Policy Summit 2023

Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

9:00 am–4:00 pm Reinventing Our Communities (access limited to ROC Cohort Program participants)

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has designed the Reinventing Our Communities (ROC) Cohort Program to help organizations and communities across the United States strengthen local economies by removing structural barriers to economic opportunity. The ROC Cohort Program includes training, peer learning, coaching, and advising opportunities related to economic inclusion and development, leading to the development of a multi-year racial equity plan. ROC Cohort Program alumni will be convening in-person in conjunction with Policy Summit.

4:00–6:45 pm Welcome Social (access limited to speakers, partners, and ROC Cohort Program participants)

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland hosts speakers, partner organizations, ROC alumni, and the Bank’s board of directors and advisory council members to a welcome social for light appetizers, beverages, tours of the building, and remarks from Federal Reserve leaders.

Remarks by
Emily Garr Pacetti, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Theresa Y. Singleton, Senior Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Loretta J. Mester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Michelle W. Bowman, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Location: Hilton Cleveland Downtown – 3rd Floor

5:00–7:00 pm Summit Check In

Location: Hilton Cleveland Downtown

8:00–9:00 am Summit Check In and Continental Breakfast

9:00–9:10 am Welcome and Keynote Introduction

Tracey N. Mason, Assistant Vice President of Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

9:10–9:50 am Opening Keynote

Elevating Community Voices for Impactful Outcomes

In 2021, Angela Williams became the first Black woman to be CEO of United Way Worldwide, the world’s largest privately funded nonprofit. She devoted her first year to listening to what local communities need and how United Way can help shape solutions to their challenges. She opens the summit by sharing her experiences and insights about how government, academia, the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, and others can build stronger, more resilient, and equitable communities.

Moderator
Sharon Sobol Jordan, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Greater Cleveland

Speaker
Angela F. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way Worldwide

9:55–11:25 am Plenary

Fed Listens: Transitioning to the Post-Pandemic Economy

In this session, Federal Reserve leaders ask summit participants to share their insights on how to best support an inclusive economic recovery as the nation moves past the pandemic. Contribute your views on the challenges and opportunities that exist for our workforce and economy during this transition to the new state of normal.

Moderator
Dionissi Aliprantis, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Program on Economic Inclusion, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Speakers
Loretta J. Mester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Michelle W. Bowman, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Read the summary and watch the video

11:25 am–12:05 pm Lunch

12:10–1:25 pm Plenary

Forward Thinking: How Practitioners Can Support, Engage, and Foster Thriving Small Businesses

Government, for-profit, and nonprofit leaders discuss how practitioners, funders, regulators, and policymakers can better support small business creation and expansion. Take an in-depth look at small businesses—the challenges they face, the role they play in local and national economies, and the policies and approaches that can help them thrive in a constantly changing environment.

Moderator
Baiju R. Shah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Cleveland Partnership

Speakers
Geri Sanchez Aglipay, Regional Administrator, US Small Business Administration Great Lakes Region
Carolyn Cawley, President, US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Larry Fulton, Owner, Hanlon Composites

1:35–2:50 pm Breakout Sessions (choose one of four)

Rural Main Street—Time to Grow a Fresh Crop of Rural Small Businesses

Small businesses provide the majority of jobs for rural residents, but creating a vibrant small business and entrepreneurship ecosystem can be challenging in rural areas where business density is lacking and there are fewer resources such as local banks and nonprofits. Panelists in this session discuss how rural small businesses can obtain the nontraditional sources of capital investment, technical assistance, digital access, and other support they need to grow.

Moderator
Emily Wavering Corcoran, Senior Manager Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Speakers
Justin Archer Burch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Washington County Economic Development Alliance
Ryanne Jennings, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wayne County Community Foundation
Julia J. Parker, Chief Lending and Impact Officer, Appalachian Community Capital

Second Chances and Solutions for Hard-to-Hire Candidates

Connecting the unemployed with jobs is always important, but it is even more so in a tight labor market and with rapidly evolving employer practices. Learn about Cincinnati’s Nehemiah Manufacturing and its promising model that is linking traditionally hard-to-hire candidates with stable jobs. Panelists explore the model in depth and share the successes they have had by teaming with local social service agencies, hiring an on-site social worker, and creating job opportunities.

Moderator
Ashley Putnam, Director, Economic Growth and Mobility Project, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Speakers
Rayshun Holt, Beacon of Hope Business Alliance Program Director, Cincinnati Works
Daniel Meyer; Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer; Nehemiah Manufacturing

Preserving Affordable Housing through Home Repair Programs

An effective home repair program can achieve many critical goals simultaneously: preserving privately owned affordable housing, improving the health and quality of life of residents, helping lower-income owners achieve code compliance, and improving neighborhoods. Panelists discuss home repair programs in use around the country and what program features provide the most effective and equitable use of limited community resources.

