LISC Strategic Investments reposted this
A theme running through #OFN40’s packed conference this year is the imperative of developing and retaining diverse talent, and building a pipeline of people coming into the #CDFI universe to serve communities—including their own communities. At the morning’s plenary, author and urbanist Majora Carter made the case for why talent retention must be part of community development work, so “success is not measured by how far you get away from the neighborhood you grew up in.” Two LISC programs with a big presence at #OFN40 that are doing just that are the LISC AmeriCorps Economic Mobility Corps and our #HBCU internship program, both of which receive critical support from Citi Foundation. At a gathering of LISC EMC and HBCU program participants today, LISC board member Lisa Hasegawa described her own history of coming into the field with no idea about what a CDFI was, but reminded the group that the industry is a “movement founded by organizers and people of color, and it’s your movement. So welcome to the family.” Stacey (Rapp) Grant, senior director of LISC AmeriCorps, and Anikka King, who runs the LISC National HBCU Talent Development Program, amplified the issues of inclusion, support and economic empowerment for newcomers to the field at a panel called “Cultivating Prosperity through Early-Stage Talent Development.” Through financial, employment, and life coaching, new community development professionals have a greater likelihood of staying with an industry that asks a lot of them—but that will only flourish into the future with their insight, dedication and work. And communities and local economies will flourish, too, the more committed CDFIers are able to remain in their communities if they choose to. Opportunity Finance Network