Public Policy
Breakout Sessions

Public Policy Sponsor

Federal Policies to Expand Access to Equitable Housing in Communities of Color

2020 has seen major setbacks on the accessibility of affordable housing in communities of color from the Trump Administration’s decision to eviscerate the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule to the impacts of COVID-19. This session will draw upon the knowledge of housing policy experts who will discuss the near term outlook for federal policy changes to expand affordable and equitable housing in communities of color.

Speakers:
Megan Cheney, Professional Staff Member, U.S. Senate
Eric Morrissette, Senior Advisor and Financial Services Committee Designee,
Office of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO)
Chris Neary, Vice President of Policy, Research and Advocacy, Cinnaire
Lisa Rice, President and CEO, National Fair Housing Alliance
Buzz Roberts, President and CEO,
National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL)

Outlook for CDFI Public Policy Priorities

Post Election Day, federal policymakers return to the nation's capital for a “lame duck” session of Congress while simultaneously preparing for the 117th Congress which convenes in January 2021. Many CDFI priorities will be on the agenda including COVID emergency relief spending, CDFI Fund appropriations, extension of the New Markets Tax Credit, and small business measures. Join experienced policy advocates and congressional staff to discuss prospects for the CDFI initiatives to succeed and to identify effective digital advocacy tools and strategies to influence policymakers.

Speakers:
Fabrice Coles, Vice President of Government Affairs, Bank Policy Institute
Mary Scott Hardwick, Senior Associate, Public Policy,
Opportunity Finance Network
Jeannine Jacokes, CEO, Partners for the Common Good and
Community Development Bankers Association
Kevin Wheeler, Deputy Staff Director, Senate Small Business
and Entrepreneurship Committee

Reforming the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to Increase Community Impact and Racial Equity

Three years ago, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) requested public comments for updating CRA regulations, which resulted this year in a new Final Rule for banks regulated by the OCC. Meanwhile, FDIC-regulated banks have retained the “old” CRA rules and, just recently, the Federal Reserve issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on CRA modernization for public comment. What should CDFIs know about CRA modernization and bank investment in low and moderate income communities-the very same communities hardest hit by the current health, economic, and racial justice crises?

Speakers:
Brian Blake, Public Policy Director, Community Development Bankers Association
Carrie Johnson, Manager, CRA, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Gerron Levi, Senior Director, Government Affairs,
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
Krista Shonk, Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Policy,
American Bankers Association
Dafina Williams, Senior Vice President of Public Policy,
Opportunity Finance Network

Towards an Equitable Recovery: CDFIs' Role in Shaping State-Level CARES Act Money

CDFIs' deep expertise in serving historically underserved communities, on a daily basis and in times of crisis, is a critical asset in shaping state-level policy. This panel focuses on CDFIs’ role in the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund provided to the states through the federal CARES Act. The panel will provide an assessment of the $1.1 billion in small business relief in the Deep South as a model for assessing outcomes elsewhere. It highlights two innovative case studies: one, how the Pennsylvania CDFI Network worked with the legislature to use $225 million for small businesses and CDFIs. Two, how leaders in Alabama’s Black Belt partnered with Hope Enterprise Corporation to ensure their local governments could access to CARES Act money.

Speakers:
Kendra Key, Senior Vice President of Community and Economic Development,
Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union
Felecia Lucky, President, Black Belt Community Foundation
Mark Masterson, Executive Director, Northside Community Development Fund
Diane Standaert, Director, Hope Policy Institute, Hope Enterprise Corporation