White papers:
As part of Dream Forward, speakers and delegates are contributing white papers that offer unique perspectives on diversity in financial inclusion. These submissions explore challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions to bridge economic gaps, ensuring equitable access to financial resources. Together, these thought leadership pieces will help shape a more inclusive financial future for all.
By John Hope Bryant
Founder, Chairman & CEO | Operation HOPE
Unlocking Our Full Financial Potential
For America as a whole, Bryant advocates for a new model of inclusive capitalism that champions financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and wealth-building strategies that elevate both individuals and communities. His plans emphasize closing the wealth gap, promoting economic mobility, and ensuring access to resources that drive long-term success for all Americans.
At the same time, Bryant has developed specific initiatives tailored to the needs of rural America, Black America, American women, Native America, Latinx America, and Asian America. Each plan is designed to empower these communities with the tools, education, and opportunities needed to overcome systemic barriers and thrive in the modern economy.
In addition, Bryant has crafted a strategic business plan aimed at fostering growth and development in Africa, recognizing the vast potential for economic transformation on the continent. With a focus on financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and cross-continental partnerships, his vision seeks to create a more interconnected and prosperous global economy that benefits all people, regardless of background or geography. Through these initiatives, Bryant strives to build a more equitable future that embraces the strength and diversity of America and the world.
By Leroy Abrahams
EVP, Community Affairs | Regions Bank
Addressing Banking’s Role in the Creation of
Inclusive Prosperity for All Americans
Prosperity and Quality of Life
Prosperity can be measured from several perspectives as we consider the many factors that contribute to overall quality of life. Without discounting any of the other determinants of health and wellness, our focus as a bank is primarily centered on financial prosperity.
Ensuring Shared Value
By shared value, we mean doing business in a manner that benefits our customers, our communities, our associates, and our shareholders. It is our belief that business is done best when all of these groups share in the benefits.
Inclusive Prosperity
At Regions, our goal is simple: We want to create more opportunity for more people to achieve financial success. This is “Inclusive Prosperity,” and it’s in the best interest of all our stakeholders. We also believe prosperity must include an element of financial sustainability. Giving someone money may address a short-term need, but it rarely creates lasting impact. Real prosperity requires an individual to have the means to continue generating income and creating wealth.
Investing in the Community
Aligning the Regions Shared Value philosophy with our commitment to foster inclusive prosperity led us to develop three priority areas for focusing our community investments.
Economic and Community Development
Regions Bank, along with the Regions Foundation and the Regions Community Development Corporation, provide capital and technical assistance to support community development projects and entities across our 16-state footprint. We provide loans, grants, and investments to fund neighborhood revitalization projects, grow small businesses, provide access to affordable housing, and take part in programs that encourage and enable homeownership.
Education and Workforce Readiness
Regions partners with community organizations to provide financial and volunteer support for programs that deliver workforce development, career readiness training and retraining, job opportunities for people with disabilities, and support for secondary education and collegiate initiatives, including HBCUs. We understand that helping ensure every student has the opportunity to learn – and providing support where needed along the way – creates greater economic opportunities and, over time, can ensure generational wealth for more families.
Financial Wellness
At Regions, we believe accessibility to financial education can help close the wealth gap. Through our award-winning Regions Next Step® program, we provide guidance on how to save more, spend wisely, and manage credit in a productive way. This program – through its various touchpoints – provides free financial education, financial planning tools and resources, and integrated asset-building strategies to a variety of groups in our communities, including youth, entrepreneurs and small business owners, first-time homebuyers, veterans, and vulnerable populations, including individuals with cognitive disabilities and those who have been through the criminal justice system.
Fostering Inclusive Prosperity Through Products and Services
While strategic community engagement priorities are vital in how banks can create Shared Value for all stakeholders, another key is access to preferred financial tools, industry-leading products, and expert financial guidance for the unbanked and underbanked. Regions provides innovative financial resources that are simple, straightforward, safe, often with savings bonuses and reduced or no fees. Along with products, our bankers are committed to providing advice and guidance to help all our customers build financial confidence and meet their financial goals.
Conclusion
Financial institutions are uniquely positioned to make a positive difference by ensuring more services are accessible to more people throughout all the communities we serve. As we work collectively to develop a blueprint to ensure more people in our communities have opportunities for financial success, it is incumbent on the entire financial services industry to help eliminate barriers and create Shared Value for all. At Regions, we understand this responsibility, and we are committed to doing our part.
By Ashley Bell
Founder & CEO | Read Life
A NEW BUSINESS PLAN FOR AMERICA
Too often, we measure growth by stock markets, not by whether working families can own a home, start a business, or build wealth they can pass on. Dream Forward is a chance to change that—to design a business plan for America that begins and ends with ownership, access, and legacy.
Across my ventures—Redemption Holding Company, Ready Life, and Ready Entertainment—we’re working to give people the tools and platforms they’ve too often been denied. From banking to homeownership to storytelling, we’re focused on creating systems that multiply opportunity and center dignity.
Redemption Holding Company is in the process of acquiring a Utah-based financial institution, to transform it into Redemption Bank—a majority-Black-owned, Black-led bank and the only Black-owned MDI west of Texas once approved. Since 1955, the number of Black-owned banks in the U.S. has dropped from 144 to just 16. We’re working to reverse that trend.
Our proposed model would use technology to provide access to checking, debit, lending, and credit-building tools. We would prohibit overdraft fees at ATMs and retail locations, support financial literacy, and avoid practices that trap families in cycles of debt. We aim to be a good corporate neighbor and a powerful platform for community-focused lending.
We’ve assembled an experienced team of investors and leaders—Dr. Bernice A. King, Robert Smith, Yolanda Daniel, Gary Brantley, and others—who believe in this mission. Once approved, Redemption Bank will stand not only as a financial institution but as a symbol of what’s possible when we invest in legacy and community at the same time.
