Analysis and points of view on research, trends, issues, ideas and opportunities.
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) mandates that banks invest in the communities they serve, with a particular focus on reinvestment efforts in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. Banks are required to fulfill this obligation by providing access to credit through safe, nonpredatory practices. Although these mandates are often viewed as compliance requirements, that perspective overlooks […]
“LULUs” sounds like a funny word, but the health burdens tied to LULUs are no laughing matter. Locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) – industrial sites, highways, power plants and waste facilities – are essential to how cities function. However, living close to them can also mean greater exposure to pollution, excessive noise and other environmental
When Roddell Denetso launched Black Streak Apparel in 2021 in Shiprock, New Mexico, he was not thinking about Netflix or LeBron James. He was thinking about his community and about building something that could outlast any single moment. Luckily, he was connected to NCRC member organization Change Labs, a Shiprock-based small business training center. When the producers of Rez
Economic Mobility on the Ground: Native Entrepreneurship and Trust-Based Capital Read More »
North Philadelphia neighborhoods surrounding Temple University have long been shaped by the intersection of student housing demand, investor activity and systemic housing inequities. Rising property values and suspicious real estate transactions are now creating financial pressures that threaten the stability of longstanding residents while reshaping the student housing market. Student Influence and Market Distortions This discovery
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” said local entrepreneur and CEO of Cena Health Vanessa Sena. “You have to utilize what you [have] through the small steps.” When Sena began providing medically tailored meals for patients in Hartford, CT during the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn’t expect that in less than three years she would have transformed
More Than Capacity: How FED Fellows Help Communities Grow and Thrive Read More »
Trump’s Legislative Priorities on AI Endanger the Future of Economic Mobility Last month, the Trump administration released its National Legislative Framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI), informing Congress of his policy priorities for the industry for the coming year. The proposal comes as data centers and fears about AI-driven job displacement, particularly amongst white collar workers
Large banks, often shaped by profit-driven performance indicators, tend to prefer larger loan amounts ($1 million+), leaving small businesses in underserved communities to navigate funding challenges alone. The result is a financial landscape that can restrict economic mobility and long term wealth creation for historically underbanked communities. Founded in 2017 by Malcolm Sykes, a former
“I have been advocating on the Hill for more than 30 years,” said Carol Johnson, NCRC board chair and civil rights attorney. “Every visit reminds me of something essential: the freedom we each have to petition our government and hold our leaders accountable for the decisions that shape our daily lives […] especially when the
Hear civil rights leaders Lisa Rice (President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fair Housing Alliance), Reed Colfax (Co-Managing Partner at Relman Colfax), Mikael Rojas (Partner with Outten & Golden) and NCRC board chair and civil rights attorney Carol Johnson in a panel titled “The Future of Civil Rights” that explores how attendees can
The Future of Civil Rights Panel – 2026 Just Economy Conference Read More »
Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s most inequitably funded public school systems. Some children attend school in 75-year-old buildings with no air conditioning, surrounded by holes in ceilings, gun violence and a lack of basic supplies. However, just one town over, students attend schools with full-equipped music and gym classes, state-of-the-art technology, well-trained staff and
NCRC President and CEO Jesse Van Tol’s remarks at the 2026 Just Economy Conference.
Jesse Van Tol’s Keynote Speech At The 2026 Just Economy Conference Read More »
The legacy of the urban renewal era is still alive and well in many expensive cities across the US, such as San Francisco. Even many San Franciscans who received Certificates of Preference, a piece of paper meant to guarantee housing for those displaced by urban renewal, haven’t been able to build a community in the
In Russell, Kentucky, a historically Black neighborhood in Louisville, one organization is empowering residents to take an active role in community planning while ensuring real estate investments build generational wealth for the local population. Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) has been educating residents about real estate planning, engaging them in the land development process
Russell: A Place of Promise Empowers Residents to Build Community Wealth in Louisville Read More »
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) recently submitted a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to strongly support maintaining the current level of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data collection because reduced HMDA reporting would significantly impair fair lending enforcement. 53 state and local NCRC member organizations signed on to NCRC’s letter. The
NCRC Warns CFPB of Risks of Reduced HMDA Data Collection to Fair Lending Enforcement Read More »
In last month’s edition of the Race, Jobs and the Economy series, we explored whether the 6-figure job gains seen in January were either a sign that the labor market was about to experience a turnaround or simply a fluke. It seems the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report provides an answer. The
