Upcoming Events
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Stimulating the State of California
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.
On April 30, 2009 Rosalyn Crain, Legislative Manager, CFED presented on the following:
- Tax changes in ARRA that will help low-income families in California.
- Resources available through state and federal agencies to help low-income families and the agencies that serve them (e.g. health care, education, workforce/economic development, literacy, other social services)?
This webinar is hosted by EARN, Frontera Asset Building Network, and the National Community Tax Coalition.
If you missed the webinar, you can download Rosalyn's PowerPoint presentation. To access the audio of the webiar email sunaena@sfearn.org.
Microfinance California 2009
EARN is proud to partner with Microfinance California to host the first state-wide conference highlighting Microfinance as a smart investment for the state.
2 Million Entrepreneurs in California can't access the small amount of capital they need to get their business off the ground. What are we doing to meet this demand?
Join us for the first state-wide conference on microfinance to:
- Learn the nuts and bolts of domestic microfinance
- Visit Bay Area microfinance borrowers through small group tours
- Understand the impact and future of microfinance on California's
- Discover your role in the field of microfinance through small group dinners with practitioners, leaders, and investors
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni
Center at Stanford
University
Stanford, CA
Early bird registration available until April 15! Learn more!
Asset Policy Forum
The Asset Policy Initiative of California and the New America Foundation, in association with Assemblymembers Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), recently launched the Bipartisan Asset Policy Forum, including a luncheon speaker series designed to educate policymakers, legislative staff and advocates on asset-building issues affecting Californians.
American Dream 2.0: Safe & Sound First-Time Homeownership Strategies for Working Families in California - 12.17.08
Lori Bamberger, highlighted policy
strategies outlined in APIC's new white paper entitled American Dream 2.0. She offered a series of strategies on homeownership policy for California's business, nonprofit, and government leaders. Ms. Bamberger is the Principal of Lori Bamberger Consulting (LBC),
which provides strategic assistance to leading organizations at the
intersection of the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Over the
past year, Ms. Bamberger helped spearhead APIC's Assets and
Homeownership Initiative. Download presentation and American Dream 2.0 white paper.
Green Assets: Building Savings Through Energy Security- 11.18.08
Lisa Margonelli, an Irvine Fellow of the New America Foundation, highlighted policy strategies and initiatives California can adopt to ease the burden of rising energy costs and promote savings. Ms. Margonelli presented on The Energy Security for American Families Initiative
(ESAF), a program that would put efficiency-maximizing technology within reach of
lower-income California households through a range of incentives and
low-interest loans. Download presentation.
Strengthening California's Workforce through Education, Training, and Savings- 10.20.08
Amy Sherman, Associate Vice President for Policy and Strategic Alliances at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) discussed how workforce development policy can strengthen California's economy. Ms. Sherman identified policies that promote education and skills development to make California's workforce highly-skilled, highly-trained and well positioned to improve the state's economic vitality. Download presentation.
California's ScholarShare: Fostering Savings for Higher Education and Skills Training- 09.30.08
Zeny Agullana, Executive Director of the ScholarShare Investment
Board gave an overview of California's
tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan; where the program is headed, how it
can help all Californians offset the high cost of education, reduce
post-graduation debt, and strengthen the economy. Download presentation.
Microenterprise Development: The Dream of Entrepreneurship in California - 07.21.08
Claudia Viek, CEO of the California Association for Microenterprise
Opportunity (CAMEO), discussed the ways in
which California can stimulate the growth and success of entrepreneurship by
fostering microenterprise development. She also describe the benefits of
microenterprises including: economic self-sufficiency, job creation, community
economic development, and poverty alleviation. Download presentation.
Expanding Savings and Retirement Security - 05.21.08
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. Download presentation.
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. Download presentation.
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 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, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office
of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed 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. Mr. Cisneros will describe the
ground-breaking initiative that is successfully bringing thousands of local
unbanked residents into the financial mainstream. Download presentation: Bank on San Francisco and Bank on California.
The Savings Crisis: Policies to Help Californians Build Wealth - 2.13.08
Featured speaker, Dory Rand, presented on the savings crisis and discussed policy solutions that can help Californians build wealth. Ms. Rand is Supervising Attorney of the Community Investment Unit at the Sargeant Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. Download presentation.
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. Ms. Whiteside is a former mayor of Modesto and President of the Great Valley Center. Download presentation.
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. Mr. Leonard directs the California office of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Click here to view the program. Download presentation.
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. Download presentation.
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. Download Presentation.
Assets and Opportunity Scorecard
