Policy Summit 2021: Pathways to Economic Resilience in Our Communities
Policy Summit is a regional conference that explores solutions at the practitioner and policy levels to challenges that low- and moderate-income communities face. The biennial multi-day event offers its audience of researchers, academics, practitioners, and policymakers the latest research and best practices through presentations and real-world conversations.
Agenda
Agenda
Policy Summit 2021: Pathways to Economic Resilience in Our Communities focused on economic resilience and equity and how they play out in communities of all sizes and compositions. The event highlighted the policies and practices that support or hinder people in our most vulnerable communities from being able to prepare for, adapt to, and respond to economic shocks, such as coronavirus-related closures, and underlying stresses, such as poverty and inequality. The effects of COVID-19 and racial injustice were front and center, across a range of topic areas, including but not limited to, small business, workforce and economic development, and housing.
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9:00–9:20 am Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speakers:
Emily Garr Pacetti, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Michelle W. Bowman, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System9:20–9:50 am Opening Keynote
Economic Resilience: What It Is, What It Is Not, and Why We Must Prioritize It ImmediatelyAs we move through a pandemic that has wrought havoc on our communities, we find there are many facets to rebuilding: reinvigorating local and regional economies, strengthening neighborhoods by adding quality and affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and providing career pathways for our current and future workforce. This session defines economic resilience, highlights its importance in post-COVID-19 times, and provides ways communities can work toward achieving this goal.
Speaker:
Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution | presentation9:50–11:30 am Plenary 1
Common Ground in Urban and Rural America: What Has Undermined—and What Can Build—Economic ResilienceEconomic resilience is needed, in both urban and rural communities, now more than ever. In this session, speakers share stories and insights about the geographic and racial exclusion that has undermined the economic health of these two populations essential to the success of our nation. The discussion will also identify strategies and interventions both populations can use to build economic resilience.
Moderator:
Pat Smith, President and CEO, The Funders NetworkSpeakers:
Caitlin Cain, Vice President and Director, Rural LISC
Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Teryn Zmuda, Chief Economist and Director, National Association of Counties Counties Futures LabSummary:
Theresa Y. Singleton, Senior Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia11:30–11:45 am Virtual Networking Break
11:45 am–12:45 pm Concurrent Breakout Sessions A
A1 - Affordable Home Buyers Need Mortgages, Too
Our national affordable-housing conversation too often ignores the fact that even in communities where quality homes sell for $65,000, eligible homebuyers are unable to obtain small-dollar mortgage loans to purchase them. Because loans of less than $100,000 have the same administrative cost as bigger loans but are less profitable and harder to sell on the secondary market, lenders have little incentive to provide them. This session explores the innovative and promising mortgage lending programs helping to connect eligible buyers and smaller loans, increase wealth for low- and moderate-income buyers, and stabilize disinvested communities.
Moderator:
Angelyque Campbell, Assistant Director, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemSpeakers:
Gabe del Rio, President and CEO, Homeownership Council of America | presentation
Alanna McCargo, Senior Advisor, US Department of Housing and Urban Development
A2 - Innovation + Collaboration = Change: How Nonprofit Leaders of Color Move Equity and Resilience Forward
Nonprofit leaders of color are merging funding, policies, and programs to address deep and systemic inequities that continue to prevent prosperity for communities of color. Join this session to hear how national and local nonprofit and philanthropic leaders are adopting new approaches and initiating collaborations within the community development sector to advance change and move equity and resilience forward.
Moderator:
Sydney Diavua, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisSpeakers:
Presley Gillespie, President, Neighborhood Allies
Akilah Watkins, President and CEO, Center for Community Progress
A3 - Technology and the Post-Pandemic Digital Economy
From distance working to distance job training, the pandemic has caused significant shifts the role technology plays in our daily lives. Technology is allowing a significant segment of the population to work from anywhere. This session will explore how shifting concepts of remote work and digital skills training are expanding access for everyone including the most vulnerable populations.
