HOPE Economic Mobility Forum: Defending Financial Democracy 2023
About the Forum
Held on November 1, 2023, the Forum focused on the importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in building and safeguarding wealth, particularly for people living in historically under-resourced communities. Discussions took place amid ongoing legal challenges facing community development organizations, highlighting the need for coordinated policy and advocacy responses.
What the Forum Explored
The program featured research and analysis from leaders at the CFPB, who shared findings on credit access and banking needs in the South. Building on this research, the Hope Policy Institute and the Urban League of Louisiana advanced policy proposals aimed at expanding small business ownership, homeownership, and access to banking services.
The Forum concluded with a discussion led by Bill Bynum and Amber Koonce of the Legal Defense Fund, which addressed strategies for navigating and responding to legal challenges facing the community development finance sector.
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