Dear friends,

After a warm welcome last night, Day Two of the 2025 Prosperity Summit marked the official start of our full program—and what an energizing day it was. Hundreds of community leaders, innovators, and practitioners from across the country came together to share ideas and practical solutions for expanding financial opportunity.

The morning plenary, Capital, Creativity, and the Hustle for Good, opened with a call to reimagine how capital and innovation can work together to strengthen financial stability for families, small businesses, and communities. Voices from across finance and philanthropy discussed how institutions can deploy resources with purpose to help more people thrive.

The session also featured the 2025 RISE Challenge, presented in collaboration with Accenture and Avanade, showcasing innovators building digital tools that help Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and similar lenders better serve small businesses. We’re proud to share that Parlay Finance took home this year’s top honor—a $100,000 implementation contract through Prosperity Next—for its Loan Intelligence System, which automates loan intake and eligibility reviews to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs.

In the afternoon, the second plenary, Innovation Over Nostalgia: AI, Crypto, and America’s Next Workforce, examined how emerging technologies are reshaping financial security. Moderated by Prosperity Now COO Dave Uejio, the panel explored how AI, digital platforms, and fintech solutions can create new opportunities while ensuring households are supported in a rapidly changing economy.

Breakout sessions throughout the day explored practical ways to expand access to homeownership, strengthen maternal and child health, integrate financial counseling into small business support, and use creative expression as a tool for resilience and connection.

The evening concluded with the first-ever Prosperity Now Awards Gala, featuring a conversation hosted by journalist Jim Acosta with Stephen Satterfield (High on the Hog), Alberto Ferreras (Habla), and Marisa Calderon. The program honored Ron Grzywinski, co-founder of ShoreBank, with the Bob Friedman Award and featured a special screening of Prosperity Now’s new short documentary, Altadena Rising.

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