Moderator:
Jeremy Hegle, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CitySpeakers:
Karin M. Norington-Reaves, CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership | presentation
Neelima Parasker, President and CEO, SnapIT Solutions
Jeff Whitehead, Executive Director, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program12:45–1:15 pm Virtual Open Networking
12:45–1:15 pm Fed Listens—Pandemic Recovery
How is the overall pace of recovery going?Many communities had no choice but to be resilient over the past year. We want to know your pandemic stories of resilience, so we created this time in our agenda for you to share your thoughts. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be other opportunities to share your thoughts throughout the summit and in the end-of-event survey.
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8:30–9:00 am Virtual “Breakfast” Networking
8:30–9:00 am Fed Listens—Pandemic Recovery
How have you seen COVID-19 affect different communities in different ways?Many communities had no choice but to be resilient over the past year. We want to know your pandemic stories of resilience, so we created this time in our agenda for you to share your thoughts. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be other opportunities to share your thoughts throughout the summit and in the end-of-event survey.
9:00–9:05 am Welcome
Speaker:
Daniel Paul Davis, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis9:05–10:20 am Plenary 2
Tell Your Story: Finding Economic Resilience in the Voices of Our CommunitiesThis session explores the power of storytelling and its ability to elevate historically excluded community voices. The most effective storytellers can wield their power—sharing the experiences of those in lower-income communities and communities of color—to change commonly held ideas that frame the broader narrative of who is deserving of wealth, education, and healthy communities. This dynamic session features storytellers from communities across the nation using PechaKucha, a fast-paced, highly visual format that shows 20 slides for 20 seconds each. While they will all employ the same presentation format, each speaker will draw back the curtain on their own storytelling process, from ideation to execution, and hopefully inspire attendees to find and use their voices.
Moderator:
Nadia Owusu, Director of Storytelling, Frontline SolutionsSpeakers:
Patricia Ashanti, Founder and CEO, Delta Circles, Inc. | presentation
Eric J. Jolly, President and CEO, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation | presentation
Takeru Nagayoshi, Massachusetts 2020 Teacher of the Year, New Bedford High School | presentation
Mary Kathryn Nagle, Partner, Pipestem & Nagle, P.C. | presentation10:20–10:35 am Virtual Networking Break
10:35–11:35 am Concurrent Breakout Sessions B
B1 - Creating Inclusive, Equitable, Mixed-Income Communities with Community Land Trusts
Leaders of community land trusts explain how their model can advance inclusion and equity and deconcentrate poverty in communities. Speakers will discuss considerations for implementing community land trusts, including their ability to alleviate racial disparities in homeownership.
Moderator:
Tony Pickett, CEO, Grounded Solutions NetworkSpeakers:
Ashley Allen, Executive Director, Houston Community Land Trust
Stefka Fanchi, CEO, Elevation Community Land TrustAdditional Session Resources
National Initiative on Mixed Income Communities
What Works to Promote Inclusive, Equitable Mixed-Income Communities: Who Has a Say?
Grounded Solutions Network
Startup Community Land Trust Hub
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Tracking Growth and Evaluating Performance of Shared Equity Homeownership Programs During Housing Market Fluctuations
NeighborWorks America
Shared Equity Housing webpage
West Denver Renaissance Collaborative (WDRC)
Stay in Place Program (SIPP)
B2 - Build Resilience—in Local Governments and Beyond—with this Toolkit
For local governments across the country, the challenges of resetting disrupted city services, supporting vulnerable populations and businesses, and ensuring an inclusive fiscal recovery long after the shocks of 2020 are plenty. A toolkit from the Resilient Cities Network helps local governments answer critical questions: What activities have we stopped that we should not restart? What have we paused that we should start again but differently? And what are the things we have started that we will keep? This session will explore tools that every sector might use to prepare for, adapt to, and thrive in a changing local, national, and global environment. The session spotlights a recent agreement between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Glasgow, Scotland, to work together to achieve more resilient and inclusive communities, as well as New York City’s approach to identifying and assisting neighborhoods most affected by pandemic-related closures.
