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Building Equality and Diversity into Investment Portfolios
December 2, 2021
The pandemic has exposed the dangers to society of leaving people behind, while the racial justice protests of 2020 increased the pressure on companies to promote diversity, health, and fair, flexible working conditions. To what extent are these issues being reflected in the way sustainable investment portfolios are being constructed? What is the role of investors in nudging the corporate sectors towards more responsible practices with regard to employees, consumers and other stakeholders?
The pandemic has exposed the dangers to society of leaving people behind, while the racial justice protests of 2020 increased the pressure on companies to promote diversity, health, and fair, flexible working conditions. To what extent are these issues being reflected in the way sustainable investment portfolios are being constructed? What is the role of investors in nudging the corporate sectors towards more responsible practices with regard to employees, consumers and other stakeholders?
Corporate Engagement and CDFIs
October 19, 2021
The panel will feature speakers from three organizations that have partnered with a corporation in the past year. We invite corporations, capital allocators, and community organizations to learn how these partnerships were created, lessons learned from challenges along the way, and best practices covering how corporations and community partners can align.
The panel will feature speakers from three organizations that have partnered with a corporation in the past year. We invite corporations, capital allocators, and community organizations to learn how these partnerships were created, lessons learned from challenges along the way, and best practices covering how corporations and community partners can align.
NJ Governor's Conference: Race, Diversity and Redevelopment with George Ashton
September 29, 2021
Our Managing Director, George Ashton, is speaking at the 2021 NJ Governor’s Conference on Housing & Economic Development, an event to discuss how the housing and economic development industries can recover in a post-pandemic world. George will be participating in “Race, Diversity and Redevelopment," where panelists will have an open discussion about how race and diversity, or lack thereof, impacts development in New Jersey. The session will take place from 10:15-11:15am.
Our Managing Director, George Ashton, is speaking at the 2021 NJ Governor’s Conference on Housing & Economic Development, an event to discuss how the housing and economic development industries can recover in a post-pandemic world. George will be participating in “Race, Diversity and Redevelopment," where panelists will have an open discussion about how race and diversity, or lack thereof, impacts development in New Jersey. The session will take place from 10:15-11:15am.
SPECTRUM Presents: The Color of Money
September 22, 2021
Managing Director George Ashton will be a Lightning Bolt speaker at SPECTRUM's "Color of Money" event, a session focused on the need to diversify fund managers and invest in Black and Brown entrepreneurs to help close the wealth gap. George will be speaking and conducting a Q&A session at 1pm. Join us!
Managing Director George Ashton will be a Lightning Bolt speaker at SPECTRUM's "Color of Money" event, a session focused on the need to diversify fund managers and invest in Black and Brown entrepreneurs to help close the wealth gap. George will be speaking and conducting a Q&A session at 1pm. Join us!
"The Guarded Gate" with Tiffany Durr
September 23, 2021
On September 23rd, join LISC SI's Tiffany Durr as she speaks at “The Guarded Gate: Remembering Breonna Taylor & the Role of Race, Gender and Real Estate in Creating More Equitable Communities.” On this panel, Tiffany and other industry leaders will discuss the role of real estate and community development in creating safe, equitable, and inclusive environments. The event is hosted by CREW DC, Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), and Women of Color in Community Development (WCCD).
On September 23rd, join LISC SI's Tiffany Durr as she speaks at “The Guarded Gate: Remembering Breonna Taylor & the Role of Race, Gender and Real Estate in Creating More Equitable Communities.” On this panel, Tiffany and other industry leaders will discuss the role of real estate and community development in creating safe, equitable, and inclusive environments. The event is hosted by CREW DC, Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), and Women of Color in Community Development (WCCD).
The SOAR Fund: Spurring Small Business Growth in the South
July 8, 2021
CDFIs are coming together at an unprecedented pace to work collaboratively and solve problems at scale. One example is the Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund.
CDFIs are coming together at an unprecedented pace to work collaboratively and solve problems at scale. One example is the Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund.
