credit program that offers credit-worthy certified CDFIs access to affordable long-term capital. In this free Connecting Communities session, learn how this unique program incentivizes and empowers CDFIs to execute large-scale projects, including the development of commercial real estate, housing units, charter schools, daycare or healthcare centers, and municipal infrastructure. Speakers will discuss the practical “nuts and bolts” of accessing the Bond Guarantee Program.

Speakers

Lisa M. Jones, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, U.S. Department of Treasury
Douglas J. Bystry, Clearinghouse CDFI
Jennifer Novak, Community Reinvestment Fund

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Presentation slides

January 28, 2016

This session highlights two relatively new financial innovations being applied to workforce development. The first is pay for success/social-impact bonds. While several social impact bonds (SIBS) have been structured to improve employment outcomes among formerly incarcerated individuals, Boston-based Social Finance, Inc. is currently structuring a SIB that will support broader workforce development efforts in Massachusetts. The goal of the Connecting Communities session is to demonstrate how the pay-for-success model is well positioned to scale effective workforce-development programs. 

The second financial innovation is the community employment loan program (CELP) out of Canada. Designed and implemented by Social Capital Partners in Ontario, Canada, CELP aims to drive positive employment outcomes for vulnerable populations by reducing the interest rate on loans to small and medium-size businesses. In exchange for the reduced rates, these businesses agree to hire people facing barriers to employment, such as medical/physical disability, low-income, single parents, people without education certifications, etc. This Connecting Communities session highlights the program and its potential broader impact: societal cost savings of moving people into stable employment.  

Speakers

Tracey Hsu, Social Finance, Inc.
Bill Young, Social Capital Partners

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

2015


December 10, 2015

Workers and employers in the United States face new realities and uncertainties that current public workforce policies and programs were not designed to address. The Great Recession and other disruptive forces have altered the environment for workers, job seekers, businesses, educational institutions and government alike. How can the workforce system be reimagined to address this evolving economy?

Join us to explore this question through a discussion of two chapters from Transforming U.S. Workforce Development Policies for the 21st Century, a new publication from the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Kansas City, and the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development.

Larry Good of the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce will draw on his chapter, “Reimagining Workforce Policy in the United States,” to explore new program and funding models to align workforce investments with the needs of an economy in transformation.

Anthony Carnevale of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce will outline ways a learning–labor exchange could help students and institutions adapt to the new realities of the U.S. labor market based on his chapter, “Learn and Earn: Connecting Education to Careers in the 21st Century.”

Steve Hendrickson of the Boeing Company will provide an additional perspective on the changes and opportunities presented, given his roles with and expertise in business and the public workforce system.

Speakers

Larry Good, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
Anthony Carnevale, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
Steve Hendrickson, Boeing Company

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

November 19, 2015

Learn about the growing field of U.S. Community Investing (USCI) and discuss key recommendations on how to scale the field from the newly released report, Scaling U.S. Community Investing: The Investor-Product Interface by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.

In thi Connecting Communities® webinar, participants will learn about two existing USCI models: the Calvert Foundation’s Community Investment Note, designed as an intermediary product to provide investor capital for community development, and the Vermont Community Loan Fund, one CDFI that adapted its business to gain greater access to investor capital.

Speakers

Amit Bouri, Global Impact Investing Network
Michael Swack, Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire
Justin Conway, Calvert Foundation
Will Belongia, Vermont Community Loan Fund
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Related resources

October 15, 2015

Employee-owned businesses bring unique benefits to workers, businesses, and the broader economy. Worker co-op conversion is an innovative strategy to assist retiring business owners who are motivated to sell the business to their employees when they can take on the challenge. The pending ‘silver tsunami’ of retiring baby boomers makes this issue not only important, but very timely. Baby boomers own 66% of all privately-held businesses with employees, or nearly four million companies.

