Illinois Legislature Provides A Roadmap For Progress With Its State-Level Community Reinvestment Act
By Kevin Hill
While long-awaited federal updates to a key nationwide economic justice policy are tied up in court, progress is continuing elsewhere: Illinois has finalized its state-level version of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Illinois lawmakers passed their state CRA law in 2021 and then spent more than two years designing its implementing regulations, which were formally adopted this May. [Read more]
“Weathering” And The Effects Of Racism On Public Health
By Devin Thompson
The emotional and psychological effects of discrimination are familiar to anyone who’s ever been treated differently because of who they are. The damage that stress can do to the human brain has been widely understood for decades. Research on how living in poverty has similar effects on the human brain to pulling an all-nighter every night has received widespread coverage over the past decade. [Read more]
An Anxious Economy: A Mid-Year Race Jobs and the Economy Update
By Joseph Dean
The unemployment rate for most demographic groups changed little from April to May, except for Black male workers. Black men’s experience of the job market continued its recent erratic pattern from month to month, rising from 5.2% to 6.4% – far above the levels observed last winter. This jump caused the unemployment rate for Black workers to increase from 5.6% to 6.1%. [Read more]
News
New Dataset Empowers Researchers To Precisely Track The Effects Of Redlining Over Time
The HLD effectively bridges the gap between the different eras of HMDA data collection and clarifies it for researchers, using the same census tract boundaries to organize the information. This accessible format should open new doors for investigating the historical effects of redlining and disinvestment through new, geographic alignment across multiple decades of mortgage reporting. [Read more]
Applications Now Open For The NCRC Fellowship For Equitable Development
Only one week left to apply: The NCRC Fellowship for Equitable Development offers members a $5,000 grant and 9 months of collaboration with their fellow to tackle a member-designed project. Fellows gain hands-on experience, kickstart their professional development and contribute to innovative projects. [Read More]
Reports
Decades of Disinvestment: Historic Redlining and Mortgage
Lending Since 1981
Fifty-five years after Congress outlawed using discriminatory maps to guide mortgage lending, race-based exclusion from homeownership is still a de facto reality. Lenders continue to reinforce patterns of structural racism in formerly redlined neighborhoods, regardless of local market dynamics. [Read more]
Field Notes
The Lone Wolf Of Fair Lending In San Diego County
By Jason Richardson
Dave Oddo’s relentless pursuit of fairness in mortgage lending began with a revelation — a newspaper headline in 1977 that unveiled the stark reality of redlining in San Diego County. Forming the San Diego Coalition Against Redlining, his mission was clear: to expose and eradicate the insidious practice that sidelined entire communities based on race and income. [Read more]
NCRC CDF Entrepreneur Spotlight: Olive Gift Co.
By NCRC
This is part of a series of profiles showcasing the talented entrepreneurs of NCRC’s Community Development Fund.Olive Gift Co.is a women-owned business started by Michell Ratcliffe that provides gift-giving services. [Read more]
Events
Purpose-Driven Success: Uncovering Your Why For Professional And Personal Growth June 24, 2:30 pm ET
Join NCRC’s National Training Academy (NTA) for this training where participants will embark on a journey to discover their “why”—the core reason that drives their actions and decisions. Understanding your why is crucial for finding purpose and achieving true fulfillment in both personal and professional realms. [Register here]
NCRC CDF’s Navigating Business Financing Webinar Series: Session 6: Financial Planning and Management for Long-Term Success
June 26, 10 am - 12 pm ET
Join NCRC CDF for this webinar as we delve into the pivotal aspects of financial planning that extend beyond mere loan applications. Gain insights into the significance of long-term financial planning for your business, discover effective budgeting and saving strategies, and learn to strategically manage your business’s cash flow for sustained growth. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to propel your financial future to new heights! [Register here]
In The News
Farmers, 717 Reimagine Look, Feel Of Banking
By The Vindicator
It seemed like the fate of the bank branch was sealed when the technological gains during the pandemic made it possible to buy a home or car without interacting physically with another human being. The US banking industry is estimated to have closed roughly 4,000 branches since 2020, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. [Read more]
Fact-Checking Vice President Kamala Harris’ Speech During Charlotte Visit
By Jason Puckett, WBTV
This claim is true. Reports from the Department of Treasury, Brookings and NCRC, all back this up. The Department of Treasury calls for research into “appraisal bias,” citing research that shows homes in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods are “more likely than homes in majority non-Hispanic White neighborhoods to be appraised at values below contract prices.” [Read more]
On Our Radar
Yes In God’s Backyard? This Housing Solution May Be The Answer To Your Prayers.
By Rachel M. Cohen, Vox
About five years ago, Harvey Vaughn, the senior pastor at Bethel AME, the oldest Black church in San Diego, heard a radio report about rising homelessness in his city. He wondered if his congregation, which owned a roughly 7,000-square-foot lot around the corner, could help. Today, the lot is a construction site for a new housing complex that will offer 25 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors and veterans. [Read more]
These 10 US Cities Are ‘Missing’ The Most Homes, New Report Finds
By Addy Bink, The Hill
The hot housing market during the COVID pandemic was coupled with a construction boom. Thanks in part to a subsequent shortage of supplies, construction was delayed in some areas. While that has mostly rebounded, newly released data from Zillow shows the U.S. still doesn’t have enough housing — and it’s only getting worse. [Read More]
Resources
Work And Meet At The Just Economy Club It's aDC hubfor nonprofits and the social sector, around the corner from the White House. Move your team into a private office or host your meetings and events or hang out in the lounge. [Read more]
Learning & Training Hub Register for NCRC's catalog of professional development courses for community development leaders. [Learn more]
Research And Reports We have an extensive library of research and reports that dates back many years! [View all]
Sign And Share The Just Economy Pledge America should not only promise but deliver to all Americans opportunities to build wealth and live well. Sign and share the pledge to help us expand the movement for a Just Economy. [Sign and Share]
Fair Lending Tool Use our interactive tool to produce a report on mortgages, small business lending and bank branch networks for any city, county or metro area in the nation. [Access the tool here]
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