Lender Center D.C. Conversation Expands Partnerships, Ideas to Reduce Racial Wealth Gap

Economic experts, federal policymakers and human services administrators joined researchers from Syracuse University and other academic institutions recently in Washington, D.C., to examine factors that contribute to a growing racial wealth gap in America. They also looked at how academic research can provide policy recommendations that may help mitigate the divide.

The panel discussion, workshop presentations and discussions on communicating recommendations to different community stakeholders and policymakers were part of a Lender Center for Social Justice research initiative funded by a grant from MetLife Foundation. Guest presenters included Josh Bivens, chief economist at the Economic Policy Institute; Haydar Kurban, professor of economics and director of the Center of Excellence in Housing and Urban Research and Policy at Howard University; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Cheri Hoffman, deputy commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Brian Roy, ’07, an alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and executive vice president of the DC Health Practice at Edelman; and Nico Sanders, president and CEO of Community Housing Associates Inc.

Marcelle Haddix, Syracuse University’s associate provost for strategic initiatives and co-founder of the Lender Center, says the grant from MetLife Foundation has allowed the center to involve more external partners and stakeholders in the wealth gap conversation and broaden the base of people and institutions able to contribute to possible solutions. Haddix says the center is planning additional conversations on the racial wealth gap in other cities.

These images capture moments from the event.