For business owners who want to see the business remain in their communities, who want their employees to be well taken care of when they retire or sell their business, and who want their mission and the core strengths of their business to remain intact, employee ownership is an attractive opportunity.

In this webinar, experienced practitioners will explain the process of “converting” a traditional business to a worker co-op, some approaches to financing these employee buy-outs, and additional insights from case studies. We will review the main features and benefits of worker-owned cooperatives and talk about why worker ownership is an important community economic development strategy.

Speakers

Alison Lingane, Co-founder, Project Equity
Rob Brown, Director, Cooperative Development Institute’s Business Ownership Solutions program

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Related resources

Presentation slides

September 29, 2015

The marketplace for small dollar lending to small businesses is transforming as access to capital moves to online sources. Online alternative lenders (e.g., CanCapital, OnDeck, Lending Club, Kabbage, PayPal) offer small dollar, small business products including cash advances, online lines of credit and a variety of short-term loans. Technology and online platforms are changing virtually all small business lending processes from underwriting, to loan pricing, to loan delivery, to loan servicing. To help shed light on this growing, crowded and potentially confusing marketplace, an online focus group of small businesses that are potential online borrowers was asked about their perspectives and understanding of this relatively new marketplace. In this webinar, two national experts discuss this study and details of its findings as well as their possible implications.

Speakers

Barbara Lipman, Senior Supervisory Analyst, Division of Consumer &
Community Affairs, Federal Reserve Board
Ann Marie Wiersch, Senior Policy Analyst, Community Development Office, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

August 20, 2015

Equitable transit-oriented development, or ETOD, refers to the idea that investments in and along public transportation corridors should benefit everyone in the adjoining neighborhoods, regardless of their socioeconomic status. ETOD can have long-lasting and large-scale effects by improving access to quality housing, jobs, education, and other pillars of healthy communities—especially for low- and moderate-income households. But how can developers and local leaders ensure that transit-oriented projects will truly benefit all?

On this webinar, join national experts to explore models of communities achieving equitable growth around transit. Speakers will share the latest ETOD policy framework, summarize emerging research in the field, and discuss the financing of ETOD projects—including how to fill funding gaps by cultivating new public-private partnerships. They’ll also highlight examples of ETOD projects that have improved residents’ connectivity to quality housing, jobs, education, and health care. The session will conclude with highlights of the national Rail~Volution conference in Dallas in October.

Speakers

Dan Bartholomay, CEO, Rail~Volution
Brian Prater, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development and Corporate Affairs, LIIF (Low Income Investment Fund)
Shelley Poticha, Director, Urban Solutions, Natural Resources Defense Council

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

Related resources

Presentation slides

July 16, 2015

As the wide racial wealth gap continues to increase over time, millions of families nationwide lack enough assets to offer better opportunities for future generations.   What is the extent and what are the implications of racial wealth inequality? Learn what several recent studies reveal in this Connecting Communities® webinar highlighting findings from three sources:

  • Results from the National Asset Scorecard for Communities of Color (NASCC) survey. Notably, the NASCC has collected for the first time detailed data on assets and debts at the MSA level and by different race, ethnicity and country of origin groups. These data ordinarily cannot be examined with public datasets.  The survey was conducted in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Tulsa, Miami, and Boston.
  • The Color of Wealth in Bostona report by the Boston Fed, in partnership with the Ford Foundation and Duke University’s Consortium on Social Equity, containing new analysis of the economic well-being of several specific racial and ethnic groups in the Boston MSA by country of origin based on the NASCC data. This analysis—focused on U.S.-born blacks, Caribbean blacks, Cape Verdeans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans—shows marked disparities in wealth by race and ethnicity.
  • An essay on race, ethnicity, and wealth from the St Louis Fed’s series The Demographics of Wealth, examining the connection between race or ethnicity and wealth accumulation over the past quarter-century. The essay is based on analysis of data that was collected between 1989 and 2013 via the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances.