At Ready Life, we’ve rethought the entire homeownership process. Our platform enables individuals to qualify for mortgages without relying on traditional credit scores. Instead, we evaluate bank statements, rental and utility payments, and proof of consistent income.
Families who may have been excluded by legacy systems can now access homes—with 20% equity on day one—by completing a financial literacy course in place of a down payment. The goal is not just to increase ownership—but to create instant generational wealth, foster financial confidence, and extend education throughout the household.
Traditional financial services too often drain overlooked communities. Ready Life’s mission is to do the opposite: to preserve and grow wealth through products built for real people.
Ready Entertainment exists because narratives matter. In partnership with Dr. Bernice King, we launched a production company focused on social justice-driven film and television. In just seven months, we entered a seven-figure partnership with P3 Media—producers of The Recruit—to support current and future storytelling projects.
This includes Take No Prisoners, a feature documentary with unprecedented White House access, chronicling the federal government’s efforts to secure the release of Eyvin Hernandez, an American public defender held abroad. As executive producers, Dr. King and I are supporting a story that’s as urgent as it is universal—about freedom, resilience, and the power of advocacy.
Through Ready Entertainment, we are backing new creators—especially journalists and storytellers from outside Hollywood—to create authentic content rooted in lived experience. We believe that the media can shape perception, build empathy, and reflect the realities of those too often left out of the frame.
Whether through fintech, banking, or storytelling, our ventures are grounded in the same values: systems can be reimagined. Communities deserve real access to capital and tools. Wealth is not just financial—it’s narrative, institutional, and generational.
This is not charity. This is a multiplier strategy for impact. From Salt Lake City to Cleveland to Los Angeles, we’re not waiting for permission to build what our communities need. We’re doing the work now.
Let Dream Forward be a reminder: America doesn’t have to choose between growth and inclusion. We can have both—if we design for both.
By Shavon Arline-Bradley
NCNW President & CEO | NCNW
According to the Rockefeller Foundation, an inclusive economy is one in which there is expanded opportunity for more broadly shared prosperity, especially for those facing the greatest barriers to advancing their well-being.
Understanding this, the work of National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is grounded on a foundation of critical concerns in the areas of education, health equity, economic justice, and social justice and are used to get us steps closer to an inclusive economy for Black women. Preparation and growth in these areas allow Black women to participate in an economy that provides free and fair exchange of goods and services while shaping their own future and the future of generations to come. We want to make sure each of them would have the opportunity to build and pass on wealth.
Focused, we know the Black community has had to absorb insurmountable economic setbacks like no other community. From the Great Depression to a spiraling GDP in 2009 to where we are now, an economy that cannot be identified as a trickle-down economy. In modern-day, the closest we have come to an inclusive, some may say a utopian, economy was 1993 to 2001, where we had: more than 22 million jobs; the lowest unemployment in 30 years; education standards were raised; higher incomes on all levels; the lowest crime rate in 26 years due to 100,000 more police across the nation, and a balanced budget to boot.
With more Americans having access to opportunities, quite a few Black individuals were set on the track to becoming successful entrepreneurs or holding their dream jobs—not just realizing the American dream but living it.
The realization is all of this is clearly a result of true opportunity. Opportunity can only be realized if we truly care for all people, have dedicated leaders across all sectors, and understand that growth should be inclusive of good living. Truly caring for people means that policies would be well thought out to include the least of us, giving way to a level playing field that is fair and just across the board. Having dedicated leaders across all sectors will allow there to be honest measures taken that are based on the belief that prosperity benefits everyone.
Understanding that economic growth is not always rooted in income but also includes well-being, making qualitative and quantitative variables interdependent, keeps us accountable and proves this is not just a concept. Opportunity is a viable option.
In closing, it is imperative to understand that this experiment we call the United States of America is fragile. History has shown that thriving economies that were once rooted in opportunity and brought about prosperity in the forms of “Black Wall Streets” in Wilmington, NC, in 1898; Tulsa, OK, and Durham, NC, in 1920; and Rosewood, FL, in 1923, were not easily accepted.
Since then, the practice of providing access to opportunities to those who have been excluded has been hard for America and continues to decline day by day. A delicate balance must be struck to find ways to promote freedoms and equity, as this is where opportunity lies to break down economic barriers.
Until we truly view opportunity as a measurable catalyst for change, we may never see or experience anything close to an inclusive economy again.
By Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant
Senior Pastor | New Birth MBC
We’re More Than Consumers
Introduction
In discussions about economic inclusion, we often focus on where our dollars are accepted, and the value placed on our consumption. While this is important, it is only a fraction of what a truly inclusive economy should be. An inclusive economy is not just about spending power—it is about ownership, investment, and the ability to create wealth that transforms our communities. Economic inclusion must extend beyond mere participation in the marketplace. It must ensure that Black businesses have the capacity to scale, that profits are shared equitably, and that Black communities reap the long-term benefits of economic development. Our community needs a framework for building an economy where our dollars do more than circulate—they create access, opportunity, and sustainable growth.
Redefining Economic Inclusion
For too long, economic inclusion has been defined by the extent to which Black consumers participate in the broader economy. We have been recognized for our purchasing power—spending over $1.8 trillion annually—yet that power has not translated into economic security, generational wealth, or ownership.
A truly inclusive economy does not just welcome our dollars but ensures that those dollars generate wealth within our communities. It must prioritize:
- Access to capital and resources for Black entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Scalable business models that allow Black businesses to grow beyond survival and become dominant market players.
- Profit-sharing mechanisms that allow wealth to be reinvested in the community.
- Community development that turns economic activity into sustainable infrastructure, housing, and education.
To achieve this, we must shift our focus from consumption to investment, from individual wealth to collective prosperity.
Achieving an inclusive economy requires a fundamental shift in how we view economic power. It is not enough for Black people to be valued as consumers; we must be positioned as owners, investors, and decision-makers.
This Shift Requires:
- Policy advocacy to challenge discriminatory lending and business practices.
- Strategic partnerships that connect Black businesses with capital, mentorship, and market access.
