Policy Summit 2025

Location: Hilton Cleveland Downtown

4:00–6:00 pm Summit Check-in – Fifth Floor

Location: Hilton Cleveland Downtown

8:00–9:00 am Summit Check-in and Continental Breakfast

9:00–9:15 am Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Keynote Introduction

Tracey N. Mason, Assistant Vice President of Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Beth M. Hammack, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

9:15–10:00 am Opening Keynote

Scaling Change in Our Communities

Delivering this year’s opening keynote will be Dr. Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, a 112-year-old philanthropic organization. Shah will discuss ways to further unlock the American dream and economic opportunity for individuals, including the role of philanthropy, public-private partnerships, and measuring results. He’ll also share information about The Rockefeller Foundation’s current “big bets” in the United States and around the world.

Moderator: Lillian A. Kuri, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Foundation

Speaker: Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President, The Rockefeller Foundation

10:00–11:00 am Plenary

Closing the Gap: Tackling the Housing Supply Crisis to Boost Affordability

Housing affordability has worsened across the United States, partly because of housing shortages and rising housing costs. This panel will bring together housing experts to discuss the current state of housing affordability in urban and rural communities nationwide. Panelists will also explore the key factors that are driving this crisis and promising practices and policies aimed at addressing it.

Moderator: Theresa Y. Singleton, Senior Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Speakers:

• Jenny Schuetz, Vice President of Infrastructure, Housing, Arnold Ventures
• Lance George, Director of Research and Information, Housing Assistance Council

11:15 am–12:30 pm Breakout Sessions (Choose One of Four)

Builders Wanted: Investing in the Construction Workforce to Boost Affordable Housing Supply

The lack of labor in construction trades has become a bigger obstacle to meeting affordable housing inventory needs. Many communities, especially those in rural areas, struggle to build a labor force that can meet these needs. And when labor needs to be brought in from outside the community, construction costs rise. This panel will explore how we got here and the ways in which communities are investing in the construction workforce to meet the demand for increased affordable housing.

Moderator: Rachael Surmick, Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Speakers:

• Shannon Harner, Executive Director, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority
• Tom Kriger, Director of Research and Education, North America’s Building Trades Unions

"Heirs' Property": How Can We Limit Its Unwanted Effects?

Real estate and property ownership often help families build generational wealth. “Heirs’ property,” a type of informal property ownership, is real estate or property owned by multiple people through inheritance, usually without a will or estate plan. This arrangement can hurt families’ financial and economic security, reduce their wealth-building opportunities, and jeopardize the transfer of assets from one generation to the next. Panelists in this session will discuss their experience navigating these issues for families and communities. Attendees will walk away with examples of how practitioners and researchers are carrying out much-needed heirs’ property interventions.

Moderator: Sarah Stein, Senior Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Speakers:

• Kevin Slovinsky, Director of Land and Revenue, LiKEN
• Mavis Gragg, Co-Founder, HeirShares

How to Ask Better Questions to Enhance Research, Policymaking, and Community Empowerment

Asking the right questions is a critical skill for researchers, policymakers, community-serving organizations, and community members as they work to address complex community challenges. This interactive session will discuss the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), a structured process developed by the Right Question Institute, to help individuals and organizations ask better questions and make better decisions. The QFT is an accessible, replicable method that participants can “take home” and apply to their work in their respective communities.

Moderator: Jane Santa Cruz, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Speakers:

• Naomi Campbell, Director, Legal Empowerment Program, Right Question Institute
• Keila Perez, Program Associate, Right Question Institute

Keeping a Pulse on Customers' Financial Health

Banks and other organizations can play a key part in improving consumers’ financial health. This panel will explain the OCC’s Financial Health Vital Signs (such as positive cash flow and on-time payments) that can be used to assess how well consumers are doing financially and how banks and nonprofit organizations are measuring financial health. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions and share ideas about the policies, products, and services that they can implement at their institutions to support financial health in the community.

Moderator: Norma Polanco-Boyd, District Community Affairs Officer, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Speakers:

• Ben Mendelsohn, Senior Vice President, Director of Product Management, Fifth Third Bank
• Laura D’Alessandro, Director of Financial Health, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Mae Watson Grote, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Change Machine

12:30–1:15 pm Lunch

1:15–1:45 pm

Community Development in the Federal Reserve System and Beyond

Michael Barr from the Board of Governors will discuss how community development advances the Federal Reserve’s objectives as well as his perspective on the greatest opportunities for the Fed to contribute to broader community development opportunities.