The webinar features key takeaways as well as the implications for these analyses. There will be ample time to ask questions. 

Speakers

William Darity, Duke University
Bill Emmons, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Darrick Hamilton, The New School
Ana Patricia Muñoz, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Bryan Noeth, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Boston and St. Louis

Presentation slides

June 11, 2015

Interested in learning about current issues affecting consumers’ financial well-being? What have trends in household financial behaviors and sentiments looked like since the recovery? This webinar focuses on these and other questions. Federal Reserve Board of Governors staff present findings from a recently issued Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2014, which details results from its survey of household and economic decision making in 2014. The survey itself aims to capture a snapshot of the financial and economic well-being of U.S. households, as well as to monitor their recovery from the recent recession and identify any risks to their financial stability. The webinar—part of the Federal Reserve’s Connecting Communities® webinar series—focuses on key takeaways from the report.

Speakers

David Buchholz, Federal Reserve Board
Arturo Gonzalez, Federal Reserve Board
Jeff Larrimore, Federal Reserve Board
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

May 28, 2015

Policymakers, private and public sectors, and community organizations are seeking viable approaches to evaluate program impacts, both after the completion of a program and in real time in order to learn and adapt practices to local conditions. However, evaluation in the absence of randomized control trials poses unique challenges including possible selection bias. Feedback and support processes that require real-time data collection and organization confront additional challenges. This Connecting Communities® session discusses these challenges as well as potential solutions. Speakers will also share the intuition behind the methods and the available models that can be applied in practice, especially in complex and even trying conditions.

Speakers

Wenhua Di, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas moderator
Daniel Millimet, Southern Methodist University
Moira Inkelas, University of California, Los Angeles
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis host

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Presentation slides

May 14, 2015

Curious to learn about how consumers use mobile phones for banking, make payments for goods and services, shop, and make other financial decisions? Join us for a free Connecting Communities® session to hear from Federal Reserve Board staff who will discuss findings from their recently issued report, Consumers and Mobile Financial Services 2015. This is the fourth Board report on the use of mobile financial services.

Speakers

Anna Boyd, Federal Reserve Board of Governors moderator
Arturo Gonzalez, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Ellen Merry, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Alexandra Brown, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis host

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

April 30, 2015

Small businesses are important to the U.S. economy and the well-being of local communities. They employ half of the nation’s private sector workers and in recent decades have created two-thirds of net new jobs. Yet, unlike large firms, which rebounded relatively quickly from the Great Recession, the pace of recovery for small firms has been slower and more uneven.

An important part of measuring the small business recovery is tracking firms’ demand for and ability to access capital. The Small Business Credit Survey, a collaboration between the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, attempts to to capture changing aspects affecting small business credit demand and access to capital. Responses from small businesses in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee were captured as part of this effort.

Members of the Small Business Credit Survey team will discuss survey results and present findings that provide insight into the dynamics behind aggregate lending trends. They will also shed light on noteworthy segments of the small business credit market, including small dollar borrowers.

Speakers

Marysol McGee, Federal Reserve Board of Governors moderator
Claire Kramer Mills, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Theresa Singleton, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis host

Presented by

Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey

Presentation slides

March 26, 2015

Roughly 30 million Americans—about 1 in 10—live in communities without adequate access to healthy food. Over the last decade, increased awareness of this reality has spurred national and local efforts to expand healthy food access, particularly in low-income communities. This webinar session will offer fresh perspectives on understanding and addressing food-access issues. Tune in to hear experts explore questions such as, What do the data show on low- and moderate-income consumers’ needs and behaviors regarding healthy food? What programs and approaches have proven to be most successful? and What factors are most important for addressing this issue over the next five years?

