This is the preliminary agenda for TFN’s Inclusive Economies 2021 Virtual Meeting: Policy, Power & People. We’ll be refining this agenda in the coming days, so please stay tuned for news on speakers and sessions.
* Please note all times are ET*
Wednesday, Dec. 1
1 p.m. | Welcome and Introductions
TFN’s Inclusive Economies Annual Meeting Planning Committee
Pat Smith, President and CEO, The Funders Network
1:15 p.m. | Artistic Presentation
Join us for a poetic performance from Christell Victoria Roach, a Miami writer using words to to “build monuments to Blackness, Blueswomen, and the Southern Tropics.”
1:30 p.m. | Winning on Equity
Michael McAfee, President and CEO, PolicyLink
During his time at PolicyLink, Michael has led efforts to improve outcomes for more than 300,000 and facilitated the investment of billions of dollars in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty.
He’ll share his vision of enacting liberating public policies targeted to the 100 million people living in or near poverty, the majority of whom are people of color, and how philanthropy can stand in transformative solidarity with others — and collectively chart a course to ‘Win on Equity.’
2:15 p.m. | Federal Policy Breakout Sessions
Join us for one of three breakout sessions that will dive into opportunities and challenges in driving equitable and inclusive economic growth in these unprecedented times. Each session will feature experts in the field, who will share their insights, offer resources, and facilitate a robust conversation aimed at expanding understanding and inspiring action. (Stay tuned for speaker updates!)
- Breakout 1: Accelerating Community Investment
How can we align philanthropic and investment dollars with emerging community development strategies?
The current community investment landscape has yet to realize its ultimate goal: ensuring all people can thrive regardless of zip code. New strategies are necessary, including ecosystem partners, deployment vehicles, and culturally relevant technical assistance networks to help forge a more equitable future. This session will explore how key federal policies such as the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), development finance tools like tax credits, and other emergent federal programs can be adapted to advance racial and economic justice.
Speakers:
Damon Burns, President & CEO, Finance New Orleans
Robert J. “R.J.” McGrail, Senior Fellow, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Kim Plache, Deputy Executive Director, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)
- Breakout 2: Inclusive Entrepreneurship
How can philanthropy craft strategies to improve access to capital and entrepreneurship in historically disinvested communities — and what federal programs are available to help entrepreneurs of color thrive?
Join us for a conversation with field experts in small business development and inclusive entrepreneurship. We’ll learn about the newly reauthorized $10 billion State Small Business Credit Initiative, offer strategies for effective ecosystem building, and explore ways to support entrepreneurs in your community.
Speakers:
Kiyadh Burt, Senior Policy Analyst, Hope Policy Institute
David Lynn, CEO, Mission Driven Finance
Renée Johnson, Senior Advisor, Public Private Strategies
Karleen Porcena, Senior Program Officer, LISC
- Breakout 3: Implementation Matters
The coronavirus pandemic and its ensuing economic impacts have wrought havoc in communities across the country. Now, communities are poised for an unprecedented infusion of funding through potentially transformative federal legislation: the American Rescue Plan, (ARP), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the bipartisan infrastructure bill) and the Build Back Better Agenda. How can we ensure that implementation of these important recovery efforts are equitable? Join us to hear from racial equity officers in local jurisdictions tasked with the implementation of these ambitious efforts at the federal level.
Speakers:
Gordon Goodwin, GARE Director, Government Alliance on Race and Equity
Marika Sitz, Diversity Equity Inclusion Manager, Jefferson County, Colo.
3:15 p.m. | Break/Virtual Networking
3:45 p.m. | Meet the Poet: Christell Victoria Roach
How can poetry and storytelling help build community, challenge assumptions and shine a light on injustice? Join us for a Q&A with poet Christell Victoria Roach and Tené Traylor, The Kendeda Fund‘s fund advisor for Atlanta.