- A commitment to reinvestment to ensure that wealth circulates within our communities, rather than being extracted from them.
Economic inclusion is not just about diversity—it is about equity. It is about ensuring that Black dollars do more than flow into the economy; they must build, sustain, and empower Black futures.
Role of the Black Church
This conversation creates space to challenge the role of the Black church as a pillar of a healthy economic ecosystem. The Black church has long been the cornerstone of social, political, and economic progress within the African American community, and its role in elevating our consciousness about good economics is more vital than ever. However, I often argue, and research confirms, that the influence of the Black church is waning and an increasing number of Black people, particularly younger generations, are identifying as atheist or religiously unaffiliated. This shift presents a profound challenge: how can the Black church remain a relevant force when its traditional base is shrinking?
This moment is ripe with opportunity for the Black church. Beyond being a place of worship, the church must also be a center for financial empowerment, teaching principles of wealth creation, collective economics, and responsible stewardship. As a conscientious pastor, I cannot in good faith only encourage my congregants to tithe their 10% without also equipping them to maximize their 90%. True economic inclusivity for African Americans requires a holistic approach. We must teach and inspire entrepreneurship, homeownership, and investment literacy so that our people are not just consumers but creators and stakeholders in wealth-building.
Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy
Building around economic inclusivity for African Americans is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who understood that civil rights and silver rights are inseparable. In the final years of his life, Dr. King championed the Poor People's Campaign, recognizing that true equality could never be achieved without economic empowerment. He spoke passionately about the racial wealth gap, fair wages, and the need for Black communities to have access to capital, land, and opportunities for self-sufficiency. Honoring his legacy means continuing this unfinished work—ensuring that African Americans are equipped with the financial resources to build thriving businesses, own homes, and create generational wealth. Economic inclusivity is not just a policy goal; it is a moral imperative and a continuation of Dr. King’s dream.
For too long, economic systems have been structured to benefit from Black labor, Black spending, and Black creativity without ensuring Black wealth, Black ownership, and Black prosperity. It is time to redefine economic inclusion—not as an invitation to participate but as a demand for equity, ownership, and lasting economic power.
The future of an inclusive economy is not something we wait for—it is something we build. Now is the time to lay the foundation.
By Jazzmin Cobble
Mayor | Stonecrest, GA
Greetings!
It is a profound honor to join such esteemed leaders as we gather virtually to mark the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination and to reflect on his unfinished dream.
As we explore the theme, “Where Do We Go From Here? The Unfinished Dream,” we must remember that Dr. King’s vision for economic justice remains as urgent and relevant today as it was during his time. His Poor People’s Campaign called us all to action, urging us to build an economy that serves everyone, particularly the most vulnerable in our society.
In this critical dialogue, we not only honor Dr. King’s legacy but also have the privilege of shaping the future of inclusive economics. This moment is our opportunity to craft a new economic blueprint for America, one founded on the principles of equity, opportunity, and the creation of wealth for all.
I am humbled to be a part of this important conversation, and I look forward to collaborating with all of you to forge a brighter, more inclusive future for generations to come.
When I imagine what an inclusive economy truly is, I envision a society where every individual, regardless of their background, is empowered with equal access to the opportunities and resources necessary to build a prosperous future. It is a system where race, gender, and socioeconomic status no longer serve as barriers, but where fair wages, quality education, and economic mobility are within reach for all. In this vision, the walls that have historically hindered underserved communities are dismantled, allowing everyone the chance to create lasting wealth and realize their full potential.
To achieve this, we must focus on the following:
1. Equitable Access to Education and Skills Training
Ensuring that all Americans, especially those from marginalized communities, have access to quality education and workforce development programs to prepare them for the future economy. Education is the foundation for economic empowerment and must be prioritized to ensure long-term, sustainable success for all.
2. Support for Small and Minority-Owned Businesses
Increasing investment in diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially in underserved areas, to foster innovation and economic growth at the local level. By uplifting minority-owned enterprises, we not only support families but enrich entire communities and expand opportunity.
3. Fair Wages and Benefits
Advocating for policies that ensure all workers receive a fair wage for their labor and access to benefits like healthcare, paid leave, and retirement benefits. These safeguards are essential to the dignity of work and the well-being of every individual.
4. Wealth-Building Initiatives
Expanding access to financial literacy programs and tools that empower individuals and families to build savings, invest, and create generational wealth. Financial knowledge is a key to unlocking opportunity and ending cycles of poverty.
As a Founding Delegate for this vital conversation, I am deeply honored to contribute to the work of bringing this vision to life. Together, we share both the opportunity and the responsibility to shape the future where an inclusive economy is not an aspiration, but a reality for all Americans.
Through thoughtful dialogue, decisive action, and collective collaboration, we have the power to turn Dr. King’s dream of economic justice into a living reality, ensuring that every individual has the chance to realize their fullest potential and contribute to a flourishing, inclusive economy.
Thank you!
By David Dalton
Chairman & CEO | UNIVEC
Wealth creation must be available to those working a 9 to 5. A vehicle to access such opportunities involves the public stock market. We must educate opportunities beyond a 401K mentality and address cultural differences for investing. Invest in needed spaces that are not only product driven but service related with large payment systems.
UNIVEC INC., the 7th Black owned historic public company, believes that doing good and making money go hand in hand.
Website: UNIVECHEALTH.COM
The color is GREEN – make it your zone.
By Ramcess Jean-Louis
Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer | Pfizer
Pfizer is a science-based company that is dedicated to defeating the world’s most devastating diseases, with our north star being breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. While we celebrate nearly two centuries of leveraging groundbreaking innovation to positively impact millions of patients around the world, our mantra for what follows is simple: outdo yesterday.
Our unique resources allow us to do more for people. Using our global presence and scale, we’re able to make a difference in local communities and the world around us. We recently set a new ambition – changing a billion lives by year 2027.
Pfizer has four values that drive our culture – courage, excellence, equity, and joy. For this purpose of addressing our take on inclusive economic growth, it is important to double click on our value of Equity.