Speakers

Shelly Ver Ploeg, Senior Economist, Food Economics Division, Economic Research Service, USDA
Mark Kudlowitz, Director of Programs and Native Initiatives, CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Yael Lehmann, Executive Director, The Food Trust
Ela Rausch, Community Development Project Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (moderator)
Daniel Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Presentation slides

January 29, 2015

Interested in learning about how to use data to improve planning, engagement, and operations in your community? Join us for this webinar session featuring speakers from the North Carolina indicators group. Members will share strategic approaches they have used to improve community data use. These experts will discuss their experiences in using integrated community data systems and neighborhood-level indicators as well as linking these measurements with city departments. They will also examine how data can be used to catalyze community engagement around an emerging issue.

Speakers

Ashley Clark, Institute for Social Capital, University of North Carolina–Charlotte’s Urban Institute
John Killeen, City of Durham, North Carolina
Rebecca A. Hefner, City of Charlotte, North Carolina
Mari Krane, Forsyth Futures
Shannon A. McKay, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Related resources

Presentation slides

January 8, 2015

Young U.S adults have experienced higher rates of unemployment and lower rates of labor force participation than the general population for at least two decades. The Great Recession exacerbated this phenomenon. Despite a substantial labor market recovery from 2009 through 2014, vulnerable populations—including the nation’s young adults—continue to experience higher rates of unemployment. Meanwhile, changes in labor market conditions, such as globalization and automation, have reduced the availability of well-paid, secure jobs for less-educated persons, particularly jobs that provide opportunity for advancement. Join us for a webinar session to kick off 2015 that will focus on these issues and spotlight key findings from a recently-issued Fed report In the Shadow of the Great Recession: Experiences and Perspectives of Young Workers.

Speakers

Rory O’Sullivan, Deputy Director, Young Invincibles
Carl Van Horn, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University
Heidi Kaplan, Senior Community Affairs Analyst, Federal Reserve Board moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

2014


December 11, 2014

Robust community development research, or performance context, is an important part of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) examination process, as it identifies needs and opportunities that exist within low-and moderate-income neighborhoods. The performance context also creates a framework for evaluating a bank’s performance in meeting community needs. The intent of this session is to educate the public, particularly bankers and community-based organization representatives, on the content and potential use of the performance context—what it means and why it matters. Participants will hear from both a regulator and banker on what makes a good performance context and how that information can be used to tell a compelling story about CRA performance and maximize a bank’s intended impact. Please join us for this important conversation.

Speakers

Jessica LeVeen Farr, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Beth Trotter, IberiaBank
William Dowling, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Presentation slides

November 5, 2014

Participation loans are a way that small businesses in underserved areas can often secure a loan that both a traditional financial institution and an alternative lender—such as microlenders, community loan funds, and community development financial institutions issue together. These loans can be an important part of the credit market picture, allowing both lenders to lend in ways that suits their institutions and underwriting policies while also providing much-needed capital to small businesses. This webinar highlights some small business loans that were done in partnership and examine how the institutions worked together to issue the parts of the loan.

Speakers

Jen Giovannitti, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Sandy Tormoen, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Dave Clark, Woodlands Community Lenders
Dan Reitz, First Microloan of West Virginia
John Hamilton, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Jim Reiff, Nebraska Enterprise Fund

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Presentation slides

October 23, 2014

This webinar focuses on the impact that pre-purchase counseling has on improving creditworthiness over time. It includes an overview of the key findings from the Philadelphia Fed’s recently-released longitudinal study on the effectiveness of pre-purchase counseling. Leading experts also discuss effective and innovative counseling models being implemented around the country, share their perspectives on resources to support these programs, and provide insight on future policy implications. This session is of particular interest to researchers, housing and credit counselors, policy experts, community stakeholders, state and local government representatives, and foundation leaders.

