Near West Side in D.C.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) held its annual conference March 28-30 this year in Washington D.C. and with the support of NCRC I was able to attend and connect with fellow community organizations, groups and individuals involved in community and economic development.

Lincoln Monument

Stanley and Meeks

NCRC Leadership

Representative Gregory Meeks

Ben's

Bethany Sanchez

John Taylor

Prominent speakers for this event included Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Janet Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, U.S. Congressman from New York, Gregory W. Meeks, Senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee, .U.S. Congresswoman from California Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee and Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League.

Highlights from the conference included panel discussions on Equitable Development in Gentrifying Communities, Social Media Strategies for Nonprofits and a evening speech from John Taylor, President and CEO of NCRC.

Attendees also participated in a "Capital Hill Day" event in which delegates from each state had the opportunity to meet and talk to their local representatives. Our Wisconsin group which included representatives from UEDA, NAACP, Riverworks Development Corp and many more had the opportunity to speak to our local Wisconsin representatives on federal budget priorities.

The Wisconsin delegation met with Congresswoman Gwen Moore and had the opportunity to meet with legislative aids of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Paul Ryan, Rep. Ron Kind, Rep. Rep. Ron Johnson, Michael Gallagher and Rep. Mark Pocan.

Federal budget priorities, if enacted by Congress, will have a tremendous and negative effect on how many organizations currently operate across the state for both rural and urban areas suffering from low investment and development opportunities.

Areas that are of major concern are (1) Community Reinvestment Act: legislation that prioritizes urban investment for private banks, (2) Community Development Block Grants: $3 billion that could be on the "chopping block" for this year and (3) Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Funds: $233 million that could also disappear with this year's Presidential budget.

The over 1000 NCRC conference attendees all understand the importance of these funding streams and will continue to support the work of our local communities and NCRC in supporting the legislation that supports the continued funding of these programs.

Thanks to you Bethany Sanchez of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council on her work and support of NCRC and the invite for NWSP to attend the conference this year.