Moderator:
Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, Director and Senior Advisor, Resilient Cities Network | presentationSpeakers:
Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Pittsburgh
Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Pittsburgh
Corinne LeTourneau, Founding Principal, Resilient Cities Catalyst | presentationAdditional Session Resources
Resilient Cities Network
Toolkit for a Resilient Recovery
NYC Health
COVID-19 Data: Neighborhood Level Data (New York City)
B3 - Big Help for Small Businesses: Solutions for Improving Access to Capital
Despite their importance to our economy, small-business owners—particularly women, people of color, and other underserved populations—face significant hurdles obtaining funds from traditional sources such as banks. Wide disparities in accessing capital have grown wider as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has relied on our traditional, often inequitable system of financial institutions. Often, the only funding available to the smallest businesses is accompanied by high interest rates and confusing repayment terms. This session looks at efforts of lenders, nonprofits, and government to ensure that long-term, equitable, responsible capital is available to help enable small businesses to survive and thrive.
Moderator:
Drew Pack, Regional Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandSpeakers:
Geri Aglipay, Midwest Director, Small Business Majority | presentation
Abbey Omodunbi, Senior Economist, The PNC Financial Services Group
Danielle Sydnor, CEO, We Win Strategies Group | presentation11:35–11:50 am Virtual Networking Break
11:50 am–12:50 pm Concurrent Breakout Sessions C
C1 - The Homes We Build Are Not the Homes Communities Need
Why does the construction industry continue to build the same housing products it did during the 20th century even though demographics and consumer preferences have changed? This session will dive into recent efforts to reevaluate single-family zoning and to look at the disconnect between the new construction housing we are building and the types of housing communities prioritize.
Moderator:
Tracy Hadden Loh, Fellow, The Brookings Institution | presentationSpeaker:
Cam Gordon, Minneapolis City Council
Edward Faustin, Cofounder and Managing Principal, AreaProbe
C2 - Praise Is Not Enough: Solutions for Closing the Pay Gap for Our Essential Workers
The pandemic has made clear the crucial role low-paid workers play in our economy. These essential workers deliver packages, grow and distribute food, operate transit systems, and care for our children and seniors. In some sectors, such as health care, essential workers are disproportionately women, while in others, such as cleaning services, they are disproportionately people of color. Low and stagnant wages in essential occupations have reinforced a significant pay gap between women and men and between workers of color and white workers. In this session, speakers discuss what has worked to support essential workers in 2020, what has not, and what policies and practices can meaningfully close the wage gaps.
Moderator:
Elise Gould, Senior Economist, Economic Policy Institute | presentationSpeakers:
Kristen E. Broady, Policy Director and Fellow, The Brookings Institution | presentation
Thomas Kochan, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology | presentation
C3 - Policy Deep Dive: Research and Policy
The right research is a powerful tool, helping to change narratives, elevate community voices, and identify actions and interventions that produce positive outcomes across communities. In this workshop, researchers show the vital role that data can play for public policy. The session also includes a discussion about a new effort to more formally connect researchers with policymakers.
Moderator:
Mekael Teshome, Vice President and Senior Regional Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandSpeakers:
Gabriella Celeste, Policy Director, Case Western Reserve University | presentation
Jeffrey Shook, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh | presentation12:50–1:20 pm Networking Break
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8:30–9:00 am Virtual “Breakfast” Networking
8:30–9:00 am Fed Listens—Pandemic Recovery
What does the “new normal” look like? What should it look like?Many communities had no choice but to be resilient over the past year. We want to know your pandemic stories of resilience, so we created this time in our agenda for you to share your thoughts. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be other opportunities to share your thoughts throughout the summit and in the end-of-event survey.
9:00–9:05 am Welcome
Speaker:
Jere Boyle, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago9:05–10:05 am Concurrent Breakout Sessions D
D1 - A Targeted Approach for Embedding Racial Equity in Housing Analyses
Housing analysts are reexamining the manner in which they analyze housing policy need and impact. How can researchers—and those translating and sharing that research—ensure quantitative data helps policymakers craft clear, targeted policies that achieve racially equitable housing resource allocation, access, and outcomes? Speakers will discuss the need to disaggregate data by race to allow the development of more targeted policy solutions informed by the long history of inequity for people of color.