Speakers

Sarah Gerecke, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Patricia Hasson, President and CEO, Clarifi
Tammy Orr, Director of Business Development, Citibank
Marvin M. Smith, Senior Community Development Economic Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Presentation slides

October 9, 2014

Economic insecurity can be a common issue among many U.S. community college students. Historically, these institutions have addressed the financial challenges of their students by offering affordable tuition, emergency assistance programs, and access to cost effective benefits, among other offerings. A newer strategy, however, is to develop strategies for developing students’ skills to manage their personal financial lives more effectively and to be better positioned for financial decision-making in the future. This session will feature two speakers from institutions that have deployed such strategies. Join us to learn more about this work along with descriptions of lessons learned in implementing these important strategies.

Speakers

Sarah Savage: Senior Evaluation and Learning Specialist in the Financial Capabilities Group, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
William Watson, Director of the SparkPoint Center, Skyline College
Sonya Caesar, Director CCBC Cares, Community College of Baltimore County

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Presentation slides

August 26, 2014

Interested in learning about current issues affecting consumer financial well-being? Curious about what trends in household financial behaviors and sentiments have looked like since the recovery? This one-hour discussion led by Federal Reserve Board of Governors staff presents findings from a recently issued report covering results from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) of 2013. The report provides a snapshot of the self-perceived financial and economic well-being of U.S. households and addresses many key topics, including household economic well-being, housing and living arrangements, credit behavior and access to credit, savings, education and student loans, retirement, and health insurance coverage and expenses.

Speakers

Anna Alvarez Boyd, Senior Associate Director, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
David Buchholz, Assistant Director, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Max Schmeiser, Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Jeff Larrimore, Economist, Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

August 14, 2014

Low-wage jobs are increasingly prevalent in America’s changing labor market and have impacts for the economic mobility and financial stability prospects of such workers and their families. Join us for a session that explores this issue through the lens of the frontline healthcare sector. Frontline healthcare workers are increasingly important because of their impact on the patient experience, provision of quality care, and expansion of services to the newly insured. While these positions represent some of the fastest growing job categories in the nation, they are often marked by low wages, few benefits, and difficult working conditions. New research findings will be presented on how the Affordable Care Act is affecting the roles, career paths, and training of frontline caregivers. Presenters will also explore effective practices and policies for strategically investing in these positions to increase outcomes for employees, employers and patients.

Speakers

Steven L. Dawson, Strategic Advisor, Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI)
Jan Hunter, CareerSTAT Director, National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Steven Shepelwich, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

July 24, 2014

Pay for success models like the social impact bond allow government agencies to procure improved social outcomes, not just program outputs. The twin elements of pay for success—a performance-based contract combined with bridge financing—shift program failure risk off of government and on to a private sector investor. Much like the low income housing tax credit, this public-private investment structure aligns incentives and guarantees that government only “pays for success.” This session will introduce this new financing tool and explore its potential use in the community development field.

Speaker

Ian Galloway is a senior research associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Ian researches and presents regularly on a variety of community development topics including crowdfunding, investment tax credits, the social determinants of health, impact investing, and Pay for Success financing (Social Impact Bonds). He also recently co-edited Investing in What Works for America’s Communities (2012), a collection of essays jointly published with the Low Income Investment Fund on the future of anti-poverty policy. Previously, Ian developed a social enterprise (virginiawoof.com) for the Portland, Oregon homeless youth agency Outside In. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Colgate University.

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Presentation slides

July 10, 2014

New to community and economic development? Interested in hearing more about key trends and emerging practices in the field? Wondering how the Federal Reserve promotes community development, and why? Join us for a session featuring three community development experts who will share their perspectives on the state of the industry and offer insights on promising practices, research, and policy issues from around the country.

Presenters will also discuss the Fed’s role in community development and how this work has evolved over time, including the recent launch of two new tools: a web portal – FedCommunities.org – and a report, both aimed at making valuable community development resources more accessible to practitioners, funders, members of the public and private sectors, and others interested in advancing the financial stability and economic mobility of lower-income communities and individuals.

