REINVEST OHIO

Opening doors to economic opportunity across the state

Monday, September 23 • Columbus

Get A Fresh Perspective

The summit will bring together community leaders, financial institutions, health care leaders, advocacy groups and public officials to discover ways to reinvest in communities across Ohio. We will discuss strategies to combat disinvestment and displacement, and to increase access to affordable housing and credit using tools like the Community Reinvestment Act. Join us to map out a blueprint for collaboration and organizing to increase community wealth across the state. 

Oho Graphic RO

Who Should Attend

  • Advocacy and organizing groups working on economic justice issues
  • Community leaders and faith-based institutions
  • Affordable housing and housing counseling organizations
  • Fair housing and civil rights organizations
  • Healthcare Institutions
  • Community Development Financial Institutions
  • Financial Institutions
  • Neighborhood stabilization and community revitalization groups
  • Academics and foundations
  • Social service providers and government agencies
  • Local small businesses and business development agencies

9:30 AM - 6:30 PM 

Hilton Columbus Downtown

401 N High St • Columbus, OH 43215

The Reinvest Ohio Summit  is SOLD OUT. Online registration is closed and there will be no on-site registrations Monday morning

SCHEDULE​

9:O0 AM

Registration

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Breakfast & Welcome

Location: Bellows Ballroom ABCD

11:00 AM - 12:20 PM

LOCATION:

Burkhart A

Speaker:

Kevin Davenport, Senior Advisor for Coalitions and Campaigns, NCRC

Description:

Banks are critical community partners and can be a catalyst for change in your neighborhood, particularly when public resources shrink. This session explores how the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) can be used to increase reinvestment in your communities. Find out how banks are rated on CRA exams and how you can influence that rating. Learn how to perform a quick data analysis on a bank’s performance and how to comment to federal regulators on bank merger proposals. This session will also cover some of the changes to CRA that have been recently proposed, and their likely impact on underserved communities.

LOCATION:

TBD

MODERATOR:

Katy Crosby, Chief of Staff, Toledo Mayor

Speakers:

David Mann, President and CEO, Lucas County Land Bank

Shantee Brownlee, Vice-President and Director of Community Engagement, Lucas County Land Bank

Jessica Powell, Vice President, Hamilton County Landbank

Jim Rokakis, Vice President, Western Reserve Land Conservancy; Director, Thriving Communities Institute

Description:

Communities struggle first to get resources directed to areas that have seen disinvestment, and then once those resources start coming in, struggle to ensure that those resources benefit the whole community instead of contributing to gentrification and displacement. Land banks can be one tool to maintain community influence. But are they always an appropriate solution? What are the key ingredients needed to make sure they’re effective? With over 50 land banks throughout the state, it’s time to take a hard look at what works and what doesn’t.

LOCATION:

 Burkhart B

MODERATOR:

Gerald Kellman,  Senior Advisor of Membership, NCRC

Speakers:

Robert Hassinger, Workforce Coordinator, NCRC

Mike McGlumphy, Director, Jefferson County Community Action, Director, Ohio Means Jobs Steubenville

Flite Friemann, CEO, Washington County Job and Family Services

Jesse Rouch, Executive Director of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships

Description:

Ohio has tens of thousands of living wage jobs that are listed everyday but go unfilled because of the gap between skills requirements and the current skills of the workforce (The Skills Gap). Meanwhile, Ohio has placed work requirements on low-income residents that challenge their access to food and healthcare without giving them sufficient job training to find livable wage jobs. We have an opportunity to access federal workforce dollars to train and place workers into living wage jobs and to meet the needs of businesses. In a number of counties in Southeastern and Central Ohio, local job and family services (JFS), career technical education centers, community action agencies and community colleges are designing supplementary workforce plans which only need support from local workforce development boards and Ohio JFS to meet the criteria for this federal  funding. Join us to learn about the developing process, needs and advocacy to address poverty while restoring Ohio’s job training competitiveness. 