Speaker:

• Eric S. Belsky, Director, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
• Michael S. Barr, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

1:45–2:45 pm Plenary

Workforce Development: Which Programs and Policies are Moving the Needle on Economic Mobility?

From workforce development reforms to skills-based training programs, this panel will discuss the most effective approaches to driving upward mobility and economic opportunity in communities across the United States. The conversation will focus on policies and programs that increase access to good-paying jobs, improve training programs, and ensure that workers can build meaningful, sustainable careers. Whether you’re interested in policy, workforce issues, or economic development, this session will provide valuable insights on how to create lasting impact through targeted workforce initiatives.

Moderator: William M. Rodgers III, Vice President, Community Development Research, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Speakers:

• Bishara W. Addison, Director, Workforce Innovation, the Fund for Our Economic Future
• Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

3:00–4:15 pm Breakout Sessions (Choose One of Four)

Working with "Anchor Institutions" to Create a Path to Quality Jobs

Educational and medical organizations are often “anchor institutions,” or the main drivers of economic activity in their communities. Because these institutions are uniquely positioned to employ the residents that they often serve, there is an opportunity to collaborate to create new pathways to upward economic mobility. The panel discussion will highlight initiatives that have been used as a catalyst to facilitate strategic collaboration. Participants will also hear about several examples from across the United States where innovative workforce pipeline strategies have been developed to enhance career development.

Moderator: Philip Jones, Community Engagement Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Speakers:

• Stefanie Weeden-Smith, Director, St. Louis Anchor Action Network
• Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Senior Fellow, National Skills Coalition
• Andy Stutzman, AStutzman Consulting 

Workforce Reentry for Incarcerated Individuals in Rural Communities: Breaking Down Barriers

Formerly incarcerated individuals face major obstacles to finding stable employment, especially in rural communities. Although there may be plenty of jobs available given the current labor market, there is no guaranteed stability or upward economic mobility for this population. This session will highlight two rural communities—one in Kentucky and the other in Indiana—that have used partnerships to create workforce development training programs for incarcerated individuals. These programs provide rehabilitation opportunities that help these individuals to gain the work experience, skills, and credentials that they need to reenter the labor force, leading to lower recidivism.

Moderator: Samantha Evans, Regional Outreach Manager, Little Rock Zone, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Speakers:

• Jim Martin, Judge-Executive, Fulton County, Kentucky
• Joe Timbrook, Director, Career Development, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council

Housing for Good: Exploring Community Land Trusts

Low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities are struggling to secure affordable housing amid pressures from rising development and housing costs. This panel will explore community land trusts (CLTs) as a model for generating permanent affordable housing, resident-driven investment, and redevelopment in LMI communities. Attendees will hear from both established and newer CLTs to understand the impact that CLTs have on LMI communities, how they function as tools to increase the availability of affordable housing, and how this model can be replicated to support community development efforts.

Moderator: Heidi Reijm, Principal Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Speakers:

• Hope Paxson, Vice President of Programs and Housing, Central Ohio Community Land Trust
• Jeanine C. Hatcher, Executive Director, GenesisHOPE
• Mikeya Griffin, Executive Director, Rondo Community Land Trust

Insurance Innovation for Disaster Recovery

Natural disasters can take a heavy toll on uninsured and underinsured households, as most lack the financial means to recover on their own. Affordability issues and coverage limits mean that there are significant protection gaps for households across the United States. This panel will discuss the current protection gaps in the insurance market and how innovations, including risk-based pricing and new products like parametric insurance, are addressing these challenges. Attendees will also gain practical insights into new strategies and solutions that can help expand coverage and reduce risk for communities.

