Stories
Building from the Bottom Up and the Middle Out: Biden Speaks to the Nation on Opportunity, Equity and Growth
Matt Josephs, LISC senior vice president for policy, takes a look at the president’s State of the Union address and what it might mean for efforts to bridge gaps in health, wealth and opportunity throughout the country.
Congress Must Seize the Opportunity to Make Equitable Investments in People and Places
The Build Back Better Act is a sweeping package of investments to support underserved people and communities. LISC’s Matt Josephs takes a closer look at this historic opportunity for Congress to break down systemic barriers for people of color, while at the same time fueling an equitable economic recovery from the pandemic.
As the Pandemic Eases, Can Philanthropy Help Lift Up Child Care?
The onset of new public resources dedicated to child care is a godsend to families and providers hit hard by pandemic losses. But it is really only a fraction of what is needed to build, expand and upgrade facilities around the country. LISC’s Cindy Larson takes a closer look at how philanthropy and CDFIs can work together to not only provide flexible capital to this vital industry, but to also offer development expertise and planning support that can help maximize the impact of public investments as well.
LISC Launches Pilot Program for “Co-located” Child Care Centers
The pandemic has shined a bright light on the importance of child care to local economies throughout the country. But, as LISC’s Cindy Larson points out in a new blog, it has long been a critical issue with regard to racial, gender and economic equity as well. A new LISC program, with support from Pivotal Ventures, is helping fuel innovation in child care facilities development to address significant gaps in service, building on decades of work to benefit families, providers and communities.
“It Takes a Truly Comprehensive Effort”: Q&A with Annie Donovan, LISC’s New COO
As she steps into her new roll as COO for LISC, Annie Donovan, former head of the CDFI Fund, shares some reflections on the current promise—and challenges—of doing community investment, the origins of her personal commitment to service and creating equitable opportunity, and the reasons she decided to come to LISC.
SOTU and Communities
Tuesday might have been President Obama’s last State of the Union address. But he made it clear that the work needed to lift families out of poverty is ongoing. LISC’s Matt Josephs considers the president’s remarks from a community development perspective, looking at programs that improve the quality of life in places where Americans struggle to make ends meet.