4:00 p.m. | Federal Policy Town Hall — Remaking the Economy: Bold Ideas, Bold Investments, and Equitable Solutions
2021 has marked a period of unprecedented federal investment with the potential for a transformative recovery. If equity is to be at the center of recovery, it will require doing this differently. Join us for a Federal Policy Town Hall to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead to build an inclusive economy. This conversation will draw on lessons learned from previous moments of crisis and the role funders can play in leveraging private and civic resources to make substantial impact on racial equity.
Speakers:
Sameera Fazili, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director, National Economic Council at The White House
Cecilia Muñoz, Senior Advisor, New America
Helen Chin, President, Communities First, and Senior Fellow, Amalgamated Foundation and Race Forward (moderator)
4:45 p.m. | Adjourn
Thursday, Dec. 2
1 p.m. | Welcome and Introductions
Scot Spencer, Assistant Director, Local Policy, The Annie E Casey Foundation and TFN Inclusive Economies Co-Chair
1:10 p.m. | Inclusive Economies and Movement Building
Taifa Smith Butler, President, Demos
Through cutting-edge policy research, inspiring litigation and deep relationships with grassroots organizations, Demos champions solutions that will create a democracy and economy rooted in racial equity.
Taifa came to Demos after nearly a decade at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, and brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, public policy research and data analysis in the public, nonprofit and private sectors.
1:20 p.m. | Economic Democracy
This panel discussion will uplift strategists, organizers, and frontline voices and explore how communities are navigating the promise of new investment and the perils of implementation.
Speakers:
Connie Razza, Executive Director, Social and Economic Justice Leaders Project
Solana Rice, Co-Executive Director, Liberation in a Generation
Taifa Smith Butler, President, Demos (moderator)
2 p.m. | Place-based Learning: Aligning Policy, Power-Building and Practice
These conversations will highlight the spectrum of activities funders and partners are taking to create more inclusive economies in historically under-resourced rural, urban and tribal areas. Case studies will include efforts to align policy, power-building and inclusive economic development practices. (Please note that we’ll have another round of these discussions at 3:30 p.m. for those who would like to select a second place-based breakout session.)
- Breakout 1: Macon, Ga.
In a time of abundant federal investments, local collaboration will be key to ensure money is spent in a way that fosters inclusive growth. This session will explore how local civic leaders in Macon partnered with philanthropy to launch the first CDFI in middle Georgia and are leveraging flexible American Rescue Plan dollars to build more affordable housing.
Speakers:
Ricardo Cordew, Business Consultant, NewTown Macon
Alex Habersham, Publisher, Macon Black Pages
Lynn Murphey, Director/Macon, Knight Foundation
Bethany Rogers, Executive Director, NewTown Macon
- Breakout 2: New Mexico — Native American Recovery Fund
Join this session to learn about the Native American Recovery Fund a collaborative funding structure to support the leadership of Native-led, Native-serving organizations as they respond to Covid-19 and begin the process of rebuilding their economies, with a focus on supporting initiatives in the areas of economic security, water, health systems, and food systems.
Speakers:
JoAnn Melchor, President and CEO, New Mexico Foundation
Olivia Roanhorse, Portfolio Lead, Roanhorse Consulting
Sam Tucker, Director, Colorado River Sustainability Campaign
Henry J. Rael, Director of Strategy and Initiatives, McCune Charitable Foundation (moderator)
- Breakout 3: San Joaquin Valley, Calif.
In this session you will learn about the collaborative movement for solutions in California’s most industrially farmed region and discuss the political and ecological movement for ecology in rural California at large. We will learn about the history of the global movement for agroecology and talk through why this movement lens is a bridge for rural people in California to the global struggle against corporate capitalist farming.
Speaker:
Janaki Jagannath, Program Manager, The 11th Hour Project
- Breakout 4: Birmingham, Ala.