Equity is defined as “fairness or justice in the way people are treated”. Equity acknowledges that we all have the same destination, but not all start at the same place; and all benefit when we bring everyone along. To us, equity is our belief that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for. This happens when we are inclusive, act with integrity, and reduce healthcare disparities. A duty to humanity – everything we do at Pfizer is patient inclusive.
We know that health equity is only achieved when breakthroughs are made accessible to all. Further, representation in healthcare is not just important—it is vital. Research has shown that having clinicians, scientists, and clinical trial participants of color can be one of the primary factors in determining health outcomes. Representation matters if health equity is ever going to become a reality.
Thus, in an ideal world an inclusive economy, among other things, is one where everyone has equitable access to healthcare and medicines. Health is one of the world’s greatest assets, arguably on par or even interconnected with time – for a healthy life allows you spend time more productively.
If health is the asset, trust, bidirectional trust, is the currency. Trust must be earned. Trust leads to access and information, information leads to knowledge, and knowledge leads to innovation. With innovation driving further access, there is a multiplier effect on reaching all communities. As part of Pfizer’s Purpose Blueprint, we embedded “Trust is Everything” as one of our core business principles, and pledged, among other things to Act with Integrity, always; Become the most trusted health brand, Place health information at people’s fingertips, and Develop medicines at lightspeed. Because “Time is Life”.
A recent action we have taken in this space to build trust is through our Communities Forward Program to address systematic health disparities, deepen our relationship with community-based organizations, and build capacity for those historically marginalized and underserved.
If our goal is to reach a billion lives by 2027, it is not our intent to do it alone. Economy is defined as “a system especially of interaction and exchange”. Thus, to truly reach our end goal of having an inclusive ecosystem, it is all hands-on deck – governments, NGOs, corporations, and individuals that care. And barriers should be mitigated – for example where people live shouldn’t impact the quality of their healthcare and income shouldn’t determine health outcomes, a statement we are tackling head on through our Accord for a Healthier World.
In closing, the inspirational words of Pfizer’s Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla: “As proud as we are of what we’ve achieved, we’re even more excited about our future. We believe we have a clear strategy, scientific leadership and strong capabilities that position us to create sustained, long-term value for shareholders and positive impact for the people who place their trust in us for their health.”
Inclusive economic growth cannot happen without all people being able to access high-quality, safe and effective healthcare solutions. Pfizer is laser focused on making our contribution.
By Brad Johnson
Restaurateur | Post and Beam Hospitality
On my podcast, Corner Table Talk, I recently spoke with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson about the future of independent restaurants. I asked whether mom-and-pop businesses could still survive given today’s challenges. His response was telling:
“Yes, but mom and pop need to become family now. Success in hospitality is no longer just about serving great food—it’s also about reaching customers where they are. This shift has also created new opportunities for cultural and ethnic cuisine. Thanks to platforms like TikTok, niche and regional foods—like a Haitian family’s home-cooked specialties—can now reach a wider audience than ever before.”
The key is not just what you serve but how and where you connect with your customers. Those who embrace this evolution have the potential to thrive, keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive and ensuring that independent restaurants remain an integral part of the American economy. Older operators must embrace technology, and for younger folks entering the workforce, recognizing opportunities through tech and social media is essential.
The Responsibility of Hospitality
In hospitality, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure that economic growth is inclusive, creating opportunities for those who have historically been left behind. True progress is not just about what is fair—it is about building a future where businesses, communities, and individuals thrive together.
Restaurants are more than places to eat; they are gathering spaces that foster connection, preserve traditions, and celebrate cultural diversity. They serve as vital economic engines, especially for immigrant and minority entrepreneurs, yet many small businesses struggle to compete with larger corporations that offer higher wages, health benefits, and greater job security.
Economic Justice & Dr. King's Vision
Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign aimed to secure economic opportunities for all. He believed that “the inseparable twin of racial injustice was economic injustice.” To achieve truly inclusive economic growth, we must invest in policies and programs that level the playing field, such as:
- Access to affordable capital
- Workforce training
- Mentorship initiatives
- Equitable wage structures
Supporting small businesses doesn’t just strengthen local economies; it preserves the cultural richness and unique character of our communities. By creating an environment where independent businesses can thrive, we build a more dynamic, diverse, and sustainable future for everyone.
Pathways to Ownership & Leadership
As a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry, and owner/operator of many independent restaurants, I have seen firsthand how economic inclusion can transform businesses and entire communities like Harlem, South Los Angeles, and Hollywood.
Hospitality is one of the largest employers of diverse populations. Yet, leadership and ownership remain overwhelmingly homogeneous. Economic growth happens when those historically left out get a seat at the table—not just as employees but as decision-makers, owners, and innovators.
Practical Strategies for Economic Inclusion
- Creating Pathways to Ownership: Implementing training programs, fiscal education, mentorship, and investment opportunities to help employees transition into ownership.
- Investment & Scaling: Encouraging larger hospitality groups to invest in and mentor smaller operators.
- High-Net-Worth Mentorship: Connecting restaurant operators with investors, professional athletes, and entrepreneurs to secure funding and real estate opportunities.
- Leadership Development: Establishing programs that promote internal growth, ensuring diverse leadership teams.
- Policy & Institutional Support: Advocating for fair lending, access to capital, and small business support policies.
- Creating a Career Option: Encouraging high school graduates to explore hospitality and culinary education.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
I have witnessed how each role within a restaurant, from dishwasher to general manager, plays a vital part in the success of the whole. This provides a microcosm for our society: A rising tide lifts all boats. When we respect, invest in, and train low-wage workers while empowering entrepreneurs, we strengthen our nation.
Dr. King once said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” It is time to ensure that the hospitality industry reflects these values—building a future where economic inclusion is not just a goal but a reality.
By Dr. Beverly Jones
Mayor | City of Stone Mountain, Georgia
I believe that true progress begins with inclusion.