LOCATION:

Bellows F

MODERATOR:

Damon Lynch, President & CEO, Community Economic Advancement Initiatives

Speakers:

Ted Howard, President & Co Founder of Democracy Collaborative, Author of “The Making of a Democratic Economy: How to Build Prosperity for the Many, Not the Few”

Amelia Gibbon, Co-Chair, Reinvest Toledo

Gregory Harrison, Senior Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Akron OH

Description:

Our economy is designed by the 1 percent, for the 1 percent. This session offers a compelling vision of an equitable, ecologically sustainable alternative that meets the essential needs of all people. The road to a system grounded in community, democracy and justice remains uncertain. Join the author of, “The Making of a Democratic Economy: How to Build Prosperity for the Many, Not the Few,” for a roundtable discussion on taking a first step together beyond isolation and despair.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

LOCATION:

Bellows Ballroom ABCD

Keynote and Panel Moderator:

Jesse Van Tol, Chief Executive Officer, NCRC

Mayoral Panel :

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz of Toledo

Mayor Luke Feeney of Chillicothe

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown of Youngstown

Mayor Brad Sellers of Warrensville Heights

2:00 PM - 3:20 PM

LOCATION:

Burkhart A

MODERATOR:

Kevin Davenport, Senior Advisor for Coalitions and Campaigns, NCRC 

Speakers:

Byna Elliott, Senior Vice President – Chief Corporate Community and Economic Development Officer,  Fifth Third Bank

Barbara Busch, Co-Chair of Greater Cincinnati Reinvestment Coalition, Executive Director Working In Neighborhoods

Roddell McCullough, Senior Vice President – Community Development Director, First Financial Bank

Barbara Anderson, Chair of Greater Cleveland Reinvestment Coalition, Executive Director Another Chance Ohio

Malcolm Costas, Chair of Akron Summit County Reinvestment Coalition, President & CEO Akron Summit County Community Action Agency

Staci Glenn-Short, SVP, Community Development Program Director, Huntington National Bank

Eugene Ellington, Senior Pastor Consolation Baptist Church

Description:

Ohio has a number of banks working very intentionally to meet community needs. Community organizations applaud this effort, and want to make sure they are providing support and input effectively. As banks are increasing their investments and lending in communities across the state, what are they looking for from community partners? Join a frank and collaborative conversation between banks and community organizations.

 

LOCATION:

Burkhart B

MODERATOR:

Dione Alexander, President, Village Capital Corporation

Speakers:

Danielle Sydnor, Executive Director, Northern Ohio Economic & Community Development Institute

Willie Hill, Executive Director, Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative 

Description:

What does it take to become a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI)? What does it take to raise funds for them? Would your community be well-served by having a CDFI? In this session, speakers and practitioners will describe the considerations that go into creating a CDFI, with a practical approach to starting or growing one that will have maximal impact for your community.

LOCATION:

Bellows E

MODERATOR:

Wlll Gonzalez, Executive Director, Ceiba, NCRC Board

Speakers:

Bo Chilton, CEO, IMPACT Community Action

Adam Troy, Director of Community Development, New Salem Baptist Church /Linden

Trudy Bartley, Associate VP Government Relations, Ohio State University and co-chair of Rise Together Innovation Center Committee  

Joy Bivens, CEO, Franklin County Job and Family Services

Description:

In 2018, the Franklin County Commissioner’s office began an initiative to reduce poverty called“Rise Together.” This initiative analyzed the causes of poverty and the resources available to fight it, and then created a plan to more effectively bring those resources to bear.  We will take a look at the initiative’s process and goals, as well as drill down into the more challenging aspects. We will also contrast it and explore its relevance for other urban and rural counties in Ohio. 

LOCATION:

Bellows F

MODERATOR:

Robin Bozian, Senior Attorney, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services

Speakers:

Janice McFarland, LPCC, Director of Clinical Services, Life & Purpose Behavioral Heal

D.R. Gossett, Executive Director, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization

Steve Carrel, CEO, Muskingum Behavioral HealthBeth 

Beth A. Cormack, Executive Director, Coshocton Behavioral Health Choices

Description:

Ohio is considered by many to be the epicenter of the opioid crisis in the United States. The state has also been devastated by the interrelated scourge of addiction and multi-generational poverty. Local economic resources and infrastructure are not sufficient to resolve the problems. We need regional strategies which also emphasize those who are most vulnerable and least served, children impacted by poverty and addiction. We will discuss models of collaboration and investment for families and communities and see how Southeastern Ohio Legal Services is implementing an important pilot funded by the Department of Justice.

