Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative has been hard at work and we're excited to share our latest news and updates with you. 

Earlier this month, we announced the launch of the Black Wealth Data Center (BWDC) to provide public and private sector leaders with actionable data for policy-making and investment decisions. We are gratified by early responses to this new resource and will continue to push the conversation forward about the critical role data plays in building a more equitable society.

To learn how you can use the Black Wealth Data Center to design programs and policies that advance racial wealth equity, join Natalie Evans Harris, executive director of the BWDC, for a site demo on October 18th. Register today! 

On September 19-21, the Greenwood Initiative team headed to Atlanta, GA for Prosperity Now’s 2022 Summit, where more than 1,200 racial economic equity champions from over 45 states convened under the theme of “Marching On, Building a Broader Movement for Change.” The event included conversations on hot topics such as baby bonds, affordable housing, and wealth building. 

I was honored to moderate a plenary that focused on the importance of data in the racial economic justice movement – it was the most viewed session on the event app!  During the discussion, panelists including Monique Carswell, director of the Center for Racial Equity at Walmart; Bill Bynum, CEO and founder of HOPE; and Darrick Hamilton, director of the Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification and Political Economy at The New School, covered the challenges of not having access to data disaggregated by race and how this data can be leveraged to bring about new ideas and new interventions to respond to racial wealth disparities. 

There was a common theme among the panelists: Racial wealth equity data is the missing link to assess what programs and policies work and which ones need improvement.

Summit attendees also had an opportunity to participate in a live demo of the Black Wealth Data Center, which included opening remarks from Erika Williams of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative. 

We are encouraged by convenings like the Prosperity Summit because these conversations are essential in addressing economic solutions and accelerating wealth accumulation for Black and Brown communities.

Thank you for your continued support of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative.

Until next time,
Garnesha Ezediaro