A Message from our CEO: Lenwood V. Long, Sr.
African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs
A national membership-driven coalition that empowers Black-Led CDFI CEO members to lead and grow.
Dear Friends and Allies,?
This year presents new opportunities to build on our successes, and I am continually inspired by the passion and dedication of our Alliance members. Your drive, commitment, and collective efforts are what make our mission stronger and our impact greater.?
As we navigate these unprecedented political times, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our shared values and our commitment to the mission that unites us. In moments of uncertainty, leadership matters more than ever. And while the world around us may be shifting, our dedication to integrity, resilience, and progress remains steadfast.?
Now, more than ever, we must lead with purpose—focusing on solutions, collaboration, and the collective impact we can make. We stand firm in our commitment to creating opportunities, fostering equity, and ensuring that our work continues to uplift those we serve.?
I encourage each of you to stay informed, stay engaged, and most importantly, stay true to the principles that guide us. Together, we will navigate these times with clarity, strength, and unwavering resolve.?
Black History Month serves as a meaningful time to reflect on principles like righteousness, justice, and truth—values that continue to fuel our mission-driven work in support of Black communities. As we celebrate the achievements and resilience of Black leaders and trailblazers in our past, we also draw inspiration to push forward, ensuring that our work drives lasting impact and meaningful change for generations to come.?
Our future remains bright, and our impact will continue to grow.?
Thank you for your dedication and leadership.?
Be steadfast,
Lenwood V. Long, Sr.
CEO
Introducing the Alliance’s Newly Elected Board Members?
announce the election of our new members to The Alliance’s Board of Directors. Please join us in welcoming?Hilda Kennedy,?Ron Brooks, and?Gene Gelgelu?to our leadership team. Their exceptional expertise, unwavering passion, and shared commitment to our mission will be instrumental in advancing our efforts to empower Black-led CDFIs and closing the racial wealth gap.?
The 2025 Board of Directors is composed of a distinguished group of leaders:??
A strong, unified board has been essential to driving meaningful change and ensuring the success of our mission. ??
We look forward to working alongside our newly elected members and the entire board as we continue advancing the vital work of The Alliance.??
2025 Staff Retreat in Memphis, TN
The Alliance Team kicked off the year with an energizing staff retreat in Memphis, setting the tone for a year of Impact.?
We enjoyed team-building activities while focusing on organization and department goal-setting. As part of this experience, we also visited The National Civil Rights Museum to reflect on the past, draw inspiration from history, and reaffirm our commitment to advancing equity and opportunity.?
A special thank you to Alliance member Anthony Young, President and CEO of Epicenter Memphis, for his incredible hospitality and for Ron Brooks of River City Capital, now a Board member of The Alliance! We appreciate their valuable insights, introducing us to inspiring entrepreneurs, and leading a dynamic panel discussion.?
The Memphis retreat was?a powerful launchpad for the year ahead. With renewed enthusiasm, strengthened relationships, and a clear strategic direction, the team left inspired and ready to make 2025 the best year yet!?
New RFP Opportunity for Housing Justice Advocacy Experts
Calling all housing justice advocacy experts!??
The Alliance is piloting a new program aimed at strengthening the ability of members to advocate for policy reforms in their communities that accelerate housing justice. We are seeking an expert with experience navigating state and local politics as well as cultivating advocates and organizers to empower our network of 100+ Black-led CDFIs across the country.??
Key consultant activities will include curriculum design and delivery, research into local housing and political ecosystems, coaching on member advocacy strategy, toolkit development, and advising the Alliance on program sustainability.?
If you are interested and want to learn more, read our Request for Proposal here.? Please send a letter of intent to apply by February 21, 2025, and submit a full proposal by March 3, 2025.??
Reach out to Somala Diby ([email protected]) with questions.
CDFI Fund 30th Anniversary Report Feature?
We are grateful to the CDFI Coalition for featuring us?in their CDFI Fund 30th Anniversary Report! Celebrating three decades of impact and innovation in community development, this report shares narratives of mission-driven work that drives economic growth for underserved communities.?
Visit Page 20 of the report to read our feature. ?
Weekly Black Money Series on LinkedIn Live
Did you catch the last "Black Money Series" on LinkedIn Live"? Each month, The Alliance sheds light on the untold stories, success narratives, and vital discussions surrounding economic empowerment within the African American community.???
To kick-off Black History Month, our VP of Membership Services Justin Minott had a conversation with Institute Capital’s (ICAP) Roberta McCullough. Learn more about Roberta’s passion for community and economic development, and how ICAP is furthering economic liberation in the Black community. ?
To watch recent episodes and to stay up to date with The Alliance, follow our LinkedIn page.?
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Welcome New Alliance Members
Join us in welcoming our newest members:?
For a full list of Alliance members, click below for our member directory or click the following links: CDFI members,?Associate members.
ForbesBLK columns by our CEO, Lenwood V. Long, Sr.??
Member Feature Story
Policy & Advocacy: Our United Voice
In January, we released our second research report titled Analyzing the Wealth Gap: Black-led vs. White-led CDFIs and the Role of Federal Programs.?Co-authored by SVP of Policy and Research, Ryan Gremillion and Policy Research Associate, Nucdalie Cherident, this paper?seeks to analyze the federal funding?disparities?towards Black-led CDFIs and propose actionable policy changes to bridge the gap.?
We invite you to read and engage with this report. Your insights and discussions will undoubtedly enrich our collective understanding and drive forward the essential work of advancing equity and inclusion.?
Show Your Support and Purchase a Limited-Edition Live Your Hope?T-Shirt
If you support our mission of closing the racial wealth gap and building Black wealth, we invite you to get your hands on our exclusive The Power of Us t-shirts before they’re gone! ?
Let's Stay Connected!
We hope you enjoyed our newsletter. Have questions or want to submit content for future newsletters??Please contact the Marketing & Communications team?at [email protected].?
Business Impact Group | Director of Business Impact Integration at U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance
1 周Thank you African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs for your continued leadership in this space! ????
Impact Amplifier ?? | Business Coach | Community Builder | Entrepreneur
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Helping SMBs obtain Bank lines of Credit to grow and expand.
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AVP, Community Lending Manager @ Umpqua Bank| California/Nevada/Arizona Regions
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