Forum Session I - Equity by Design: Reforming Systems that Perpetuate Racial Inequality and Economic Barriers

Over the course of a lifetime, everyone will interact with various systems that have a profound impact on our communities’ economic opportunity.  We commonly refer to these systems in silos — financial system, healthcare, justice, education, tax, and others.  However, in low-income communities and communities of color, structural biases across these systems typically create enormous barriers of hardship that result in concentrated poverty, and lack of opportunity. This discussion calls out the specific systems, policies, and practices that need to be reformed for our communities to thrive.  The forum will also attempt to deconstruct and recast the prevailing “individual responsibility” narrative that damages our collective ability to critically examine our institutions, structures and systems that exacerbate poverty, and hinder opportunity. Experts from various fields will discuss the role that these systems have on the financial security and economic mobility of millions, and how our government has perpetuated and often created these challenges.

Moderator: Cy Richardson, Senior Vice President, Housing and Community Development, 
National Urban League

Sponsor(s)CITI

Panelist: Natalie Abatemarco, Managing Director, Citi Community Development Confirmed

Panelist: Dr. Michael McAfee, President, PolicyLink

Panelist: Mary Dupont, Director of Financial Empowerment, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)

Panelist: Wade Henderson, former President, LCCHR