In a city as historically significant as Stone Mountain – and in communities across the United States – economic growth cannot be sustained without ensuring that all people, regardless of background, have a seat at the table and a voice in the process. My vision is rooted in building bridges, not barriers, and ensuring that diversity is not only celebrated but embedded in every policy and project.
I advocate for targeted investment in small businesses, workforce development, affordable housing, and infrastructure, all while supporting creative entrepreneurship and community-based initiatives. By fostering collaboration between public institutions, private enterprises, and grassroots organizations, I believe Stone Mountain can become a model for sustainable, inclusive economic revitalization. The path forward, in my view, depends on visionary leadership, honest dialogue, and an unwavering commitment to justice and opportunity.
By Boris Kodjoe
Co-Founder | Full Circle Africa
Unlocking America's Full Potential
Inclusive Economic Growth
Inclusive economic growth is not just a moral imperative—it's an economic strategy that drives prosperity for all. By expanding access to quality education, small business financing, first-time home loans, technology, and tax breaks for low-income households, the United States could cultivate an environment where everyone, regardless of background, has the tools to contribute to and benefit from the economy. At the core of this approach is targeted and intentional support for historically marginalized communities, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, whose increased participation in the economy translates into higher consumer spending, business creation, and long-term GDP growth.
Economic Multiplier of Minority Support Programs
Investments in minority communities don’t just benefit those individuals—they benefit everyone. The U.S. economy loses an estimated $16 trillion due to racial economic disparities, according to a McKinsey report. Closing these gaps could add $5 trillion to GDP over the next decade.
Increased buying power among minorities has already had a profound impact. Nielsen reports that African American buying power reached $1.8 trillion in 2023, and Hispanic buying power surpassed $2.5 trillion. Supporting entrepreneurship, homeownership, and educational attainment in these communities translates directly into expanded consumer markets and tax revenues.
Education as the Foundation
Access to quality education is the cornerstone of economic opportunity. However, disparities persist. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2023, Black and Hispanic students were still significantly underrepresented in STEM fields and advanced placement programs. Schools in low-income, predominantly minority communities receive roughly $23 billion less in funding annually than those in predominantly white neighborhoods, despite serving the same number of students (EdBuild, 2019).
Investments in early childhood education, career-technical programs, and higher education affordability not only close achievement gaps but also improve workforce productivity. The Brookings Institution estimates that closing racial education gaps would generate over $525 billion annually in greater economic output. Educated workers are more likely to innovate, start businesses, and earn higher incomes—directly contributing to economic growth.
Empowering Small Business and Homeownership
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. They represent 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employ nearly half of the private workforce (SBA, 2024). Yet, minority-owned small businesses face systemic barriers in accessing capital. A 2022 Federal Reserve study found that Black and Latino business owners are 50% more likely to be denied loans than white counterparts with similar credit profiles.
Expanding access to low-interest loans, grants, and technical assistance can dramatically change the landscape. Every $1 million invested in minority-owned businesses generates over $1.6 million in local economic activity, according to the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Homeownership is another pillar of economic inclusion. First-time homebuyer assistance, particularly for historically excluded groups, helps build generational wealth. The Urban Institute found that increasing Black homeownership to match white rates would add $1.7 trillion in GDP and significantly narrow the racial wealth gap. Accessible financing, fair appraisal practices, and down payment assistance programs are essential in realizing this potential.
Bridging the Digital Divide and Reforming Tax Policy
Technology access is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. As remote work, e-learning, and e-commerce proliferate, the digital divide risks leaving low-income and rural households behind. According to the Pew Research Center, 43% of low-income families lack reliable broadband access, limiting educational attainment, tele-health access, and employment opportunities.
Public-private partnerships to expand broadband infrastructure and provide subsidized devices can level the playing field. Moreover, digital literacy training and tech workforce development programs would prepare underserved communities for high-demand jobs, boosting both individual earnings and national productivity.
Tax policy is another lever for inclusive growth. Refundable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) have proven to lift millions out of poverty. In 2021, the expanded CTC alone reduced child poverty by 46%, disproportionately benefiting Black and Latino families (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities).
Making these provisions permanent and exploring additional credits for low-income workers, caregivers, and entrepreneurs could stimulate consumer spending, reduce dependency on social programs, and enhance overall economic resilience.
The High Cost of Dismantling DEI Programs
Corporate America's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are not just symbolic—they are central to innovation, market expansion, and employee retention. A Boston Consulting Group study showed that companies with diverse leadership teams report 19% higher innovation revenues. Yet, DEI programs are increasingly under scrutiny, and some firms are scaling them back.
This retreat comes with a steep opportunity cost. Eliminating DEI programs risks perpetuating bias in hiring and promotion, missing out on talent, and alienating increasingly diverse consumer bases. Companies that champion inclusivity tend to outperform peers, both financially and reputationally. Cutting DEI isn't just short-sighted—it’s economically reckless.
Summary and Key Takeaways
- Inclusive economic growth hinges on equitable access to education, capital, homeownership, technology, and tax relief.
- Closing racial wealth and education gaps could add trillions to GDP, benefiting the entire nation.
- Minority small businesses and households are powerful economic engines when given proper support.
- Investments in digital equity and targeted tax credits directly enhance productivity and reduce poverty.
- Corporate DEI programs fuel innovation and profitability; dismantling them undermines long-term competitiveness.
The United States cannot afford to leave talent and potential on the sidelines. Inclusive economic growth is not charity—it’s strategy. When we lift up the historically underserved, we raise the floor for everyone. The data is clear: equity drives prosperity. Let’s get to work.
By Adai Lamar
Broadcaster/Radio Personality | KJLH Radio
As a black woman who works full time, a care-giver and involved in my community, I see firsthand how important it is for us to have real opportunities to grow financially. Economic growth ensures our communities can create more jobs, stronger schools and better/safer neighborhoods. But to make that happen, we need to take action and push for change.
Three ways to Build Wealth in our Black Communities:
1. Support Black Businesses
Keep our dollars circulating in our communities.