Intentional Investment w/ George Ashton
May 25, 2021
Why is entrepreneurship a critical component to building community wealth and closing the racial wealth gap? What are available tools and resources to overcome capital access obstacles that Black and Brown entrepreneurs face? Explore these questions and how Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has set out on a mission to bring multi-faceted capital to minority and underserved businesses in need.
Why is entrepreneurship a critical component to building community wealth and closing the racial wealth gap? What are available tools and resources to overcome capital access obstacles that Black and Brown entrepreneurs face? Explore these questions and how Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has set out on a mission to bring multi-faceted capital to minority and underserved businesses in need.
Access to Capital Seminar - African American Real Estate Professionals
April 6, 2021
Join us as we hear from private and public financiers of commercial real estate in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Featured finance professionals will discuss current lending parameters, commonly financed deal profiles, successful deal packaging, potential equity sources, etc. The discussion will also include the impacts of COVID-19 on national and local lending and expected challenges and opportunities.
Join us as we hear from private and public financiers of commercial real estate in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Featured finance professionals will discuss current lending parameters, commonly financed deal profiles, successful deal packaging, potential equity sources, etc. The discussion will also include the impacts of COVID-19 on national and local lending and expected challenges and opportunities.
Climate Action Pursuit
February 25, 2021
Hosted by Intentional Endowments Network, LISC's George Ashton will be joining fellow panelists to speak on what is community investing, role of CDFIs, & investing with CDFIs.
Hosted by Intentional Endowments Network, LISC's George Ashton will be joining fellow panelists to speak on what is community investing, role of CDFIs, & investing with CDFIs.
Opportunity Zones: Looking Ahead | Spotlight on Investing & Impact in the Sun Belt
November 17, 2020
Please join us to learn about investing in Opportunity Zones in the Sun Belt region to reach attractive financial returns and achieve meaningful impact. We will also announce an exciting collaboration between Blueprint Local, one of the most active Opportunity Zone investors in the country, and LISC, the largest CDFI in the country, that is emblematic of the kind of partnerships that we believe will important to helping Opportunity Zone investing achieve its intended financial and impact goals.
Please join us to learn about investing in Opportunity Zones in the Sun Belt region to reach attractive financial returns and achieve meaningful impact. We will also announce an exciting collaboration between Blueprint Local, one of the most active Opportunity Zone investors in the country, and LISC, the largest CDFI in the country, that is emblematic of the kind of partnerships that we believe will important to helping Opportunity Zone investing achieve its intended financial and impact goals.
LISC SI's Michelle Spivak Speaks at Culture Shifting Weekend NYC 2020
November 7, 2021
Culture Shifting Weekend NYC is the largest gathering of Black and Latinx VCs to solve for the inequality in this sector. To date, we've enabled over $150M to be invested in VCs that show up. Join LISC SI's Sr. Director of Business Development, Michelle Spivak, and fellow panelists discuss Inclusive Impact and what GPs need to know.
Culture Shifting Weekend NYC is the largest gathering of Black and Latinx VCs to solve for the inequality in this sector. To date, we've enabled over $150M to be invested in VCs that show up. Join LISC SI's Sr. Director of Business Development, Michelle Spivak, and fellow panelists discuss Inclusive Impact and what GPs need to know.
Leveraging Black Led Financial Institutions to Tackle the Racial Wealth Gap
October 29, 2020 at 11am EST
Please join us for a dynamic virtual roundtable on racial wealth inequities in the US, and how investing in black financial institutions can close the gap and create economic wealth for the larger consumer base. Roundtable speakers include LISC CEO Maurice Jones, Shannon Alwyn, Director of Treasury of Netflix, Allison Rossi, Global Treasury Lead at Square, and Kim Saunders, President and CEO of the National Bankers Association.
Please join us for a dynamic virtual roundtable on racial wealth inequities in the US, and how investing in black financial institutions can close the gap and create economic wealth for the larger consumer base. Roundtable speakers include LISC CEO Maurice Jones, Shannon Alwyn, Director of Treasury of Netflix, Allison Rossi, Global Treasury Lead at Square, and Kim Saunders, President and CEO of the National Bankers Association.