Moderator:
Jamila Henderson, Senior Associate, PolicyLink | presentationSpeakers:
Dennis P. Culhane, Professor, University of Pennsylvania | presentation
Gabriella Velasco, Policy Analyst, Urban Institute | presentationAdditional Session Resources
D2 - Innovation and Building a Better Economy
Jobs and even whole industries are currently undergoing significant transformations. In this session, speakers discuss promising innovations that are helping to create more resilient workers, expand equitable occupational mobility, and ensure the country’s youth are prepared to join our changing workforce.
Speakers:
Chike Aguh, Chief Innovation Officer, United States Department of Labor
Kyle Fee, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandAdditional Session Resources
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Program on Economic Inclusion
The Dynamics of the Racial Wealth Gap
Economic Inclusion 2000–2020: Labor Market Trends by Race in the US and States
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Occupational Mobility Explorer
Workforce Realigned: How New Partnerships Are Advancing Economic Mobility
D3 - Building a Small-Business Ecosystem: A Recipe for Effective and Equitable Entrepreneur Support
What do small-business owners need to be successful? Access to capital? Skilled labor pools? Government policies? This session explores the ingredients necessary for creating supportive ecosystems that contribute to business growth and equitably and proactively include entrepreneurs of color.
Moderator:
Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CitySpeakers:
Victor W. Hwang, Founder and CEO, Right to Start | presentation
Rodney Sampson, Executive Chairman and CEO, Opportunity Hub10:05–10:20 am Virtual Networking Break
10:20–11:20 am Concurrent Breakout Sessions E
E1 - Policy Deep Dive: Housing
The mission of Enterprise Community Partners is to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging, and platforms for resilience and upward mobility for all. During this session, Enterprise staff examine the local, state, and federal housing policies and interventions that address the challenges currently preventing people from accessing safe and affordable housing options.
Speakers: presentation
Flora Arabo, National Senior Director of State and Local Policy, Enterprise Community Partners
Emily Lundgard, Senior Program Director, Enterprise Community Partners
E2 - Policy Deep Dive: Workforce Development
There is no way to sugarcoat it: The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought havoc on our workforce. Entire industries had to change the way they operated, 22 million jobs were lost, and too many workers were forced to choose between safety and work. This session highlights critical policy considerations that will impact the conditions for our workforce now and into the future.
Speakers:
Bishara Addison, Director of Job Preparation, The Fund for Our Economic Future
Alex Camardelle, Director of Workforce Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
E3 - Revitalizing Communities by Restoring Neighborhood Retail
Street-level retail suffered a significant shock in 2020, but it remains a vital part of the neighborhood economy. Underperforming commercial corridors are challenged by dated and dilapidated building stock, owners without community connections, unsafe or unattractive corridor conditions, and difficulties marketing to entrepreneurs and nascent small businesses. This session will look at promising changes in the zoning, leasing, taxing, and marketing of neighborhood retail spaces to renew community vibrancy and create wealth-building opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Moderator:
Susan Longworth, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of ChicagoSpeaker:
Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director, Kensington Corridor Trust | presentation
Calvin L. Holmes, President, Chicago Community Loan Fund | presentation
Emily Talen, Professor, University of Chicago | presentation11:20–11:35 am Virtual Networking Break
11:35 am–12:50 pm Closing Keynote
FedTalk: What an “Inclusive” Recovery Looks Like in the Midwest, and Why It Matters to All of UsFor many communities, COVID-19 is just the latest economic shock to stand in the way of good jobs that provide people and families stable incomes and promising futures. Helping define what an inclusive recovery means to people and communities both locally and nationally, this session will examine the specific ways the pandemic has impacted the Midwest, expose the ways economic and racial exclusion keep economic recovery out of reach for millions of families, and propose the policies and interventions that Midwest leaders may take into consideration as they work to rebuild their communities.
