Public Appearances

OFN speaks about the importance of CDFIs

COP28: OFN Takes a Seat at the Global Climate Table

COP28

OFN President and CEO Harold Pettigrew appeared on a panel at COP28 focused on Financing the Transition for Impact  to discuss how CDFIs are financing the clean energy transition in underinvested rural, urban, and Native communities.

COP28, the largest global climate summit, has convened leaders, climate advocates, decision-makers, and more, in Dubai. The event, which touts around 90,000 registrants, will unfold over two weeks. All eyes are on the global climate meeting as time is running out to meet the commitment made at COP21 to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

 

“Reimagine, Reinvest, Rebuild”, the 2022 National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference

Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and San Francisco, the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Officer of the Comptroller of the Currency

Watch plenary moderator Anna Alvarez Boyd, who serves as the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System’s senior associate director for research, analytics and engagement, pose questions to panelists Lisa Mensah, OFN president and CEO, and Melissa Jones, executive director of Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII), a network of public health departments and others.

Financing Rural America

National Press Foundation

Lisa Mensah joined a discussion with the National Press Foundation highlighting the Biden Administration contributing $1.25 Billion into rural lending and how community development financial institution experts say CDFIs can help alleviate rural poverty as well as racial inequities where previous pandemic relief failed.

Increasing Access to Homeownership: How America Can Increase Housing Affordability and Close the Wealth Gap

Urban Institute

Lisa Mensah joined the Urban Institute for a virtual event exploring data and research on why homeownership is so much more affordable than renting and a robust discussion of what can be done to increase access to homeownership. The discussion focused on not only what the federal government can do, but what states, local governments, and organizations such as community development financial institutions can do now by tapping into available resources.

Future of Diversity in Small Business with Ron Busby, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) & Lisa Mensah

Washington Post Live

Watch Lisa Mensah, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), and other prominent business leaders explore the future of diversity in small business, the challenges minority-owned businesses often face in raising capital and how government and the private sector can work to keep these critically important enterprises thriving.

Impact Briefing: CDFI’s and Juneteenth

ImpactAlpha Podcast

Lisa Mensah joins host Monique Aiken to reflect on Juneteenth, community lending, and today’s opportunity for a just reconstruction. Log in or register for a free/paid subscription account to listen to the podcast episode.

Vice President Harris Delivers Remarks on Providing Access to Capital to Small Businesses

The White House

Lisa Mensah, President and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network, joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Chairwoman Maxine Waters, and Senator Mark Warner in announcing a federal award of $1.25 billion to more than 800 community lenders in an effort to speed the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Hearing: The Paycheck Protection Program: Performance, Impact, and Next Steps

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Lisa Mensah — president and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network — was invited to speak during the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship’s hearing, “The Paycheck Protection Program: Performance, Impact, and Next Steps.”

Community Development Financial Institutions: Financing Justice, Investing in Hope With Lisa Mensah

Capital for Good Podcast - Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School

Lisa Mensah, president and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network, discusses economic and community development finance institutions (CDFIs), finance justice, and ways the Biden-Harris Administration can support CDFIs to “finance hope” and help struggling communities build back stronger.

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