In 2020, Birmingham confronted an economic collapse of unprecedented scale, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the enormous disruption to the economy and individual livelihoods, the urge to get back to normal is understandably strong. Yet, the “normal” that preceded the pandemic is not good enough. This session will explore a range of strategies from universal basic income, to efforts to expand worker power, and the innovative partnerships necessary to center people in the policy making process.
Speakers:
Marc Bayard, Associate Fellow/Director, Institute for Policy Studies
Erica Iheme, Southern Director, Jobs to Move America
Zhaundra Jones, Senior Program Officer, Community Foundation Of Greater Birmingham
3 p.m. | Break/Virtual Networking (Optional)
3:30 p.m. | Place-based Learning: Aligning Policy, Power-Building and Practice (Second Round — Optional)
For attendees who would like to participate in more than one place-based learning session, we’re offering a second round of the 2 p.m. breakout conversations.
- Breakout 1: Macon, Ga.
In a time of abundant federal investments, local collaboration will be key to ensure money is spent in a way that fosters inclusive growth. This session will explore how local civic leaders in Macon partnered with philanthropy to launch the first CDFI in middle Georgia and are leveraging flexible American Rescue Plan dollars to build more affordable housing.
Speakers:
Ricardo Cordew, Business Consultant, NewTown Macon
Alex Habersham, Publisher, Macon Black Pages
Lynn Murphey, Director/Macon, Knight Foundation
Bethany Rogers, Executive Director, NewTown Macon
- Breakout 2: New Mexico — Native American Recovery Fund
Join this session to learn about the Native American Recovery Fund a collaborative funding structure to support the leadership of Native-led, Native-serving organizations as they respond to Covid-19 and begin the process of rebuilding their economies, with a focus on supporting initiatives in the areas of economic security, water, health systems, and food systems.
Speakers:
JoAnn Melchor, President and CEO, New Mexico Foundation
Olivia Roanhorse, Portfolio Lead, Roanhorse Consulting
Sam Tucker, Director, Colorado River Sustainability Campaign
Henry J. Rael, Director of Strategy and Initiatives, McCune Charitable Foundation (moderator)
- Breakout 3: San Joaquin Valley, Calif.
In this session you will learn about the collaborative movement for solutions in California’s most industrially farmed region and discuss the political and ecological movement for ecology in rural California at large. We will learn about the history of the global movement for agroecology and talk through why this movement lens is a bridge for rural people in California to the global struggle against corporate capitalist farming.
Speaker:
Janaki Jagannath, Program Manager, The 11th Hour Project
- Breakout 4: Birmingham, Ala.
In 2020, Birmingham confronted an economic collapse of unprecedented scale, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the enormous disruption to the economy and individual livelihoods, the urge to get back to normal is understandably strong. Yet, the “normal” that preceded the pandemic is not good enough. This session will explore a range of strategies from universal basic income, to efforts to expand worker power, and the innovative partnerships necessary to center people in the policy making process.
Speakers:
Marc Bayard, Associate Fellow/Director, Institute for Policy Studies
Erica Iheme, Southern Director, Jobs to Move America
Zhaundra Jones, Senior Program Officer, Community Foundation Of Greater Birmingham
4:30 p.m. | Adjourn
Friday, Dec. 3
1 p.m. | Welcome and Introductions
Scot Spencer, Assistant Director, Local Policy, The Annie E Casey Foundation and TFN Inclusive Economies Co-Chair
1:15 p.m. | Funder Discussion: Reflections and Opportunities to Learn and Engage in 2022
We’ll wrap up our virtual meeting with a working session for Inclusive Economies funders focused on priority-setting and action-planning.
Join us to help identify opportunities to learn and engage in the year ahead:
- What do we want to learn together?
- How do we want to learn?
- How do we apply what we learn collectively?
2:45 p.m. | Closing Remarks
Scot Spencer, Assistant Director, Local Policy, The Annie E Casey Foundation and TFN Inclusive Economies Co-Chair