Asset Policy Forum - Sacramento
APIC, together with the New America Foundation, launched the Asset Policy Forum speaking series in 2007 to create an opportunity for experts in the asset-building field to discuss an array of strategies and policies that enable and encourage all Californians to save money and build wealth. We encourage policymakers, legislative staff, advocates, academics and others to join us for lunch and a compelling discussion each month.
Join us at the next Asset Policy Forum featuring Claudia Viek who will discuss microenterprise development as it relates to asset building. Claudie Viek brings over 25 years of experience working with a variety of small businesses and community development programs in the Bay Area.
Monday, July 21, 2008
12-1:30pm - Lunch provided
California State Capitol
Sacramento California
These bipartisan events are co-hosted by the Asset Policy Initiative of California, the New America Foundation, and the California Research Bureau, in association with Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Assemblymember Joel Anderson (R-La Mesa).
Previous Events
Expanding Savings and Retirement Security - 05.21.08
Mark Mark Iwry Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Principal of
the Retirement Security Project, and Research Professor at Georgetown
University presented
on the current retirement savings crisis - its causes and the
continuing effect it will have on the financial security of working
families as well as the state and national economy. He also discussed
state and national policy options to significantly encourage retirement
savings and the accumulation of assets by lower- and middle-income
workers.
Financial Literacy: Need, Strategy, Opportunity - 4.17.08
Ellen Seidman,
Director of the Financial Services and Education
Project in the Asset Building Program at the New America Foundation presented on the importance of financial literacy for both
individual households and the broader macroeconomy. Learn more.
Banking the Unbanked: Bringing Californians into the Financial Mainstream - 3.26.08
California's California: Savings and Opportunity in the Central Valley - 1.31.08
The Mortgage Crisis in California: Policy Strategies for Preserving the American Dream - 11.19.07
Assets and Opportunity: Exploring Californians' Financial Well-Being - 10.09.07
Asset Policy 101 - 9.29.07
California fares poorly—receiving an overall “C” grade—in the 2007-2008 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, a biannual report released by the national Corporation for Enterprise Development (cfed). This report presents a comprehensive look at wealth, poverty, and the financial security of families on a national and state level. The 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, are assessed on 46 performance measures in five major areas: financial security, business development, homeownership, healthcare, and education.
According to the report, California is at the forefront of small business development, receiving an “A” grade for Business Vitality. Overall, California has lowered asset poverty and even increased homeownership rates. However, California still has a long way to go in areas of asset poverty, homeownership, and access to health care.
To learn more - 2007-2008 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard.
If you have any questions contact Sunaena Chhatry at sunaena@sfearn.org or (415)217-3671.
Anne Stuhldreher, a senior policy advisor in the Office
of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger discusssed what it means to be "unbanked"
and why it is a problem for California. She also provided an
overview of Bank on California, which is modeled after Bank on San Francisco,
headed by San Francisco City Treasurer José Cisneros. Cisneros will describe the
ground-breaking initiative that is successfully bringing thousands of local
unbanked residents into the financial mainstream. Lear more: Bank on San Francisco and Bank on California.
The Savings Crisis: Policies to Help Californians Build Wealth - 2.13.08
For our fifth convening our featured speaker Dory Rand presented on the savings crisis and discussed policy solutions that can help Californians build wealth. Dory is a supervising attorney of the community investment unit at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. Learn more
Carol Whiteside discussed the Central Valley's economy as it relates to family incomes and asset accumulation and how those factors relate to residents' ability to pay for college education and/or job training, start small businesses, and sustain a decent standard of living in retirement. Carol is a former mayor of Modesto and President of the Great Valley Center. Learn more
Paul Leonard discussed the current subprime mortgage crisis - it's causes, the continuing effect it will have on homeownership, wealth, and the California economy, as well as present possible solutions. Paul directs the California office of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Click here to view the program. Learn more
At the second luncheon we examined California’s asset-building policies through CFED’s 2007-2008 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard Report. Jennifer Brooks, CFED’s Policy Director presented on California's ranks with other states in relation to asset-building policies. Learn more
Nearly 100 people participated in the inaugural event where asset policy expert Heather McCulloch provided an overview of this dynamic and growing field of asset building. Click here to hear the program. Learn more
Assets and Opportunity Scorecard