(presentation)

Moderator
Sierra Latham, Senior Research Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Speakers
Eileen Divringi, Community Development Research Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Justin Randolph, Director of Home Repair, Project: HOMES
Melissa Stutzbach, Vice President of National Programs and Impact Measurement, Rebuilding Together

Local Workforce Equity Plans, Inclusive Regional Economies

Panelists share insights and best practices for developing workforce equity plans and discuss how local solutions can strengthen regional systems. Small group discussions and simulations are led by participants from three groups who built community capacity through racial equity centered collaboration through the Philadelphia Fed’s Reinventing Our Communities Cohort Program.

(presentation)

Moderators
Larry Hiscock, Founder, Lead Change Together
Shanna Crutchfield, Principal Consultant, Visions of Equity

Speakers
Markevis Gideon, Founder and Managing Director, NERDiT Now
Renata B. Kowalczyk, Chief Executive Officer, Wilmington Alliance
Tess Martin, Director of Impact Investing & Treasury, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina
Sully Pinos, Executive Director of BLOOM Business Empowerment Center, York County Economic Alliance
Cindi Rourk, Chief Executive Officer, CLIMB Fund
Marlena Schugt, BLOOM Program Manager, York County Economic Alliance

3:00–4:15 pm Breakout Sessions (choose one of four)

Lessons Learned: What the Pandemic Taught Us about Improving Credit Access for Diverse Small Businesses

According to the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey, firms owned by people of color disproportionately lacked access to critical loans, such as Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loans, during the pandemic. Panelists in this session discuss the solutions that enabled some lenders to more effectively serve firms owned by people of color and the lessons learned that may prove beneficial for future lending.

Moderator
Claire Kramer Mills, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Speakers
Paul Disselkoen, Senior Associate Public Affairs, PayPal
Kerrington V. Eubanks, Senior Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, Lendistry
Lisa Whaley Morris, Vice President of Strategic Alliances, Programs, and Events, National Minority Supplier Development Council

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—An Opportunity to Train, Upskill, or Reskill Workers

New federal investment in infrastructure offers communities an opportunity to train the next generation of workers and increase the diversity of the infrastructure workforce. As part of the $1 trillion in infrastructure spending, four departments—Commerce, Energy, Labor, and Transportation—are responsible for allocating substantial workforce development and training funds. Panelists discuss how localities can take advantage of this opportunity to upskill a local workforce and move youth into quality infrastructure jobs.

(presentation)

Moderator
Michelle Rose, Executive Director, Ohio Means Jobs Cleveland–Cuyahoga County

Speakers
Arlen Herrell, Deputy Chief of Innovation and Partnerships, DC Department of Employment Services
Angella Wilson, Senior Program Director, KentuckianaWorks

Investing in Digital Inclusion: New Strategies for Closing the Digital Divide

The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act includes an unprecedented amount of funding to ensure every American has access to reliable, high-speed internet—an integral item for increasing economic inclusion. This conversational panel explains what communities can expect from the funding programs and explores innovative digital inclusion strategies, outcome measurements, and opportunities for participants to integrate digital inclusion tactics into their work.

(presentation)

Moderator
Jeremy Hegle, Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Speakers
Davida Delmar, Digital Inclusion Manager, AMERIND
Francella Ochillo, Executive Director, Next Century Cities
Colin Rhinesmith, Founder and Director, Digital Equity Research Center at Metropolitan New York Library Council

Renew, Revive, Revisit: Solutions for Reactivating Distressed Commercial Corridors

Brick-and-mortar retail stores were hit hard by the pandemic and the meteoric rise of online shopping. Drawing on examples in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities, panelists in this session discuss the various components needed to revive—or create—vibrant and inclusive commercial corridors that support local small businesses and residents alike.

(presentation)

Moderator
Susan Longworth, Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Speakers
Dionne Baux, Vice President of Urban Development, Main Street America
Christyn Freemon, Chief Solutionist, Project Forward
Wendy Lewis Jackson, Managing Director of the Detroit Program, Kresge Foundation

4:15–6:30 pm Reception

This informal reception includes hors d'oeuvres, beverages, music, and opportunities to network with fellow attendees.