 

3:30 PM - 4:50 PM

LOCATION:

Bellows E

MODERATOR:

Irv Henderson, Trustee, National Trust for Historic Preservation, NC

Speakers:

Wendy Patton, Senior Project Director, State Fiscal Project

Bradford Davy, Director of Regional Engagement, Fund for Our Economic Future

Description:

Newly created Opportunity Zones are flooding communities with fresh development projects. But some of these are more responsive to community needs than others. Learn how community organizations can partner with municipalities to ensure that new proposals provide long-term benefits to the communities newly-designated as Opportunity Zones. 

LOCATION:

Burkhart A

MODERATOR:

Anne Rubin, retired Managing Attorney Athens, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services

Speakers:

Melissa Benson, Attorney III – Housing Team, The Legal Aid Society of Columbus

Steven Stewart, Life Coach, ForeverDads

Stephen Torsell, Executive Director, Homes on the Hill, CDC

William Arnett, Director Community Development, City of Zanesville

Description:

Decent affordable housing continues to be the exception in both urban and rural Ohio despite strong state support and a large number of nonprofit housing developers. Meanwhile, lower-income tenants are forced into dangerous and substandard property without any practical recourse. Strategies are emerging to transform substandard housing and to force predatory owners and investors to comply or lose the property through court ordered receivership. There is also  a process being developed to nurture small-scale home grown sweat equity developers and landlords as an alternative to long distance slumlords. Learn about these emerging collaborations and see if they might fit your community.

LOCATION:

Burkhart B

MODERATOR:

Peter Hainley, Executive Director, CASA of Oregon, NCRC Board

Speakers:

Charles Cohara, Lead Staff, Payday Lending Initiative, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services

Ron Rees, CEO, Corporation on OHIO Appalachian Development

Deb Zabloudil,  Coordinator, St. Vincent DePaul Society Loan Program

Steve Fireman, CEO, Economic and Community Development Institute

Ken Oehlers, Director, Southeast Ohio Habitat for Humanity

Description:

Strong grass roots work has eliminated the worst of the payday loan abuses. But the need for short term loans for Ohio working poor remains. Explore strategies to meet the credit needs of low-income borrowers without recreating the traps of predatory lending.

LOCATION:

Bellows F

MODERATOR:

Sabrina Terry-Webb, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, NCRC

Speakers:

Kendra Smith, Director, Social Determinants of Health, ProMedica

Sonya Edwards, Director of Financial Counseling, Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People

Jeffrey T. Verespej, Executive Director, Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation

Thomas Kroma, Director of Community Development, Bon Secours Mercy Health

 

Description:

Each year brings new research and attention to the connection between place and the impact regarding overall health. While local leaders are clear on their community’s needs and are actively combating disparities – the greatest impact comes from investments made by anchor institutions such as hospitals and health care systems. This session will highlight institutions that have stepped forward as leaders in this space and strategies for building closer connections to institutions that can have a greater impact.  Panelists will share their key strategies for connecting regulatory mandates to community needs, as well as, techniques advocates can deploy to position themselves to partner with health institutions.

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Kirwin & NCRC Reception

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

LOCATION:

Bellows Ballroom ABCD

MODERATOR:

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chief of Race, Wealth and Community, NCRC 

Speakers:

Robert “Bo” Chilton, CEO, IMPACT Community Action

Darrick Hamilton, Executive Director, The Kirwan Institute

Sandra Lopez, Legislative Advisor, Columbus City Council

Sheldon Johnson, Managing Director, United Methodist Church and Community Development for All People

Stephanie Moulton, Associate Professor and Director 

Description:

The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity of Ohio State University and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) are partnering to have a conversation on racial economic inequality in Ohio. Professor Darrick Hamilton, Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute, will offer opening remarks on the state of racial economic inequality and Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chief of Equity and Inclusion at NCRC, will moderate a conversation with local advocates to discuss challenges and best practices around this issue.

PARTNERS

Akron Summit County Reinvestment Coalition 

Greater Cincinnati Community Reinvestment Coalition 

Greater Cleveland Reinvestment Coalition

Reinvest Toledo Coalition

LEAD ORGANIZATIONS

Community of Caring Development Foundation/Linden

Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD)

Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI)

Homes on the Hill CDC

IMPACT Community Action

MY Project USA

Ohio Association of CDCs

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS)

The Think Tank on Poverty
Scroll to Top