Introduction:
Alene Tchourumoff, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of MinneapolisModerator:
Loretta J. Mester, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandSpeaker:
Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation
Ronald Ferguson, Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University
Crystal German, Principal, Prosperity Labs
Ned Hill, Professor, The Ohio State University
Diane Swonk, Chief Economist, Grant Thornton LLP12:50–12:55 pm Closing Remarks
Treye Johnson, Regional Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Videos
https://youtu.be/vHbOUpsknJk
Opening Remarks & Keynote Presentation: Economic Resilience: What It Is, What It Is Not, and Why We Must Prioritize It Immediately
As we move through a pandemic that has wrought havoc on our communities, we find there are many facets to rebuilding: reinvigorating local and regional economies, strengthening neighborhoods by adding quality and affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and providing career pathways for our current and future workforce. This session defines economic resilience, highlights its importance in post-COVID-19 times, and provides ways communities can work toward achieving this goal.
Opening Remarks:
Michelle W. Bowman, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Keynote Speaker:
Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
https://youtu.be/lcmsKI5cl8g
Plenary 1 - Common Ground in Urban and Rural America:
What Has Undermined—and What Can Build—Economic Resilience
Economic resilience is needed, in both urban and rural communities, now more than ever. In this session, speakers share stories and insights about the geographic and racial exclusion that has undermined the economic health of these two populations essential to the success of our nation. The discussion will also identify strategies and interventions both populations can use to build economic resilience.
Moderator:
Pat Smith, President and CEO, The Funders Network
Speakers:
Caitlin Cain, Vice President and Director, Rural LISC
Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Teryn Zmuda, Chief Economist and Director, National Association of Counties Counties Futures Lab
Summary:
Theresa Y. Singleton, Senior Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
https://youtu.be/9SrrnduG7gk
Affordable Home Buyers Need Mortgages, Too
Our national affordable-housing conversation too often ignores the fact that even in communities where quality homes sell for $65,000, eligible homebuyers are unable to obtain small-dollar mortgage loans to purchase them. Because loans of less than $100,000 have the same administrative cost as bigger loans but are less profitable and harder to sell on the secondary market, lenders have little incentive to provide them. This session explores the innovative and promising mortgage lending programs helping to connect eligible buyers and smaller loans, increase wealth for low- and moderate-income buyers, and stabilize disinvested communities.
Moderator:
Angelyque Campbell, Assistant Director, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Speakers:
Gabe del Rio, President and CEO, Homeownership Council of America
Alanna McCargo, Senior Advisor, US Department of Housing and Urban Development
https://youtu.be/eJhYN2KnGEo
Innovation + Collaboration = Change: How Nonprofit Leaders of Color Move Equity & Resilience Forward
Nonprofit leaders of color are merging funding, policies, and programs to address deep and systemic inequities that continue to prevent prosperity for communities of color. Join this session to hear how national and local nonprofit and philanthropic leaders are adopting new approaches and initiating collaborations within the community development sector to advance change and move equity and resilience forward.
Moderator:
Sydney Diavua, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Speakers:
Presley Gillespie, President, Neighborhood Allies
Akilah Watkins, President and CEO, Center for Community Progress
https://youtu.be/5MlKJ8kZg78
Technology and the Post-Pandemic Digital Economy
From distance working to distance job training, the pandemic has caused significant shifts the role technology plays in our daily lives. Technology is allowing a significant segment of the population to work from anywhere. This session will explore how shifting concepts of remote work and digital skills training are expanding access for everyone including the most vulnerable populations.
Moderator:
Jeremy Hegle, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Speakers:
Karin M. Norington-Reaves, CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Neelima Parasker, President and CEO, SnapIT Solutions
Jeff Whitehead, Executive Director, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program
https://youtu.be/4v_f46camzQ
Plenary 2 - Tell Your Story: Finding Economic Resilience in the Voices of Our Communities
This session explores the power of storytelling and its ability to elevate historically excluded community voices. The most effective storytellers can wield their power—sharing the experiences of those in lower-income communities and communities of color—to change commonly held ideas that frame the broader narrative of who is deserving of wealth, education, and healthy communities. This dynamic session features storytellers from communities across the nation using PechaKucha, a fast-paced, highly visual format that shows 20 slides for 20 seconds each. While they will all employ the same presentation format, each speaker will draw back the curtain on their own storytelling process, from ideation to execution, and hopefully inspire attendees to find and use their voices.