Moderator: Charlie Sidoti, Executive Director, InnSure

Speakers:

• Dr. Carlos Martín, Director of Remodeling Futures Program, Harvard University
• Susan Crawford, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

4:30–6:30 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

9:00–9:15 am Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Tracey N. Mason, Assistant Vice President of Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
• Chris Groner, Director, Office of Development Services, City of Erie, and Community Advisory Council Member, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

 

9:15–10:30 am Plenary

Fed Listens with President Beth M. Hammack and Governor Lisa D. Cook

In this session, Cleveland Fed President and Chief Executive Officer Beth M. Hammack and Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa D. Cook will listen to feedback from summit participants about topics like labor market conditions, inflation, and interest rates. Participants will be able to directly interact with Fed leaders and share how the economy is working in their communities.

• Labor Market Conditions: How are people in your community generally feeling about the labor market? For people looking for work, how confident are they in their ability to secure a job?
• Inflation: How has inflation affected the low- and moderate-income communities you know and/or serve? How are households, businesses, and communities responding to the higher prices of important items?
• Communications: How would you assess the Federal Reserve’s communications with the public? Do you have any advice on how we can better communicate with you and the communities you serve?

Moderator: TBD

Speakers:

• Beth M. Hammack, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
• Lisa D. Cook, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

10:45 am–12:00 pm Breakout Sessions (Choose One of Four)

The Future of Work is Already Here

Developments in technology will undoubtedly affect the future of work, but how much of an impact are these advancements already having? Panelists will discuss how workers and workforce development institutions are responding to technology-driven changes. The conversation will focus on topics such as worker attitudes toward both automation and AI. Attendees will also learn about the challenges and best practices for adopting AI in healthcare, manufacturing, and education and the related impact on employers, workers, and students.

Moderator: Alexander Ruder, Community and Economic Director and Principal Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Speakers:

• Ben Armstrong, Executive Director and Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Michael A. Baston, President, Cuyahoga Community College

Making the American Dream Accessible: The Impact of Down Payment Assistance on Homeownership and Lending Patterns

This panel will discuss historical lending patterns, housing stock, and the origin of the down payment assistance (DPA) program in Detroit. Specifically, panelists will share how the DPA program has helped over 600 individuals and families purchase homes in Detroit by collaborating with lenders to allow “layering” of multiple DPA programs. Panelists will also discuss how the program has created a vehicle for banks to increase mortgage lending throughout the city.

Moderator: Robert Brinkley, Senior Regional Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Speakers:

• Dina Harris, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, National Faith Homebuyers
• David Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, Kite and Key Partners

 

Zoning as a Tool for Sustainable Rural Communities

This panel will explore how zoning practices can support the development of strong and sustainable rural communities. City administrators and staff will share their expertise and reflections on how zoning can encourage balanced growth while enhancing community character. Participants will leave with practical strategies and tools to implement zoning approaches related to community assessment, public outreach, and code amendments.

Moderator: Dustin Ingram, Senior Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Speakers:

• Erin Chambers, Community Development Director, City of Newton, Iowa
• Lauren Dietz, Senior Planner & GIS Manager, Village of Waunakee, Wisconsin
• Emilie LaGrow, Esq., Village Manager, Village of Cassopolis, Michigan

How Community Development Partnerships Can Bring the CRA to Life

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), through its many iterations, has created inroads for long-term change in low- and moderate-income communities. However, it’s community development efforts that have optimized the law’s impact by fostering lasting relationships and partnerships. This roundtable discussion will showcase examples and best practices for how banks and organizations can collaborate on community development activities that yield impactful and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Moderator: Gabriella Chiarenza, Senior Writer, Fed Communities

Speakers:

• Caleb A. Bobo, Supervisory Examiner, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
• Marisa Martinez, Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
• Zach Wentz, Director, Fair and Responsible Banking, Busey Bank

12:00–12:45 pm Lunch

12:45–1:55 pm Plenary

Making Big Bets on Our Communities

This panel of experts will feature various perspectives on how public and private investment can support community development, particularly in underserved cities and regions. The conversation will explore how public and private organizations are transforming neighborhoods by investing in local people and businesses and in the infrastructure that supports them. Panelists will also discuss what they see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for 2025 and beyond.

Moderator: David Erickson, Senior Vice President, Head of Outreach and Education, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Speakers:

• Carol R. Naughton, Chief Executive Officer, Purpose Built Communities
• Lyneir Richardson, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and Executive Director of the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Rutgers University
• Kenan Fikri, Senior Fellow, Economic Innovation Group

1:55–2:00 pm Closing Remarks