A strong economic foundation for those entrepreneurs and others would include more banks and programs to help with starter money to grow and build.
2. Money and Wealth Empowerment
We first need to understand these two are not the same.
Many of us were not taught how to manage money, invest or build credit. This has to change. Financial literacy has to be more accessible to communities. If we don’t understand money management, we will never understand wealth!
3. We Must OWN Homes and Land
One of the best ways to build and maintain wealth.
Better relationships with lenders to create better lending practices will go a long way. Land must be explored as well. My great-grandfather John Greenwood forbid us to sell any of our Texas land. He would often say, “One thing they can’t make any more of is LAND!”
Just a few things to address – but many challenges to conquer. We can do it collectively. We have to start somewhere, why not here!
By Ricky Lewis
Grand Basileus | Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
We are all over the place. We are in our public schools, our colleges, and universities – public, private, independent, and parochial. We are in our churches and other places of worship. We are in our private businesses, corporate businesses, hospitals, medical establishments, transportation, local, state, national government, and jails and prisons.
We are everywhere.
Where Are We Going?
I have a few thoughts on where we ought to be going.
- We ought to be preoccupied with planning and building
- We ought to be the vanguard
- We ought to be strategic
- We ought to be intolerant
- We ought to be focused
The Operant Question
WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO? AND WHO DO WE WANT TO TAKE WITH US?
Conclusion
In conclusion, and based on just one segment of our collective (Fraternities and Sororities) there is NO Reason we can’t do whatever we put our minds to!
By Killer Mike
Grammy Award Winning Rapper & Business Thought Leader
A Revolution of Access, Ownership, and Opportunity
By Michael Render, aka Killer Mike
Let's get one thing straight off the rip: Economic growth that isn't inclusive ain't growth—it's exploitation...
Ownership is the Foundation
Inclusive economic growth starts with ownership. If the people who build the city can't afford to live in it, that's not growth—it's theft...
Financial Literacy is Economic Armor
Economic inclusion means teaching people how money works...
Invest Where the People Are
You want real economic growth? Invest in the people who've been systemically excluded from opportunity...
Jobs Are Good. Ownership is Better. Equity is Best.
Look—I'm not saying jobs don't matter. But we have to stop acting like a low-wage job with no benefits is some kind of victory...
Reparations Aren’t Radical. They’re Required.
Yeah, I said it. You can't talk about inclusive economic growth without talking about reparations...
It’s Not Just a Movement. It’s a Blueprint.
Here's what inclusive economic growth looks like in action: Community land trusts, Cooperative businesses...
We Can’t Afford to Wait
We're past the point of asking politely. The wealth gap is widening. Wages are stagnant...
Final Word
I'm not an economist. I'm not a politician. I'm a rapper, an entrepreneur, and a son of the South...
By Erika Y. Mitchell
Board Chair | Atlanta Board of Education
The Importance of Inclusive Economic Growth
Economic growth is most powerful when it is inclusive—when it creates opportunities for all, not just a select few. True progress is measured not only by financial gains but by the expansion of access, equity, and empowerment in every community, particularly those that have been historically marginalized.
Dr. King’s Vision of Economic Justice
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of economic justice remains as relevant today as it was decades ago. He understood that civil rights and economic rights are deeply intertwined, and that without financial empowerment, true freedom remains out of reach for many. As we gather for this historic town hall on April 4, 2025, we must ask ourselves: Where do we go from here?
Steps Toward Inclusive Economic Growth
- Invest in Financial Literacy & Education – Equipping individuals with the tools to build wealth and make informed financial decisions is foundational to long-term economic stability.
- Expand Access to Capital & Entrepreneurship – Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Ensuring that minority-owned businesses and underserved entrepreneurs have access to funding and resources is critical.
- Strengthen Workforce Development & Upward Mobility – Investing in job training, skills development, and equitable hiring practices will create pathways to high-paying, sustainable careers for all.
- Bridge the Digital Divide – Technology is a driving force in today’s economy. Ensuring universal access to digital tools, broadband, and STEM education will help level the playing field.
- Commit to Policy & Corporate Accountability – Both public and private sectors must be accountable for fostering inclusive growth through equitable policies, fair wages, and meaningful community investment.
Turning Words into Action
As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, we must turn words into action. By working together—across sectors and communities—we can build an economy that truly works for everyone. The future of inclusive economics depends on our collective commitment to change.
By Hala Moddelmog
President and CEO | Woodruff Arts Center
How Arts Access Can Impact: A Child’s Well-Being And Build Stronger Communities
INTRODUCTION
High-quality education is the gateway to future economic success, but odds are often stacked against students from the start. Only 40 percent of Metro Atlanta’s students are reading on grade level by third grade. And children who have not developed basic literacy skills by the time they enter kindergarten are three to four times more likely to drop out in later years and experience long-term behavioral and mental health challenges.
The impact these challenges can have on children and families is harmful. The impact on communities and economies? Devastating. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 70 percent of people who are incarcerated can’t read above a fourth-grade level.
Every child—no matter their background or ZIP code—should have the skills and support they need to succeed from kindergarten, to graduation, and beyond. We believe a rich and robust arts education can get us there.
WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST
Georgia continues to see significant drops in literacy rates. Only 40 percent of Metro Atlanta’s students are reading on grade level by third grade, which is the turning point when children go from learning to read to reading to learn...
HOW WE CAN HELP
Access to meaningful arts education can change the course for rising generations...
WORLD-CLASS THEATER EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN
We know that 90 percent of a child’s brain develops by age five...
- Demonstrate higher levels of language development when compared to their peers
- Demonstrate greater improvement in grammar development than their peers
- Gain the equivalent of more than a month of additional learning
- Score significantly higher on standardized tests measuring initiative, language, logic, and other key skills
MUSIC EDUCATION
Exposure to music allows young brains to absorb notes, tones, and words they will later use...
IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
Supporting teachers as they integrate arts education into their classrooms is simple and scalable...
