From across the nation, 1,200 community development leaders, practitioners, policy makers, industry professionals and NCRC members gathered at the 2024 Just Economy Conference April 3-4 in Washington, DC. They made new connections and shared knowledge on banking mergers, community land trusts, responsible AI in lending and many other topics.
The conference featured news-making appearances on the main stage with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin Gruenberg.
Director Chopra described the need to restore strong enforcement of antitrust laws, Vice Chair Barr and Chairman Gruenberg laid out the promises and challenges of new Community Reinvestment Act rules, and Acting Comptroller Hsu described the need for fraud protections related to AI in banking.
The main stage also included a discussion on public-private collaborations, with Asahi Pompey, Global Head of Corporate Engagement at Goldman Sachs and President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation; Aftab Pureval, Mayor, Cincinnati; Tiffany Thomas, Councilmember, Houston; and Nan Whaley, Director of Membership, US Conference of Mayors.
NCRC also made news during the conference. President and CEO Jesse Van Tol announced a $25 million agreement to work with KeyBank to resolve longstanding concerns about the bank’s lending in minority and underserved communities.
Van Tol also encouraged NCRC’s members to vigorously oppose Capital One’s attempt to purchase Discover. “Half of Capital One’s profits come from fees and interest, which means it comes at the direct expense of people who’ve been unable to repay what they borrowed,” he said. “And Capital One doesn’t luck into those revenue streams. It seeks them out – It hunts for them, in the same streets and neighborhoods where we all try to do good work every day.”
The conference followed NCRC’s annual Hill Day, where 300 NCRC members held more than 100 meetings with Congressional staff to urge action on topics of concern to the economic justice work they do in their communities every day.
Thank you Clancy from @SenToddYoung’s office for talking with @ProsperityInd members Marie & Chelsea from @HomesteadCS, Toyia from @NWIRA219 & Sam from @cdfifriendlysb with an update on the critical #EvictionCrisisAct & ways to strengthen a #JustEconomy through CRA, LIHTC & CTC! pic.twitter.com/lrdK4f07vf
— Prosperity Indiana (@ProsperityInd) April 5, 2024
Cheering on @Voice4HumanNeed member @NCRC members -- glad lots of folks made their voices heard on Capitol Hill yesterday, and some great conversations on a #JustEconomy happening today. https://t.co/L9iQFST5se
— Meredith Dodson (@dodsonadvocate) April 3, 2024
The conference included 39 breakout sessions and 146 speakers who discussed bad bank mergers; innovations and opportunities in affordable housing, workforce development and small businesses; economic resilience and lived experiences; and so much more!
Session: “Supercharging economic resilience through active community engagement” with speakers: Gregory Dyson, Chief Operating Officer, NCRC; Tasha Logan Ford, City Manager, High Point; William Johnson, City Manager, Emporia; and Rashad Young, Senior Vice President, Howard University.
Session: “Equity at the intersection: Philanthropy and lived experiences in the economic space” with speakers: Sadé Dozan, Chief of Operations & Development, Caring Across Generations; Krista Scott, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and Robert Dortch, Principal / Coach / Strategic Consultant, Jordan Syndor Innovation Group.
Session: “Blocking bad mergers: A discussion of Captial One-Discover” with speakers: Morgan Harper, Director of Policy & Advocacy, American Economic Liberties Project; Elena Botella, Principal, Omidyar Network; Kevin Hill, Senior Policy Advisor, NCRC and Alan Pyke, Director of Communications and Managing Editor, NCRC.
“Resident engagement is so crucial to the work we do.” - Adrian Spencer#economicjustice #fairhousing #fairlending #racialequity #genderequality #healthequity #JustEconomy pic.twitter.com/hiAMlKqSyw
— NCRC (@NCRC) April 4, 2024
"One of the challenges coming up is encouraging mortgage companies and banks to work together." - Thomas Callahan#economicjustice #fairhousing #fairlending #racialequity #genderequality #healthequity #JustEconomy pic.twitter.com/ZpOe7zlzLx
— NCRC (@NCRC) April 4, 2024
“You have to know who your community spark plugs are to be successful in community engagement.” - William Johnson#economicjustice #fairhousing #fairlending #racialequity #genderequality #healthequity #JustEconomy pic.twitter.com/0goI3nOvnC
— NCRC (@NCRC) April 4, 2024
"We have to keep our eye on that long game. We have to think of our kids and what they'll be going through in 18 years and fix that." - Joanna Ain#economicjustice #fairhousing #fairlending #racialequity #genderequality #healthequity #JustEconomy pic.twitter.com/pxox4y2H85
— NCRC (@NCRC) April 4, 2024
In an opening ceremony to kick off the conference Wednesday morning, NCRC’s newest board member, Dave Castillo, CEO of Native Community Capital, and My-Tegia Lee, Executive Director of Southwest Native Assets Coalition, presented NCRC Board Chair Bob Dickerson with a blanket designed by graphic design artist and entrepreneur Ya’at’eeh from the Diné Nation.
