Regional Engagement
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A Job Is Not Enough
It’s becoming increasingly clear that, when it comes to financial stability, simply having a job is not enough.
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Scale Finance: Filling the 95-Percent-Empty Glass
Guest author Steven Goldberg discusses expanding certified evidence-based programs through “Scale Finance,” an enhanced Social Impact Bond model.
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Overcoming Homeownership Challenges in Rural America: Lessons from Alaska
With its stunning landscape and rich culture, Alaska is known as the “The Last Frontier.” But the real “frontier” begins outside populated areas like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau where decent, safe, and energy-efficient housing becomes scarce.
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Boosting the Power of Youth Paychecks: Integrating Financial Capability into Youth Workforce Programs
For many lower-income youth, a first paycheck represents an important opportunity to enter the financial mainstream, avoid costly predatory financial services, and establish positive financial behaviors and attitudes. The MyPath Savings program shows positive, scalable results that support low-income working youth as they bank, save, and build their financial confidence.
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Economic Opportunity + a National Culture of Health: Did You Miss a Game-changer?
If you missed the speeches by Williams and Lavizzo-Mourey that closed out the National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference (NICRC) in Los Angeles, you missed a game changer.
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CDFIs as Economic Shock Absorbers
The Great Recession sent shock waves through the world economy. Few lenders emerged unscathed, and the economic consequences for their investors and borrowers were often catastrophic. Community development financial institution (CDFI) loan funds, however, acted as economic shock absorbers for low-income and minority communities hit especially hard during the downturn.
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Consumer Complaints against Banks: A Look at the Numbers
Consumer input has long been an important part of the free market system. It allows businesses to change and adapt products and services based on what individuals want and need at the time. With this in mind, the federal bank regulators set up a consumer help center where individuals can file complaints against banks if they feel that they have been mistreated in any way. How does it work and what have we learned?
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How Can Native American Veterans Gain Access to a Benefit They Earned?
A federal program exists to provide more homeownership opportunities for Native Americans veterans on Indian reservations, yet less than one in six of the over 570 federally-recognized tribes have accessed the program. This is a program that Native American Veterans have earned but relatively few are able to enjoy the benefit.
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Artists in community and economic development
Can artists play a role in community development? Over 400 community organizers, advocates and artists explored that question at a recent San Francisco Fed conference focused on a new community development strategy called creative placemaking.