Netflix: Building Economic Opportunities for Black Communities Webinar
July 24, 2020
Join LISC's CEO, Maurice Jones, Netflix's Aaron Mitchell & Shannon Alwyn, and Hope Credit Union's CEO Bill Bynum to learn more about how we launched our initiative to build economic opportunity for Black communities, including the challenges we ran into and how we worked with a select number of partners to overcome them.
Join LISC's CEO, Maurice Jones, Netflix's Aaron Mitchell & Shannon Alwyn, and Hope Credit Union's CEO Bill Bynum to learn more about how we launched our initiative to build economic opportunity for Black communities, including the challenges we ran into and how we worked with a select number of partners to overcome them.
Virtual Groundbreaking of Evoke Living at Westerly Hills
July 14, 2020
Crosland Southeast (CSE) and Barings are pleased to jointly announce a new 156-unit affordable housing development to address Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis —Evoke Living at Westerly Hills. RSVP for Zoom information.
Crosland Southeast (CSE) and Barings are pleased to jointly announce a new 156-unit affordable housing development to address Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis —Evoke Living at Westerly Hills. RSVP for Zoom information.
ULI Housing Opportunity 2020
February 24, 2020
LISC Strategic Investments Director of Impact Investing, Ryan Johnson, discussing the growing interest in residential real estate investments and novel residential investment opportunities alongside leaders from Nuveen Real Estate, Carras Community Investment, & Heitman.
LISC Strategic Investments Director of Impact Investing, Ryan Johnson, discussing the growing interest in residential real estate investments and novel residential investment opportunities alongside leaders from Nuveen Real Estate, Carras Community Investment, & Heitman.
ULI Housing Opportunity Networking
February 23, 2020
Join LISC Strategic Investments at the ULI Housing Opportunity 2020 for discussing ways to improve housing for cities and communities across the US.
Join LISC Strategic Investments at the ULI Housing Opportunity 2020 for discussing ways to improve housing for cities and communities across the US.
Winter Innovation Summit | Sorenson Impact
LISC Strategic Investments Managing Director kicks off the Winter Innovation Summit on behalf of the Forbes OZ 20 Advisory Board, which had the honor and privilege of judging the 113 applications we received from communities and OZ funds across the nation.
MLK Gateway Groundbreaking Ceremony
LISC CEO, Maurice Jones, addresses a packed room at the groundbreaking ceremony of the MLK Gateway in Historic Anacostia.
RESOURCES
Advancing Economic and Racial Equity with the Family of Funds
Highlighting impact data we collected on the 31 deals we closed so far. This report includes a look into a new, innovative framework and methodology we developed for Equity Impact Indicators that is leading the CDFI field.
A Starting List to Invest for Racial Equity
This work is a joint project of Bridgespan Social Impact, the Global Impact
Investing Network (GIIN), PolicyLink, and CapEQ.
Investing Network (GIIN), PolicyLink, and CapEQ.
Promoting Equity Investments an Equitable Reovery
International Lessons for the US
Rural OZ and Recovery Playbook
This resource from Sorenson Impact Center provides key steps to support rural economic developers and community champions in leveraging the OZ incentive and private capital for community development.
Paving a Path to Stability in Rural America
A new LISC Research and Evaluation study provides rigorous evidence of the impact of community development and affordable housing in rural areas. The research findings reveal how concentrated, collaborative community development initiatives brought stability and revitalization to small towns in the Coachella and San Joaquin Valleys.
Racial Equity and Social Impact Investment Memo
In this memo, we’re sharing our journey to implement a racial equity
investment program. We believe it is critical to ensure that access
to financial services is not reserved for those with privilege, and this
investment is just one way we’re committed to driving change. We aim
for this memo to illuminate the process for other organizations looking
to make similar investments.
investment program. We believe it is critical to ensure that access
to financial services is not reserved for those with privilege, and this
investment is just one way we’re committed to driving change. We aim
for this memo to illuminate the process for other organizations looking
to make similar investments.