Speakers

Joseph Firschein, Deputy Associate Director and Community Affairs Officer, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Alfreda B. Norman, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Mark Pinsky, President and CEO, Opportunity Finance Network

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

2013


December 10, 2013

This session will highlight the work that four Federal Reserve Banks have done to create a dialogue for older industrial cities who are working to attract new residents and investments. The Banks have organized a series of four video conference and in-person meetings involving community leaders in Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. This audioconference will focus on what was learned in the second session of the series, the roles of anchor institutions and cultural and art organizations have played and can play in cities.

Speakers will include representatives from the four participating Federal Reserve Banks and others who have participated in this dialogue.

Speakers

Ted Howard, The Democracy Collaborative
Ellen Janes, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Mary Helen Petrus, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Amy Lempert, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Robin Newberger, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Presentation slides

November 12, 2013

This session will explore ways the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) can support workforce development outcomes. While the CRA has been an important incentive for support of housing and community development programs, it has not played a significant role in funding of workforce development programs. Insight into how the CRA has been used by workforce investment boards will be discussed based on findings from a new survey of workforce development professionals. An overview of the CRA will then provide the basis for identifying additional options for extending its use to support workforce programs.

The session considers:

  • The goals, policies and implementation of the CRA,
  • Ways the CRA can be used to support workforce programs, and
  • Strategies for workforce professionals to engage the support of financial institutions.

Speakers

Ariel Cisneros, senior community development advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Jim Enright, senior examiner, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Clyde McQueen, president and CEO, Full Employment Council
Steven Shepelwich, senior community development advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

September 10, 2013

As economic hardship lingers, communities across rural America are looking for solutions to spur revitalization and create opportunities for renewal. In response, a number of towns and small metros in rural areas are taking ownership of their futures by capitalizing on the assets they already have and establishing entrepreneurship-based economic development models. The growth and development of entrepreneurs is an important strategy for generating more capital, jobs and overall prosperity for rural residents. This session will explore the necessary components of an entrepreneurship-based economic development model, explain the underpinnings of this community development approach, and offer several examples of what successful entrepreneurial initiatives look like across rural America.

Speakers

Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Don Macke, Co-Director, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Kansas City

Presentation slides

August 13, 2013

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America successfully brought to the attention of the nation a startling fact: your zip code is more important than your genetic code in determining your health. But as impressive as the Commission’s report was, one thing it did not do was explain how to improve zip codes as a means to improve the overall health of the nation. Fortunately, there is an entire industry—community development—with annual resources in the tens of billions of dollars, that is in the zip code improving business. The time to merge these two approaches—ameliorating the social determinants of health and revitalizing low-income neighborhoods—is now. This session will explore this idea and offer several examples of successful partnerships between the community development and health sectors. It will also discuss how federal policies, such as the Affordable Care Act and the nonprofit hospital Community Benefit obligation, may create opportunities for collaboration in the future.

Presentation slides

July 9, 2013

This session will present findings from recent research on how the low- and moderate-income (LMI) population has been affected by the Great Recession and subsequent recovery. The LMI population has fared worse overall than higher-income groups and as well as faced unique, adverse conditions on several fronts. This research is based on a summary of quantitative and qualitative data collected through a quarterly survey of organizations that provide services to LMI clients.

The session considers:

  • How the LMI population has fared relative to other income segments,
  • Changes and challenges experienced relative to job availability, credit access, affordable housing, and basic needs, and
  • Ways the findings can inform service design and delivery.

Speakers

Kelly Edmiston, senior economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Ona Porter, executive director, Prosperity Works
Steven Shepelwich, senior community affairs advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Presentation slides

March 20, 2013

This session will focus on the primary findings of the 2011 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households (Household Survey) released in September 2012. The FDIC sponsored this survey every two years to collect data on the number of U.S. households that are unbanked and underbanked, their demographic characteristics, and their reasons for being unbanked and underbanked.

The Household Survey was conducted in June 2011 by the U.S. Census Bureau as a special supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS). Teamed with the rich demographic and geographic data available through the CPS, this survey continues to present a wealth of previously unavailable data on unbanked and underbanked households that are available at the national, state, and large metropolitan statistical area (MSA) levels.