Location: Hilton Cleveland Downtown

8:00–9:00 am Continental Breakfast

9:00–9:10 am Welcome

Tracey Mason, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Heidi Gartland, Chief Government and Community Relations Officer, University Hospitals; Deputy Chair, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Board of Directors

9:10–10:25 am Plenary

Forward Thinking: Piecing Together a Workforce Development Ecosystem that Works for Everyone

Where are the biggest opportunities to improve labor market outcomes for individuals and communities? Panelists in this session discuss what we have learned about how to more effectively prepare job seekers for and connect them with job opportunities, what role states play in doing so, and how to embrace racial equity and data-informed decision-making principles.

(presentation)

Moderator
Earl Buford, President, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

Speakers
Timothy J. Bartik, Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Harry J. Holzer, Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution; John LaFarge Professor of Public Policy, Georgetown University
Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, Vice President Workforce and Regional Economies, Jobs for the Future

10:35–11:50 am Breakout Sessions (choose one of four)

What Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Are and Why Increasing Inclusion is Important

How do you create an inclusive ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurs of color to start businesses and helps them grow in your community? Panelists in this session explore what an entrepreneurial ecosystem is and discuss models and best practices for providing the support that entrepreneurs and business owners of color need to thrive.

Moderator
Jason Jones, Vice President of Community Development, Dollar Bank

Speakers
Jenice Contreras, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development
Kim Frazier, Director of Growth Initiatives, Entrepreneurs' Center
Gloria Ware, President and CEO, GTB Advisors LLC

The Challenges and Benefits Employers Encounter in Supporting Childcare Needs

Access to affordable, quality childcare is essential for many workers; this need was highlighted during the pandemic. Some employers are working to solve the challenge of inaccessible childcare in order to attract and keep good employees, reduce absenteeism, and increase productivity. Panelists in this session explore the nature, extent, and complexity of the challenges of employer-supported childcare and the approaches they have found beneficial and equitable for workers.

(presentation)

Moderator
Meghan Salas-Atwell, Senior Director of Applied Research, National Association for the Education of Young Children

Speakers
Caitlin Codella Low, Vice President of Policy and Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Rashanda Perryman, Senior Manager, Philanthropy and Community Stewardship Lead, Vanguard
Nicole Riehl, President and CEO, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children
Lilia Vergara, Director of Human Resources, Dr. Bronner's

Do Pandemic Population Shifts and the Increase in Remote Work Mean Opportunities for Small Cities and Rural Areas?

Census data shows that major metro areas lost population in 2020 and 2021, with the urban core in cities such as Boston, Miami, and Washington DC showing substantial declines. In contrast, smaller metro and nonmetro areas grew, resulting in increased diversity and population density. What opportunities do these population shifts create? Will the rise of remote work have lasting impacts for small cities and rural areas, or will its effects be short-lived? Panelists explore migration patterns, their implications, and more.

(presentation)

Moderator
Daniel Davis, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Speakers
Chris Berry, President and Chief Executive Officer, OhioX
Liesl Seabert, Rural Community Revitalization Program Manager, Iowa Economic Development Authority
Richelle L. Winkler, Professor of Sociology and Demography, Michigan Technological University

Best Practices for Advancing Racial Equity and Achieving Community-Centered Economic Inclusion

How do you advance racial equity and economic inclusion in your community to ensure every resident and neighborhood prospers? This dynamic session explores equitable reforms to policies, practices, and funding that build wealth in underinvested places while driving community-wide growth.

(presentation)

Moderator
Larry Hiscock, Founder, Lead Change Together

Speakers
Augie Gastelum, Founder, Patchwork Community Inclusion
Hanna Love, Senior Research Associate, The Brookings Institution
Nelima Sitati Munene, Executive Director, African Career Education and Resource, Inc.

11:50 am–12:25 pm Lunch

12:25–12:30 pm Afternoon Remarks

Lavea Brachman, Visiting Fellow, Brookings Metro

12:30–1:40 pm Plenary   

Officially Thriving: How Three Mayors are Prioritizing Inclusion and Ensuring Access for All

Research shows that cities prosper when more neighborhoods and residents are included in economic development plans. A diverse panel of current mayors discusses their plans to ensure all residents, particularly those who have been underserved, have access to quality jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, and public transportation, and that they are given a voice in creating a sustainable future.

Moderator
Lavea Brachman, Visiting Fellow, Brookings Metro

Speakers
Justin M. Bibb, Mayor, City of Cleveland, Ohio
Christina Muryn, Mayor, City of Findlay, Ohio
Joseph V. Schember, Mayor, City of Erie, Pennsylvania

1:40–2:00 pm Closing Remarks

Emily Garr Pacetti, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Loretta J. Mester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland