WASHINGTON — The Native CDFI Network (NCN) will kick off its annual Policy & Capacity Building Summit next week with an array of high-profile speakers including members of Congress, Biden administration officials, and former President Bill Clinton. 

The annual summit, which will be held virtually this year, runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 17.  

Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provide access to capital, microbusiness coaching, credit counseling and pathways to home ownership in low-income, high-poverty and underbanked communities in 27 states and throughout Indian Country. There are 69 certified Native CDFIs serving American Indian, Alaska Native and Hawaiian Native citizens and communities.  

Clinton, who signed legislation that created the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund in 1994, will deliver an address about “The Promise of Native CDFIs” on Tuesday afternoon. Other speakers during the two-day summit include:

  • U.S. Rep Sharice Davids (D-KS), an enrolled member of the Ho Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, represents Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District and serves on two House Committees: the Small Business Committee and as vice-chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  She also serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus.
  • U.S. Representative Kaialiʻi (Kai) Kahele (D-HI), a Native Hawaiian, represents Hawaiʻi’s 2nd Congressional District and serves on two House committees: the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Armed Services Committee.
  • Adair Morse is deputy assistant secretary of capital access at the Treasury Department’s Office of Domestic Finance.  
  • Xochitl Torres Small is an attorney and former U.S. Representative who currently serves as under secretary for rural development at the United States Department of Agriculture.  
  • Noel Adres Poyo is the deputy assistant secretary for community and economic development in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  
  • Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D., a citizen of the Colville Confederated Tribes, is CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF). 

The two-day summit will also feature policy and organizational updates from NCN board members. Executive Director Jackson Brossy will highlight the organization’s efforts to increase funding for loans, technical assistance and financial services provided by member CDFIs. 

NCN Board Chairman Pete Upton stated, “Native CDFIs are an asset to their communities and an excellent investment for our financial partners. As we move through the pandemic and into the future, Native CDFIs need additional capital to invest in technology and people that will help deliver loans, training and technical assistance to Indian Country.”  

Registration for the virtual event is open for Native CDFI staff, Native CDFI board members, Native CDFI supporters, impact investors, policy makers, economic development professionals, media and allies. For more information, visit https://nativecdfi.net/

About Native CDFI Network

The Native CDFI Network was formed in 2009 to unify Native CDFIs serving Native trust land communities, American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The Native CDFI Network seeks to create opportunities to share our stories, identify our collective priorities and strengthen our industry. In addition, the Native CDFI Network works to ensure that Native peoples are represented in the national policy dialogue, and innovative solutions created by CDFIs are spread throughout our Native communities. As a strong national network, the Native CDFI Network empowers its members to engage our best ideas, connect to one another, and collectively advance policy priorities that foster systemic and sustainable Native community and economic development.  For more information on the Native CDFI Network, visit www.nativecdfi.net or Facebook (facebook.com/nativecdfinetwork

More information on the Native CDFI Network can be found at:

facebook.com/nativecdfinetwork/

https://twitter.com/nativecdfis

instagram.com/nativecdfis/

NativeCDFI.org

Contact

Native CDFI Network
P.O. Box 77206
Washington, DC 20013

Jackson Brossy
[email protected]