Speakers

Yazmin Osaki, FDIC
Susan Burhouse, FDIC

Presentation slides

March 13, 2013

In January 2013, thirteen of the mortgage servicers subject to the Independent Foreclosure Review reached an agreement with federal regulators to pay more than $9.3 billion in cash payments and other assistance to help borrowers.

As a result of this agreement, the participating servicers have ceased the Independent Foreclosure Review, which involved case-by-case reviews, and replaced it with a broader framework allowing eligible borrowers to receive compensation more quickly.

In this session, speakers provide additional details on the payment agreement.

Speakers

Suzanne Killian, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Ted Wartell, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Presentation slides

2012


November 7, 2012

In late 2012, the St. Louis Fed developed a new framework around Household Financial Stability, or HFS, with a focus on household balance sheets. The project’s three key questions are:

  • What’s the state of the household balance sheets?
  • Why do they matter for family well-being and for economic growth?
  • What can policymakers, researchers, and practitioners and others do to improve them?

Household balance sheets have been relatively under-studied yet increasingly recognized as important to achieving both family economic security and national economic recovery. Many economists report that, by 2007, balance sheets reached their worst condition since the Great Depression. And rebuilding them entails significant challenges to both families and policymakers nationwide.

Many in the Federal Reserve System have been studying family balance sheets for years. What we hope to offer is a broad conceptual framework, a common table where those throughout the System and beyond can learn and work together. This session summarizes the rationale for focusing on household balance sheets, briefly describes the project’s current and planned activities, and discusses new findings about losses in household wealth following the Great Recession.

Household wealth declined almost $17 trillion in inflation-adjusted terms, or 26 percent, from its peak in mid-2007 to the trough in early 2009. Economists Ray Boshara, Bill Emmons and Brian Noeth will discuss their finding that wealth losses hit older, wealthier Americans (who had the most to lose) the hardest in terms of absolute dollars, but affected younger, less-educated and minority households the most in terms of percentage. What are the implications of the research for further research, community practice, and for public policy?

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation slides

October 16, 2012

Thousands of current or former homeowners that were in foreclosure in 2009 or 2010 may be eligible for compensation or other remedy due to foreclosure errors. Join a Connecting Communities® audioconference on Tuesday, October 16 from 3:00-4:00pm EST to learn more about the Independent Foreclosure Review (IFR) process and how to spread the word to potentially eligible borrowers.

The deadline for the IFR process has been extended to the end of 2012. Homeowners who were in foreclosure with one of 14 large mortgage services in 2009 or 2010, and believe that they were financially harmed due to errors in the foreclosure process, can request an independent review to determine if they are eligible for compensation.

This audioconference will provide an overview of the history and terms of the IFR agreement, including who is eligible and how they can request a review. In addition, the session will provide information to homeowners that think they might be eligible for a review and resources for housing counselors to assist eligible homeowners. Lastly, the session will provide suggestions as to how community groups can spread the word on IFR and encourage eligible families to request an independent review.

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

August 29, 2012

Student loan debt now surpasses the $1 trillion mark, and many students struggle to make their payments.

Join this audioconference to learn about:

The drivers of the rising levels of student loan debt
The reasons contributing to the increased volume of student loan delinquencies and defaults
The segment of student populations that may be especially impacted
Initiatives to address the needs of student borrowers

Speakers

Sandy Baum, Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, The George Washington University
Rohit Chopra, Student Loan Ombudsman, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Ajita Talwalker, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Undersecretary, Department of Education

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City

Presentation slides

August 1, 2012

Over the past decade, land banks have emerged as flexible housing-stabilization tools that municipalities can use to manage excess residential property. Municipalities have formed and programmed these property-disposition organizations in response to variables in their local housing markets, such as the acquisition costs of excess properties, the ownership status of vacant and abandoned property, and the local demand for housing. As a result, the roles and effectiveness of land banks vary from city to city. Through presentations by academics and practitioners, this Connecting Communities forum will explore how land banks can best operate given their local housing and demographic conditions.