Moderator:
Nadia Owusu, Director of Storytelling, Frontline Solutions
Speakers:
Patricia Ashanti, Founder and CEO, Delta Circles, Inc.
Eric J. Jolly, President and CEO, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Takeru Nagayoshi, Massachusetts 2020 Teacher of the Year, New Bedford High School
Mary Kathryn Nagle, Partner, Pipestem & Nagle, P.C.
https://youtu.be/NivbC7nmrew
Creating Inclusive, Equitable, Mixed Income Communities with Community Land Trusts
Leaders of community land trusts explain how their model can advance inclusion and equity and deconcentrate poverty in communities. Speakers will discuss considerations for implementing community land trusts, including their ability to alleviate racial disparities in homeownership.
Moderator:
Tony Pickett, CEO, Grounded Solutions Network
Speakers:
Ashley Allen, Executive Director, Houston Community Land Trust
Stefka Fanchi, CEO, Elevation Community Land Trust
https://youtu.be/VcVo48fq6Jw
Build Resilience—in Local Governments and Beyond—with this Toolkit
For local governments across the country, the challenges of resetting disrupted city services, supporting vulnerable populations and businesses, and ensuring an inclusive fiscal recovery long after the shocks of 2020 are plenty. A toolkit from the Resilient Cities Network helps local governments answer critical questions: What activities have we stopped that we should not restart? What have we paused that we should start again but differently? And what are the things we have started that we will keep? This session will explore tools that every sector might use to prepare for, adapt to, and thrive in a changing local, national, and global environment. The session spotlights a recent agreement between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Glasgow, Scotland, to work together to achieve more resilient and inclusive communities, as well as New York City’s approach to identifying and assisting neighborhoods most affected by pandemic-related closures.
Moderator:
Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, Director and Senior Advisor, Resilient Cities Network
Speakers:
Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Pittsburgh
Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Pittsburgh
Corinne LeTourneau, Founding Principal, Resilient Cities Catalyst
https://youtu.be/pezTSBokZns
Big Help for Small Businesses: Solutions for Improving Access to Capital
Despite their importance to our economy, small-business owners—particularly women, people of color, and other underserved populations—face significant hurdles obtaining funds from traditional sources such as banks. Wide disparities in accessing capital have grown wider as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has relied on our traditional, often inequitable system of financial institutions. Often, the only funding available to the smallest businesses is accompanied by high interest rates and confusing repayment terms. This session looks at efforts of lenders, nonprofits, and government to ensure that long-term, equitable, responsible capital is available to help enable small businesses to survive and thrive.
Moderator:
Drew Pack, Regional Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Speakers:
Geri Aglipay, Midwest Director, Small Business Majority
Abbey Omodunbi, Senior Economist, The PNC Financial Services Group
Danielle Sydnor, CEO, We Win Strategies Group
https://youtu.be/qsxGzVYUxno
The Homes We Build Are Not The Homes Communities Need
Why does the construction industry continue to build the same housing products it did during the 20th century even though demographics and consumer preferences have changed? This session will dive into recent efforts to reevaluate single-family zoning and to look at the disconnect between the new construction housing we are building and the types of housing communities prioritize.
Moderator:
Tracy Hadden Loh, Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Speakers:
Cam Gordon, Minneapolis City Council
Edward Faustin, Cofounder and Managing Principal, AreaProbe
https://youtu.be/s747TLv2O9I
Praise Is Not Enough: Solutions for Closing the Pay Gap for Our Essential Workers
The pandemic has made clear the crucial role low-paid workers play in our economy. These essential workers deliver packages, grow and distribute food, operate transit systems, and care for our children and seniors. In some sectors, such as health care, essential workers are disproportionately women, while in others, such as cleaning services, they are disproportionately people of color. Low and stagnant wages in essential occupations have reinforced a significant pay gap between women and men and between workers of color and white workers. In this session, speakers discuss what has worked to support essential workers in 2020, what has not, and what policies and practices can meaningfully close the wage gaps.
