From across the nation, 1,200 community development leaders, practitioners, policymakers, industry professionals, and National Community Reinvestment Coalition members gathered at the 2024 Just Economy Conference in Washington, DC. Carmen Fernandez, Housing Development Manager, and Jorge Alvarado, Program and Leadership Director, were the ambassadors of our work. They each made new connections while learning about banking mergers, community land trusts, responsible AI in lending, and more.

The conference featured news-making appearances on the main stage with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra; Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr; Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu; and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin Gruenberg.

Carmen and Jorge also attended the 2024 NCRC Hill Day event, where we met with Senator Merkley and Congresswomen Val Hoyle’s staff to discuss topics that included economic justice, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and discussed the proposed reforms, which would consist of a significant investment in housing resources because it includes a $445 billion investment over ten years in the Housing Trust Fund.

Carmen adds, “During the delegation visit, I was struck by the fact that the Oregon delegation was comprised primarily of strong, capable, and dedicated women. I was extremely grateful and proud to be a member of this group.”

Thank you for representing FHDC well, Carmen and Jorge. We are grateful for the expertise you bring to our work.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to creating a nation that not only promises but delivers opportunities for all Americans to build wealth and live well. For more on this coalition, please visit: ncrc.org/about