Impact In Place
Emerging Sources of Community Investment Capital and Strategies to Direct it as Scale
Securitization for Social Innovation
Could CDFIs increase their liquidity and expand their reach through securitization? A new LISC white paper looks at the opportunities, challenges and next steps needed to launch commercial intermediation and create a secondary market for CDFI assets—so that more high-impact capital can flow to communities.
Unlocking Corporate Treasuries for Racial Equity with George Ashton of LISC
October 8, 2020
On a recent episode of Money + Meaning, George Ashton, LISC's managing director of Strategic Investments discusses the newly launched Black Economic Development Fund. Targeting up to $250 million and initially seeded by $25 million investments from both Netflix and Costco, the Black Economic Development Fund will work to close the racial wealth gap through both a direct and indirect investment strategy: directly through investments in black-led businesses and anchor institutions, and indirectly through working with black-led financial institutions.
On a recent episode of Money + Meaning, George Ashton, LISC's managing director of Strategic Investments discusses the newly launched Black Economic Development Fund. Targeting up to $250 million and initially seeded by $25 million investments from both Netflix and Costco, the Black Economic Development Fund will work to close the racial wealth gap through both a direct and indirect investment strategy: directly through investments in black-led businesses and anchor institutions, and indirectly through working with black-led financial institutions.
Disparities in Wealth by Race and Ethnicity in the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances
September 28, 2020
Disparities in Wealth by Race and Ethnicity in the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances
Neil Bhutta, Andrew C. Chang, Lisa J. Dettling, and Joanne W. Hsu with assistance from Julia Hewitt1
New data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) show that long-standing and substantial wealth disparities between families in different racial and ethnic groups were little changed since the last survey in 2016; the typical White family has eight times the wealth of the typical Black family and five times the wealth of the typical Hispanic family.
This FEDS Note explores patterns in wealth holding by race and ethnicity, as well as some key issues related to the accumulation of wealth, using new data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). We first analyze total wealth among families classified, according to their self-identification during the interview, as White non-Hispanic, Black or African American non-Hispanic, Hispanic or Latino, and other or multiple race (we will henceforth refer to these groups as White, Black, Hispanic, and other, respectively).2 Wealth is defined as the difference between families' gross assets and their liabilities.3 We will describe patterns at the median (the typical household within each group) and at the mean (the average among households in each group).
Disparities in Wealth by Race and Ethnicity in the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances
Neil Bhutta, Andrew C. Chang, Lisa J. Dettling, and Joanne W. Hsu with assistance from Julia Hewitt1
New data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) show that long-standing and substantial wealth disparities between families in different racial and ethnic groups were little changed since the last survey in 2016; the typical White family has eight times the wealth of the typical Black family and five times the wealth of the typical Hispanic family.
This FEDS Note explores patterns in wealth holding by race and ethnicity, as well as some key issues related to the accumulation of wealth, using new data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). We first analyze total wealth among families classified, according to their self-identification during the interview, as White non-Hispanic, Black or African American non-Hispanic, Hispanic or Latino, and other or multiple race (we will henceforth refer to these groups as White, Black, Hispanic, and other, respectively).2 Wealth is defined as the difference between families' gross assets and their liabilities.3 We will describe patterns at the median (the typical household within each group) and at the mean (the average among households in each group).
Double Jeopardy COVID-19's Concentrated Health and Wealth Effects in Black Communities
CDFI and the Capital Markets
Can Blockchain Revolutionalize Impact In
Next Street and LISC partnered to explore the potential for blockchain application to solve community development challenges in New York City. Together we identified four significant challenges to using blockchain for social impact: scalability, data recovery, regulatory uncertainty, and lack of implemented pilots. Next Street and LISC are now exploring potential blockchain pilots to address challenges within community development.
Navigating the Opportunity Zones - Community Partners LISC Playbook
This emerging playbook series is intended as a set of accessible resources that assemble and build on the collective expertise of community development and finance experts from across the public and private sectors. Our playbooks aim to provide in-depth, targeted guidance and strategy for a spectrum of Opportunity Zone stakeholders, to help ensure that inclusive, equitable development remains at the forefront of OZ investments.