Jeanne Cola, Senior Executive Director, LISC Rhode Island

In a sharp editorial for the Boston Globe, LISC Rhode Island senior executive director Jeanne Cola celebrates a $120M housing bond that will go before voters this fall, but warns that the figure is not nearly enough to close the state’s enormous affordability gap. Citing a range of creative solutions, Cola argues that only an all-hands-on-deck approach, with corporate citizens, non-profits and all levels of government collaborating, can make good housing for all a reality.

By Madeline del Carmen Fraser Cook, Senior Vice President, Community Building and Resilient Solutions

In her chapter from What’s Possible: Investing NOW for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods, LISC’s Madeline del Carmen Fraser Cook, who also co-edited the book, explores the imperative of authentic community engagement in the work of supporting historically underinvested places to become more energy efficient and climate resilient. It’s a process that demands insight, bona fide listening and what she describes as “working at the speed of trust.”

By Christina Travers, LISC Executive Vice President & CFO

LISC CFO Christina Travers is among the impact investing leaders who contributed commentaries to a new book, The Social Justice Investor, and joined a panel discussion at today’s book launch. In her essay, “Laying the Cash Tracks,” (reprinted here) she explains the evolution of LISC’s capital markets experience—noting how discouraging Wall Street conversations eventually led to transformative, community-focused investments.

By Christina Travers, LISC Executive Vice President & CFO

With the launch of the new book, The Social Justice Investor, LISC’s CFO Christina Travers, one of the book’s contributors, reflects on the ways that CDFIs have tapped the capital markets to deepen their impact—working to upend lingering misconceptions among some investors. “Whether we are financing affordable housing, small businesses, health, safety, climate resilience, racial equity or jobs, we see financial performance and local impact as part of the same whole.”

LISC’s Local Advisory Committees (LACs) serve as guides and champions for the organization’s many local offices and rural program. Women leaders from the finance, philanthropy, government and community development worlds bring a special—and especially important—set of skills and insights to this critical, behind-the-scenes part of our work to strengthen communities.

By Michael T. Pugh, LISC CEO

As HUD Secretary Fudge prepares to retire from public service, LISC CEO Michael T. Pugh reflects on her impact and the career-long dedication to creating affordable housing for all.