Moderator:
Elise Gould, Senior Economist, Economic Policy Institute
Speakers:
Kristen E. Broady, Policy Director and Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Thomas Kochan, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
https://youtu.be/OX4erDjvEn8
Policy Deep Dive: Research and Policy
The right research is a powerful tool, helping to change narratives, elevate community voices, and identify actions and interventions that produce positive outcomes across communities. In this workshop, researchers show the vital role that data can play for public policy. The session also includes a discussion about a new effort to more formally connect researchers with policymakers.
Moderator:
Mekael Teshome, Vice President and Senior Regional Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Speakers:
Gabriella Celeste, Policy Director, Case Western Reserve University
Jeffrey Shook, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh
https://youtu.be/GzfNKbKLh1k
A Targeted Approach for Embedding Racial Equity in Housing Analyses
Housing analysts are reexamining the manner in which they analyze housing policy need and impact. How can researchers—and those translating and sharing that research—ensure quantitative data helps policymakers craft clear, targeted policies that achieve racially equitable housing resource allocation, access, and outcomes? Speakers will discuss the need to disaggregate data by race to allow the development of more targeted policy solutions informed by the long history of inequity for people of color.
Moderator:
Jamila Henderson, Senior Associate, PolicyLink
Speakers:
Dennis P. Culhane, Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Gabriella Velasco, Policy Analyst, Urban Institute
https://youtu.be/ZyJ87rQ_hNY
Innovation and Building a Better Economy
Jobs and even whole industries are currently undergoing significant transformations. In this session, speakers discuss promising innovations that are helping to create more resilient workers, expand equitable occupational mobility, and ensure the country’s youth are prepared to join our changing workforce.
Speakers:
Chike Aguh, Chief Innovation Officer, United States Department of Labor
Kyle Fee, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
https://youtu.be/6cqVrF-4D8w
Building a Small Business Ecosystem: A Recipe for Effective and Equitable Entrepreneur Support
What do small-business owners need to be successful? Access to capital? Skilled labor pools? Government policies? This session explores the ingredients necessary for creating supportive ecosystems that contribute to business growth and equitably and proactively include entrepreneurs of color.
Moderator:
Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Speakers:
Victor W. Hwang, Founder and CEO, Right to Start
Rodney Sampson, Executive Chairman and CEO, Opportunity Hub
https://youtu.be/EfXWrCDpEGM
Policy Deep Dive: Housing
The mission of Enterprise Community Partners is to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging, and platforms for resilience and upward mobility for all. During this session, Enterprise staff examine the local, state, and federal housing policies and interventions that address the challenges currently preventing people from accessing safe and affordable housing options.
Speakers:
Flora Arabo, National Senior Director of State and Local Policy, Enterprise Community Partners
Emily Lundgard, Senior Program Director, Enterprise Community Partners
https://youtu.be/MOBAUdECVsA
Policy Deep Dive: Workforce Development
There is no way to sugarcoat it: The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought havoc on our workforce. Entire industries had to change the way they operated, 22 million jobs were lost, and too many workers were forced to choose between safety and work. This session highlights critical policy considerations that will impact the conditions for our workforce now and into the future.
Speakers:
Bishara Addison, Director of Job Preparation, The Fund for Our Economic Future
Alex Camardelle, Director of Workforce Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
https://youtu.be/MDbC0UbXXuo
Revitalizing Communities by Restoring Neighborhood Retail
Street-level retail suffered a significant shock in 2020, but it remains a vital part of the neighborhood economy. Underperforming commercial corridors are challenged by dated and dilapidated building stock, owners without community connections, unsafe or unattractive corridor conditions, and difficulties marketing to entrepreneurs and nascent small businesses. This session will look at promising changes in the zoning, leasing, taxing, and marketing of neighborhood retail spaces to renew community vibrancy and create wealth-building opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Moderator:
Susan Longworth, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Speakers:
Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director, Kensington Corridor Trust
Calvin L. Holmes, President, Chicago Community Loan Fund
Emily Talen, Professor, University of Chicago
https://youtu.be/LoegrAgcR7A
View the transcript
FedTalk: What an “Inclusive” Recovery Looks Like in the Midwest, and Why It Matters to All of Us
For many communities, COVID-19 is just the latest economic shock to stand in the way of good jobs that provide people and families stable incomes and promising futures. Helping define what an inclusive recovery means to people and communities both locally and nationally, this session will examine the specific ways the pandemic has impacted the Midwest, expose the ways economic and racial exclusion keep economic recovery out of reach for millions of families, and propose the policies and interventions that Midwest leaders may take into consideration as they work to rebuild their communities.
