Power Station: The Social Activism Podcast for Progressive Non-Profits

Our origin stories all too often predict our economic futures. Those born into households without livable incomes and durable assets, lack the resources needed to meet their material needs, let alone their aspirations for home ownership. And they did not arrive there by accident. Public and corporate policymaking has intentionally excluded people of color from lending opportunities, in particular mortgages and small business loans, deepening a racial wealth gap that has proven difficult to bridge. But, as Sasha-Gaye Angus, my guest on this episode of Power Station reminds us, public policymaking can also solve for historical inequities by expanding opportunities for affordable home ownership, a key strategy for creating generational wealth. As President and CEO of MANNA, Inc, a nonprofit champion of affordable housing in Washington, DC for 45 years, Sasha brings deep expertise in housing finance, new construction, preservation of rental units and a profound commitment to community building. MANNA Inc. remains true to its vision for making affordable housing accessible but now it is building and innovating at scale. Her own origin story, like that of MANNA itself, is rooted in love for community and a belief in what we can achieve together.

Why are we continuously surprised when we learn about the latest cruel, punitive and democracy-defying actions taken by a president who does not care about the rule of law and who has leveraged his own party in Congress to diminish human, civil, immigrant and voting rights in America? This question is particularly relevant for nonprofits whose missions are antithetical to this administration and whose leaders are the first to speak out against legislative and funding setbacks. It is understandable, but not wise, that beleaguered nonprofit leaders are looking to the mid-terms to change the course of this political moment. To better understand how nonprofits should approach their next steps I sought out veteran political strategist and crisis communications advisor Jennifer Kohl for answers. In this episode of Power Station, Jenn, CEO of Chrysalis Communications warns us that a positive outcome in the upcoming elections will only fuel the president’s campaign of retribution. Jen shares what can happen when organizations stop doing business as usual and instead make an all-hands on deck plan for the inevitable next crisis. It turns out that catastrophic thinking can be transformed into a blueprint for building power.

It is no surprise to listeners, many of whom are in the trenches of strengthening under-invested communities, that few strategies are as impactful as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). These U.S. Department of Treasury-certified nonprofits operate in communities that banks do not serve, leaving them starved for capital and financial education. In many rural communities and in Indian Country specifically, CDFIs are often the only lending institutions available. It is important to note that low-income and communities of color carry the legacy of redlining and other public policies and corporate practices that intentionally barred low-income and people of color from small business loans and mortgages. It took years of grassroots action to move Congress to enact the Community Reinvestment Act and the Reigle Act, both of which are standout legislative solutions. On this episode of Power Station, Pete Upton, (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska) CEO of the Native CDFI Network, talks about how his on-the-ground members serve and invest in Native citizens across our nation, generating businesses, expanding homeownership and seeding generational wealth in Indian Country. He is a convener, bringing federal leaders, Native CDFI leaders and philanthropy to a common table to celebrate successes and advocate for what is needed and owed.