July 2021 Newsletter
Letter from the Executive Director
John Taylor, president and founder of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition has been known to say that “banks are our communities’ best hope.” With that thought in mind, I bring you greetings from Building Alabama Reinvestment, our state’s CRA coalition. Our members are all aware that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is one of the most important laws governing banks and their activities concerning how they provide loans, services and make investments in low- and moderate-income communities. Despite numerous and recent attempts to weaken this law our organizations that support it stand strong and committed to making sure that financial services are available to our communities. We have redoubled our efforts to protect CRA and to make sure that our organizations can ensure that banks comply and that we are viable vehicles through which banks can work to satisfy their obligations and help us build the kinds of communities in which we all want to live.
As a former banker and current leader of both the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and Building Alabama Reinvestment (BAR), I’d like to invite you to join our movement. The banking landscape is changing here in Alabama and across this nation and, those changes represent both opportunities and challenges for all of us. We are engaged in conversations and negotiations with major financial institutions encouraging them to agree to make substantial investments, loans, and contributions. In my opinion, there has never been a better time to advocate for a better CRA that results in the economic well-being that we all want to see. However, to make this work our advocacy group needs to increase our numbers, grow in influence and power. Simply stated we need you to join us as we strive to make the community reinvestment act more impactful through partnerships and collaboration.
Kind Regards,
Bob Dickerson
Executive Director (BAR)
Building Alabama Reinvestment (BAR) 11th Annual Conference
The past fifteen months have gotten us accustomed to virtual events, so much so that we actually have begun to enjoy and appreciate some of them. Such was the case at last month’s Building Alabama Reinvestment 11th Annual Conference. The speakers, topics, and information were very similar to what would have been provided to our audience had our meeting been face to face and by all accounts, those who tuned in were happy that they did.
We provided training to members and other organizations that were in attendance, examples of best practices, testimonials from successful nonprofits, and heard from financial institutions about their programs and opportunities to partner with community groups. Our keynote speaker, Jesse Van Tol, CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, shared quite a bit of information from how we take advantage of a portion of the $300 billion set aside by a number of banks via NCRC community benefits agreements as well as why our work in pursuit of economic justice is vitally important.
Our heartfelt thank you goes out to BAR board members Mary Ellen Judah, Pamelia Harris and Isabel Rubio as well as to our member organizations who spoke represented by Pastor Van Moody of the HUB CDC, Kris Rowe of the Community Action Association of Alabama, and Lisa McCarroll of Navigate Affordable Housing for what you shared with our audience. We also thank and acknowledge our sponsors as well as those bankers who participated, Melodi Morrisette (BBVA), Beth Trotter (Iberia/First Horizon), Paul Carruthers (Regions Bank), Tracey Morant Adams (Renasant Bank), Delpha Bartley- Jones (Valley Bank) and Paula Beck (Wells Fargo).
We did miss the interaction, comradery, and engagement that in-person meetings and conferences allow and we look forward to such a gathering in the fall. I hope the momentum gained from this virtual event propels us toward greater success.
For more information:
Jesse Van Tol
CEO of NCRC
2021 #JustEconomy Virtual Conference
2021 #JustEconomy Conference was a success. We had some dynamic speakers and panelist. There was also a huge announcement: John Taylor, the founder and longtime president of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), announced he will retire August 1 and remain a consultant to the NCRC CEO and board for three years. The nonprofit organization will continue to be led by Jesse Van Tol, who became CEO and co-leader with Taylor in 2018.
You can still catch most of the sessions #JustEconomy Conference until May 30th:
John Taylor
Founder of NCRC
NCRC Founder John Taylor To Retire August 1
John Taylor, the founder and longtime president of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), announced he will retire August 1 and remain a consultant to the NCRC CEO and board for three years. The nonprofit organization will continue to be led by Jesse Van Tol, who became CEO and co-leader with Taylor in 2018.