Introduction:
Alene Tchourumoff, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Moderator:
Loretta J. Mester, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Speakers:
Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation
Ronald Ferguson, Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University
Crystal German, Principal, Prosperity Labs
Ned Hill, Professor, The Ohio State University
Diane Swonk, Chief Economist, Grant Thornton LLP
Voices
Read what’s on the minds of those involved in Policy Summit 2021.
Q&As
We asked three questions, Policy Summit speakers and partners answered.
Q&A with Deborah Aubert Thomas of Philanthropy Ohio
Q&A with Jeff Whitehead of Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program
Q&A with Stefka Czarnecki Fanchi of Elevation Community Land Trust
Q&A with Matt Dunne of Center on Rural Innovation
Q&A with Karin M. Norington-Reaves of Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Q&A with Nadia Owusu of Frontline Solutions
Guest blogs
Policy Summit speakers and partners add their insights to our Notes from the Field, informal observations about what our Community Development team is seeing and hearing on the ground.
Shared Equity Affordable Homes Unlock Racial Equity for All by Tony Pickett, Grounded Solutions Network, and Julius Kimbrough Jr., Crescent City Community Land Trust
Building Resilient Communities Takes a Network: Group Shares Success Stories, Resources, and Opportunities to Connect by Jacqueline Corum and Donna Daniels, Brushy Fork Leadership Institute at Berea College
Closing the Racial Wealth Gap One Homeowner and Good Job at a Time: Toledo Taps Existing Resources to Increase Equity by Kim Cutcher, LISC Toledo
Investing in Community-Driven Solutions Key to Pandemic Recovery by Lisa Much, Ohio CDC Association
Keeping Homes Affordable: “Show Us Your Resilience” Photo Submission
Where do you see resilience? We welcomed Policy Summit 2021 speakers and partners to share one or more photographs that represent resilience to them. Here are images from Ashley Allen of The Houston Community Land Trust. She’s speaking at the June 23–25 event.
Acres Homes, a historically African American neighborhood, was founded in 1918. Until 1967, it was the largest unincorporated African American community in the South. Though it is less than 20 minutes from downtown Houston, the neighborhood was once considered “in the country,” with many residents owning chickens, hogs, and horses. Even today, it’s not uncommon to see residents riding their horses on the neighborhood’s streets. Acres Homes is mainly comprised of single-family homes, and many residents have neighborhood ties that span multiple generations.
Because of urban sprawl, Acres Homes’ location is attractive to developers who are taking advantage of the low-cost land and building homes that far exceed the affordability of its current residents. To ensure this community’s residents are not priced out of their own neighborhood, Houston Community Land Trust (HCLT), the City of Houston, and Houston Land Bank have developed the New Home Development Program (NHDP), which has constructed 41 three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes that are available only to individual homebuyers who meet certain income requirements. In making outside investors ineligible to purchase the homes, NHDP is providing permanent affordability in a community that is experiencing gentrification.
Because of NHDP, there are 29 HCLT homeowners in Acres Homes. Despite years of disinvestments and now rapid reinvestment, Acres Homes has demonstrated resilience by remaining a close-knit, single-family home community where people can still ride their horses to the store and sit on their porches and chat with neighbors. Sadly, many Houston neighborhoods are losing their historic identity in the wake of rapid development, increased investment, and gentrification. By utilizing the community land trust model, we can retain affordable housing for the residents who have kept Acres Homes a historic Houston neighborhood.
When and where
Policy Summit 2021: Pathways to Economic Resilience in Our Communities
June 23–25, 2021
Virtual conference
Contact
Please direct any questions about the Policy Summit to Treye Johnson.
Partners
This year’s Policy Summit was hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in partnership with the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago, Richmond, Kansas City, and other partner organizations.