Speakers

Frank Alexander, Sam Nunn Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law
Thomas Fitzpatrick, Economist, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Chris Norman, Executive Director, Fulton County/City of Atlanta Land Bank Authority

Presented by

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Related resources

July 13, 2012

During the recent financial crisis, banking institutions have experienced a rise in Real Estate Owned (REO) property caused by general weaknesses in the housing market, including increases in delinquencies and defaults, declines in house prices, and deficiencies in the structure of a number of commercial real estate (CRE) financings.

In light of these extraordinary conditions, the Federal Reserve Board recently reminded banking institutions and examiners (under its supervision) of the regulations and policies associated with the management and disposition of REO property. These policies address the legal, financial, and reputational risks associated with REO management and disposition strategies.

The session will convey the purpose for these policies and discuss implementation issues to ensure that institutional practices do not adversely impact consumers and communities.

Presented by

Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Presentation slides

May 29, 2012

This session will highlight research conducted by the Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia Feds on older industrial cities, with a particular focus on smaller cities. The session will consider:

What are the key elements or themes that explain why certain cities are doing better than others?
What strategies have smaller industrial cities utilized to deal with the decline in manufacturing jobs, demographic changes and economic trends? What has been the role of various sectors (government, private and philanthropic)? How can best practices be transferred from one community to the other?

Presenters share the findings from various research initiatives and engage the audience in thinking about how to build a network of practitioners and policymakers around smaller industrial cities.

Speakers

Jeremiah Boyle, Community Development and Policy Studies, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Yolanda Kodrzycki, New England Public Policy Center, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Alan Mallach, Visiting Scholar, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Prabal Chakrabarti, Regional and Community Outreach, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston moderator
Sol Carbonell, Regional and Community Outreach, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston facilitator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia

Presentation slides

2011


October 13, 2011

The impact of foreclosure is felt in many ways, and from a financial management perspective one of the most enduring aspects is the impact on an individual’s credit score. A credit score is vital given its pervasive role as a proxy for evaluating personal risk in more and more areas including employment, rental housing and even insurance. A low credit score can exacerbate a household’s financial instability as additional income is used to pay the rising cost of debt service, yet there are tools that can assist in the credit rebuilding process. While the severity and duration of blemished credit depends on many factors and will be unique for every household, understanding the credit rebuilding process is of key importance for a consumer’s financial future.

This session provides an overview of the range of issues households and communities may face after foreclosure with an emphasis on tools for rebuilding credit. A panel of subject matter experts provide an overview of the multifaceted process of foreclosure recovery; discuss the impact of foreclosure and other credit disruptions on one’s credit score; and provide insight into the credit counseling industry and tools available to address credit rebuilding.

Speakers

Lena Robinson, Regional Manager, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Frederic Huynh, Principal Scientist, FICO
Joy Thormodsgard, President & CEO, SurePath Credit Counseling
Jonathan Harrison, CEO, Emerge
Melody Nava, Regional Manager, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco and St. Louis

Presentation slides

September 8, 2011

This webinar explores how microfinance can serve as a catalyst to increasing economic opportunity in low- to moderate-income communities in the US. Topics include the diversity of the microfinance industry and provides insights the Grameen microfinance organization model, founded in Bangladesh and replicated in developing countries. This session examines Grameen America’s rapid and recent growth in the US market and discusses this model’s strengths and limitations.

Speakers

Tammie C. Hoy, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Molly McGrath, Grameen America
Agnes Ubalde and Sarah Bennett, Wells Fargo
Tracey Greene-Dorsett, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
Kimberly Zeuli, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond moderator

Presented by

Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and St. Louis

Presentation slides