THE POWER OF FIELD TRIPS
- Two times more likely to graduate college
- Three times more likely to win an award for school attendance
- Four times more likely to participate in math or science fairs
- Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
CONCLUSION
We know that every young person in our community deserves to grow, learn, and succeed...
By Joseph Otting Chairman
President and CEO | Flagstar Bank
A Young Person Will Never Achieve Something They Can’t Imagine Being Possible
Over the past decade, researchers, educators, activists and sociologists have written mountains of literature about how bias adversely affects social interaction, creating microaggression and resulting in discrimination and lost opportunities for people of color, women, people with differing abilities, and people of different socioeconomic classes.
Bias has a way of working against diversity and inclusivity by limiting opportunity and shading our interactions with one another in ways that are unhelpful and limit choice. Biases tend to close doors rather than open them and contribute to discrimination and adverse economic outcomes for many people. (Dasgupta & Saha, 2022)
As adults who live and work in diverse situations, we have seen bias in action. The work to create greater self-awareness has been a positive development in our society. Reducing bias toward others can unlock potential by fostering stronger, more mutual relationships, identifying greater opportunities and value within colleagues, and discovering talent and expertise that were there all along.
While we talk a lot about bias and the importance of recognizing biases within ourselves, we don’t talk enough about the negative impact that biases have on those who have been subjected to them for decades. Those who have lived without opportunity and access for so long may find their development hindered, and this can blind them to opportunities that others see and take for granted. Self-limiting bias is particularly damaging among young people and can stifle progress toward achieving goals, which results in adverse economic outcomes. (Celestine, 2015)
Self-Limiting Bias Among Young People
Over the past four decades, I have been involved in creating internship opportunities for thousands of young people who have faced difficult situations, many of whom came from communities where there have been limited opportunities and access to economic resources.
As Comptroller of the Currency, I stood up the federal agency’s first summer intern program for high school students from around Washington, D.C. We focused on students of potential rather than the best and brightest whose future success already seemed relatively assured. We welcomed a couple hundred “at promise” students into our offices for several weeks each summer. At the start of the program, it was common to hear some express self-limiting biases, such as:
- “I can’t do that.”
- “They don’t want me.”
- “People like that don’t want me around.”
- “They don’t really care.”
- “Nobody from my neighborhood does that.”
- “We don’t get the resources that others get.”
These biases develop for the same reasons that biases develop in the minds of the majority—a history of differences and disparities. Like many biases, self-limiting bias can be created by and reinforced by lived experience.
Our Own Bias Compounds the Effect of Self-Limiting Bias
As adults and generally successful individuals, when we encounter young people with biases that affect how they see opportunities around them, our own biases come into play too.
- “That student has low self-esteem.”
- “That young man needs more confidence.”
- “She will never make it with that attitude.”
- “Those kids are lazy.”
- “Why don’t they care.”
We have all been in situations where we’ve heard statements like these. Unfortunately, some allow their biases to affect their behavior, attitudes, and interactions, rather than pausing to realize that these students may have never seen the inside of an office building.
Breaking the Cycle of Self-Limiting Bias
The great news is that this cycle of bias can be broken in powerful ways by exposing young people to opportunities. When they see that they belong, realize they share many similarities with those who they thought were completely different, discover opportunities they never imagined, recognize their potential for success, and encounter people who care, the cycle can change.
Call to Action
I believe that meaningful change can happen. Biases can be destroyed in the same way they are created—through experiences that build awareness.
As Comptroller, I issued a personal challenge to my colleagues who headed other agencies to offer similar programs. Now, as CEO, I would like to issue a similar challenge to business leaders: find opportunities to put young people in situations where they can see what success looks like and discover opportunities beyond what they think are their horizons.
After all, if a young person can see it, they can dream it and be it.
References
- Blackman, A. (2021, October 28). What are self-limiting beliefs? +How to overcome them successfully. Retrieved from TutsPlus
- Celestine, N. (2015, November 24). How to Change Self-Limiting Beliefs According to Psychology. Retrieved from Positive Psychology
- Dasgupta, D and Saha, A. (2022). Perceptions, biases, and inequality. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 198-210.
By Michael Phillips
Chief Operating Officer | TDJ Enterprises
The High Price of Building Highways to Nowhere
I remember first standing at the edge of West Baltimore’s infamous “Highway to Nowhere.” Before me stretched a concrete trench—a dead-end strip of road flanked by graffiti-streaked walls and overgrown weeds. In the 1970s, this gash of highway tore through a thriving neighborhood, displacing nearly 3,000 residents, only for the project to be abandoned mid-construction.
What remains today is more than just a forgotten stretch of asphalt; it is a physical scar, a monument to the misguided urban planning decisions of the past. At best, it is an exercise in futility: 1.3 miles of pavement leading nowhere. At worst, it stands as a stark reminder of how infrastructure projects, designed in the name of “progress,” have historically bypassed, bulldozed, and severed communities of color.
But this highway is more than a Baltimore story. It is a powerful metaphor for what is happening to our economy today. Just as federal planners once cut through the hearts of Black and Brown neighborhoods—isolating them and leaving behind lasting trauma—our economic systems continue to do the same. We have built financial highways that leave trillions of dollars in economic impact stranded on the shoulder, unable to reach their full potential. This is America’s blind spot, and it’s costing us dearly.
The High Cost of Discrimination
A significant financial institution put a number to this cost: The U.S. economy has lost an estimated $16 trillion over the past 20 years due to discrimination alone. To put that into perspective, nearly an entire year’s worth of economic output was erased because millions were denied full access to education, jobs, homeownership, and business capital.
Now, when diversity and inclusion are under attack, we must recognize that this is not just a moral failing—it’s terrible economics. If we open the off-ramps and invest in the communities where growth is already happening, we stand to unlock a $5 trillion boost to the U.S. economy over the next five years. We can no longer afford to ignore the hidden exits where untapped genius and innovation are waiting to merge into the main flow of opportunity.