NCRC Board Chair Bob Dickerson receives a blanket from NCRC’s newest board member, Dave Castillo, CEO of Native Community Capital, and My-Tegia Lee, Executive Director of Southwest Native Assets Coalition.
.@federalreserve Supervision Vice Chair Michael Barr and @CFPB Director c@hopracfpb speak at @ncrc's #JustEconomy Conference – LIVE on C-SPAN https://t.co/Zy6rrUrUsh
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 3, 2024
Thank you @NCRC, our Will Spisak & fellow panelists today for the bold discussion on public banking at the #justeconomy conference.
— New Economy Project (@NewEconomyNYC) April 4, 2024
It’s time to divest from Wall Street and create public institutions that serve the public good.
Let’s pass the NY Public Banking Act this year! pic.twitter.com/8ZgJZ2Ep5G
At Wednesday night’s Just Economy celebration, NCRC received a symbolic “big check” to recognize a $578,000 grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant made NCRC the single largest trainer of housing counselors in the country.
(L to R) Lisa Johnson and Belinda Fadlelmola from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) present NCRC’s Oliver Keeton and Sabrina Terry with a symbolic “big check”.
Attendees then heard New York Times columnist Charles Blow make the case for a new great migration to restore Black communities and political power in the South. The celebration ended on the dance floor and with a performance by B2wins.
New York Times columnist and featured speaker of the 2024 Just Economy Conference Charles Blow.
Musical act B2Wins putting on a great show at the conference Celebration!
As crowds moved between the main ballroom and the breakout rooms, they passed through the Just Economy Pavilion, where NCRC’s research staff presented interactive displays of their work. Many stopped at the pavilion’s photobooth to snap some pics with old friends and new.
Attendees enjoying the interactive research pavilion!
Last week, representatives from our housing team traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (@NCRC)'s 2024 Just Economy Conference!#JustEconomy pic.twitter.com/udSThRP41U
— RCAP Solutions (@RCAP_Solutions) April 10, 2024
Rise Economy staff is here for another day of @NCRC's 2024 #JustEconomy Conference! We're looking forward to another day of connecting with fellow advocates fighting for an economy that works for all. pic.twitter.com/Em5ZHXfhH7
— Rise Economy (@RiseEconomy) April 4, 2024
The 2024 Just Economy Conference would not have been possible without the support of our members, speakers and sponsors! Thank you for all that you do to make a just economy a national priority and local reality.
2024 NCRC Just Economy Conference Sponsors
Gold
Fifth Third Bank
First Citizens Bank & Trust Company
Huntington National Bank
M&T Bank
Santander Bank
Silver
BMO Bank
Old National Bank
Regions Bank
Rocket Mortgage
Truist Financial Corporation
Umpqua Bank
Valley National Bank
Webster Bank
Bronze
Citizens Bank
First Financial Bank
First National Bank of Pennsylvania
Western Alliance Bank
Gem
Ally Bank
Discover Bank
First Merchants Bank
Flagstar Bank
Ocwen Financial
Synchrony Bank
TD Bank
Associate
Associated Bank
Bank OZK
BankUnited, Inc.
Charles Schwab
City National Bank
EagleBank
FHLBanks
National Association of Realtors
Renasant Bank
UnitedBank
Visa Inc.
Friend
Atlantic Union Bank
Cathay Bank
Fannie Mae
Intuit
Kresge Foundation
Radian Group
Share Our Strength
Sunflower Bank
We Stand for Service Bank
Woodforest National Bank
Supporter
Amalgamated Bank
Cadence Bank
Mortgage Bankers Association
Oportun, Inc.
PlanStreet
Resilia
Vision y Compromiso
Zillow
Photos: Courtesy of Scott Henrichsen.
