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Analysis and points of view on research, trends, issues, ideas and opportunities.

The Future of Civil Rights Panel – 2026 Just Economy Conference

Hear civil rights leaders Lisa Rice (President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fair Housing Alliance), Reed Colfax (Co-Managing Partner at Relman Colfax), Mikael Rojas (Partner with Outten & Golden) and NCRC board chair and civil rights attorney Carol Johnson in a panel titled “The Future of Civil Rights” that explores how attendees can […]

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More Than a Map: Redlining’s Enduring Effects on School Funding and Student Outcomes in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s most inequitably funded public school systems. Some children attend school in 75-year-old buildings with no air conditioning, surrounded by holes in ceilings, gun violence and a lack of basic supplies. However, just one town over, students attend schools with full-equipped music and gym classes, state-of-the-art technology, well-trained staff and

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‘We are not fighting this battle alone’: San Francisco Housing Development Corporation addresses the legacy of displacement in historically redlined communities

The legacy of the urban renewal era is still alive and well in many expensive cities across the US, such as San Francisco. Even many San Franciscans who received Certificates of Preference, a piece of paper meant to guarantee housing for those displaced by urban renewal, haven’t been able to build a community in the

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Russell: A Place of Promise Empowers Residents to Build Community Wealth in Louisville

In Russell, Kentucky, a historically Black neighborhood in Louisville, one organization is empowering residents to take an active role in community planning while ensuring real estate investments build generational wealth for the local population.  Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) has been educating residents about real estate planning, engaging them in the land development process

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NCRC Warns CFPB of Risks of Reduced HMDA Data Collection to Fair Lending Enforcement

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) recently submitted a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to strongly support maintaining the current level of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data collection because reduced HMDA reporting would significantly impair fair lending enforcement.   53 state and local NCRC member organizations signed on to NCRC’s letter. The

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Another Disappointing Jobs Report Highlights Ongoing Labor Market Weaknesses: March 2026′s Race, Jobs and the Economy

In last month’s edition of the Race, Jobs and the Economy series, we explored whether the 6-figure job gains seen in January were either a sign that the labor market was about to experience a turnaround or simply a fluke. It seems the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report provides an answer. The

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When Housing Was For Everyone: How Owning Went From a Rite of Passage to a Right of the Rich

In 1955, a homebuilder called Foster Associates took out an ad in the Tampa Tribune for a new development called Manhattan Manor. Three bedroom homes starting at $10,250, with veterans able to move in for $150 down and monthly payments as low as $60. Adjusted for inflation, that is about $120,000 in today’s dollars. Tampa

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Mobility Monitor: Trump and Big Tech Attempt to Win Over Communities on Data Centers – Will Their Partnership Bring Electricity Rates Down?

Few issues have done more to shape the economy and American politics over the past year than the explosion of data center proposals to advance artificial intelligence (AI). In February, the Trump administration reportedly agreed to the terms of a “ratepayer protection pledge” with Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI – the Big

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The Importance of Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship Training towards Bolstering Economic Mobility in Communities

Well-paying, quality jobs are essential to economic mobility and building wealth. Without a steady, living-wage income and dignified working conditions, people will struggle to save enough to support long-term material wellbeing and build generational wealth. The workforce development system is one particularly important mechanism for preparing and connecting people to high quality employment. In recent

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More Than a Mortgage: YCMIHOC’s Education and Counseling Programs Turn Housing Challenges Into Opportunities

Despite soaring housing costs, stagnant wages, limited access to financing and the lingering effects of historical policies like redlining, many low- to moderate-income families continue to pursue the dream of homeownership. For over 20 years, the You Can Make It Home Ownership Center (YCMIHOC) has helped turn that dream into a reality in underserved communities

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Closing the Door on Immigrant Entrepreneurs: SBA’s New Loan Restrictions Create Barriers for Non-Citizen Small Business Owners

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently posted a policy notice that would prevent legal permanent residents, such as immigrants with green cards, from accessing any SBA financing product effective March 1, 2026. Legal permanent residents are authorized to live and work in the US. To receive an SBA-backed loan, the SBA now requires small businesses to be 100% owned by US citizens or nationals.   This is an abrupt reversal from SBA’s original policy notice released this past December, which would have allowed small businesses that were 100% owned by legal permanent residents to access SBA financing

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Does gentrification push people out? The answer depends on how it is measured

Gentrification is one of those hot-button topics where people can look at the same city and see opposite truths. Some see disinvested neighborhoods finally getting access to grocery stores, improvements in public transit and safer neighborhoods while others see decreased affordability, the loss of cultural identity and the exit of longtime residents – often people

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Economic Mobility on the Ground: How Anchor Institutions Invest in Workforce Development

Anchor institutions are essential to driving economic mobility outcomes forward. These institutions – universities, hospitals and other large, place-based employers – are uniquely positioned to do just that. Unlike companies that may relocate or downsize, anchor institutions remain rooted in their neighborhoods, employing thousands, purchasing billions of goods and services and controlling numerous public spaces.   This combination of stability and scale allows them to deploy workforce investments strategically, creating tangible pathways for

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Social Justice in Action: How Nashville’s Interfaith Coalition is Bridging Divides to Build Economic Equity

During this divisive time in American politics, an interfaith coalition in Nashville is giving the nation a stunning example of unity by bringing together people of all backgrounds to advocate for social justice policies.  Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) is a multi-racial and interdenominational coalition of churches, synagogues, mosques, community organizations, nonprofits and

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