Impact Investing: A Pathway Forward
One of the most promising pathways forward is impact investing—channeling capital in ways that generate both financial returns and social good. Unlike charity, impact investing is not about pity or handouts. It is about recognizing opportunity where others see risk, betting on potential over prejudice, and choosing innovation and dignity over despair. It is about constructing new on-ramps onto the economic highway so communities once excluded from prosperity can drive their development.
Honoring Dr. King’s Vision
Dr. King spoke of economic justice as the next frontier of the civil rights movement. More than 50 years after his assassination, his words remain a call to action. We must refuse to accept an economy that builds highways to nowhere while leaving entire communities stranded. Instead, we must demand an economy that invests in mobility—infrastructure, people, ideas, and opportunity. The cost of inaction is simply too high.
By Lisa Rice
President & CEO | National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA)
Necessary for Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth
We can build and empower a more economically inclusive and prosperous society by effectively and responsibly harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase people’s ability to access homeownership and entrepreneurship opportunities and create inter-generational wealth. We do not have to subscribe to a zero-sum game approach where the majority must lose at life so a few can win. We can optimize and expand opportunity. We can craft a more financially equitable and flourishing nation where people can thrive and establish financial legacies for themselves and those they love.
But we must face some hard facts. Our systems and structures are not fair. Everyone does not have the same access to opportunities to build and sustain wealth. And systemic barriers are causing millions to fall behind because they are swimming upstream. The good news is, there have been important technological advancements that can help address these challenges and promote economic empowerment for millions of people who do not now have it.
Historical and Systemic Inequities
Throughout our nation’s history, hundreds of unfair policies and practices have contributed to creating unfair systems that persist to this day. Residential segregation is one example. We are more segregated today than we were 100 years ago—not by happenstance, but by design. The segregation we see in our communities are relics of racially restrictive covenants, Jim Crow policies, exclusionary zoning policies, redlining, racial steering and even violence.
Place-based strategies and deployment of resources, like determining which community gets the landfill, oil refinery, liquor store, and highway, or, alternatively, the upgraded drainage system, full-service grocery store, and newly paved roads, can make all the difference in determining the kinds of health and wealth outcomes people living in those communities will reap.
The Dual Credit Market
Moreover, the U.S. has a dual credit market in which mainstream banks are concentrated in predominately White neighborhoods while payday lenders, check cashers, and other non-traditional creditors are highly concentrated in Black, Latino, and Native communities. Economics do not explain away this dynamic. Banks have closed their branches at a higher rate in high-income predominantly Black communities than in lower-income predominately White areas.
Studies show that accessing credit with non-traditional providers can significantly lower credit scores. For example, consumers who have credit from higher cost finance companies, and always pay their bills on time, can see their credit score drop by up to 19 points—simply because they accessed credit outside the financial mainstream. Moreover, non-traditional creditors typically do not report positive payment information to the credit repositories, so consumers don’t reap the benefits of their good behavior.
AI and Algorithmic Bias
Many have wondered whether algorithmic systems create or exacerbate disparities for certain groups. They undoubtedly do. The technologies used in housing and finance sectors are built using data generated from the biased marketplace in which we operate. Consequently, credit scoring, automated underwriting, risk-based pricing, tenant screening, facial recognition, and other systems yield biased and unfair outcomes, like loan denials, lower-valued appraisals, loss of housing rights, and higher interest rates that harm people and communities.
Structural Barriers and Misplaced Blame
Breaking through structural barriers, like segregation, place-based disinvestment, the dual credit market, exclusionary zoning ordinances, and biased algorithms can sometimes seem impossible. Moreover, because these systems drive certain disparities and are invisible to the naked eye, the negative outcome is often attributed to the person.
Lower homeownership rates, lower incomes, higher loan denial rates, poorer educational and health outcomes are blamed on the people impacted by the harmful structure. The reality is no matter how correct your diet is or how much you exercise, if you live in a neighborhood with no tree canopies, few plants, and high levels of pollution, your health and longevity will be severely impacted. And if your family does not have inter-generational wealth, you live in a bank desert, and use peer-to-peer payment systems, you have a much higher probability of having no credit score or a very low credit score. But that does not mean you are risky.
Responsible Use of AI
Thankfully, many researchers, civil rights experts, and civic-minded technologists, have been exploring how to harness technologies, including AI, for good. AI can be powerful in rooting out discrimination and expanding opportunities if it is built based on responsible AI principles. Those include fairness, safe and trustworthy systems, data privacy, transparency and explainability, and ensuring there are humans-in-the-loop.
This last point is critical since AI systems may not work for everyone. There must be a human fallback; a person who can step in and make decisions when the technology isn’t working for someone.
Promising Research & Results
Moreover, several fairness techniques have emerged that can improve the technologies used every day to determine if people can access vital opportunities like loans, jobs, and housing. AI can help improve the accuracy and predictability of existing systems. It can be used to help identify and measure discrimination, increase access to important services, promote transparency and accountability in algorithmic models, explain outcomes of decision-making tools, and lower costs.
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and FairPlay-AI, a justice-based fintech, conducted research to explore if AI could make mortgage decisions fairer without losing accuracy or lowering profits. The results were quite promising. In the first phase of the research, NFHA and FairPlay found that by carefully adjusting the standard machine learning process, automated underwriting and pricing systems could be improved.
Using state-of-the-art equity-based techniques can increase fairness in loan underwriting outcomes for Black and Latino borrowers by over 13 percent with no reduction in model accuracy. Additionally, pricing differences for Black/White and Hispanic/White borrowers can be reduced by over 20 percent. This means, with these tools, more credit-worthy people can access loans and pay a fair price. It also means businesses can grow their customer base.
A Path Forward
Inclusive economic growth and technological fairness are crucial for expanding opportunities for underserved groups, innovating to increase homeownership access, create new business opportunities, and helping people grow inter-generational wealth. By ensuring that AI and other technologies are non-discriminatory and fair, we can create a more equitable and prosperous society for all.