The important role of community development banks in the community recently was highlighted in a speech by Donna Gambrell, director of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, an arm of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Speaking on Nov. 3 (read the whole speech here) to the Annual Development Banking Conference, Gambrell used JCUA as an example of how community organizations and banks can and should work together.
Here’s an excerpt of Gambrell’s speech.
Remembering why you do this
Throughout this conference, you have been exploring a variety of new ideas to strengthen your industry and your institutions. But this whole practice of raising the bar is not some kind of abstract exercise. It has tangible effects in the communities you serve, communities that need you more than ever.
I would like to share a story with you about a nonprofit organization here in Chicago called the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA).
JCUA has worked to promote economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities throughout Chicago for more than forty years. Its current projects range from affordable housing initiatives to immigration reform to a social justice institute for teens, but the one that really caught my eye is its Jewish-Muslim Community-Building Initiative.
Posted by jcuablog 
