Post on 26-Feb-2016
description
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING
AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
September 27, 2012
With Support from The Ford Foundation
Hosted by
MODERATOR
Melissa WellsPolicy Assistant,Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE
FIELD
Howard UniversityCenter on Race and Wealth (CRW)
Working to enrich the dialogue and research to support asset building and wealth accumulation while addressing issues related to racial wealth disparities
Supports policy education ofFord Foundation granteesabout best practices andstrategies for asset building,using a variety of media andvenues
Asset-Building Policy Initiative
Coalition for a Prosperous Mississippi
DirectorMelbah Smith
Illinois Asset Building Group
IABG Coordinator Senior Policy
Associate, Heartland Alliance
Lucy Mullany
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Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
How We Came Into Being
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Diversity in Partnerships
Institutions of Higher Learning Public Policy AdvocatesFinancial Institutions State LegislatorsSocial Service Agencies Agriculture AgenciesFaith-Based Coalitions Entrepreneurs
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
CPM Structure
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
• Challenges Encountered/Resolved
• Unlikely Allies
• Stakeholder Organizations
Organizational Growth/Development
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Sustaining Engagement
Lucy Mullany
Hi! I’m a Senior Policy Associate with Heartland Alliance and the Coordinator of the Illinois Asset Building Group!
Our Beginning
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Heartland Alliance
Shriver Center
Coalition Structure
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Steering
Committee
Community Leadership
Councils
Working
Groups
Challenges
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Communicating Effectively About Asset Building
Engaging a Stakeholders Needed to Move Our Policy Agenda Forward:
• Statewide
• Diverse Constituency
Creating Opportunities for Sustained Engagement
Political Environment
Unlikely Allies & Stakeholder Organizations
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Our Policy Agenda & Environment
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Policy Agenda 2012
Farm Bill 2012IDA Legislation
Cooperative StatuteNon-Custodial Father Initiative
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
The State of Things
Agenda SettingDrivers
The Process
Asset-Building: Barriers/Opportunities
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Politics in Mississippi
Policy Agenda 2013
Children’s Savings AccountsAutomatic IRAsSafe Banking Products (Bank On & Safe Alternative Small Dollar Loans)Payday Lending ReformsAsset Limit Reforms
Automatic IRA
Policy
Require Illinois businesses with more than 10 employees and that have been established for more than 2 years to provide their employees with access to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Employees may opt-out of the Automatic IRA program and adjust their contribution at any time. To reduce administrative costs, the IRA accounts will be pooled accounts administered by the State Treasurer’s Office.
Automatic IRA
Strategy
Building Political Will Legislation introduced in 2012 & 2012 Subject Matter Hearing in the House in 2012
Research Report was released in September that addressed key questions from legislators
Mobilization & Outreach
Automatic IRA
Next Steps
1. Dissemination of Research2. Media Outreach3. Continued Education of Legislators4. Outreach to the Business Community
Children’s Savings Accounts
Policy
1. Universal Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) created at birth (long term campaign)
2. Increase Access to the State’s 529 College Savings Account program (series of administrative & legislative changes)
Children’s Savings Accounts
Strategy & Next StepsMobilization: Hosting community trainings and roundtables on
529 college savings and CSAsCommunications: Collecting video testimonials for a larger
marketing & outreach campaignResearch: Collecting data on current 529 College Savings
Account participants in IllinoisBuilding Political Will: 1. Illinois General Assembly created a CSA task force in 2010.2. Working with key state offices to implement incremental
changes.3. Possibly Introducing CSA or 529 Legislation in 2013
Banking the Unbanked
Policy
State and local governments should encourage financial institutions to offer products and services that meet the needs of lower-income communities, encouraging more people to participate in mainstream banking.
Mainstream financial institutions should be encouraged to offer low-cost alternatives to payday loans and check cashing to begin developing relationships with clients unfamiliar or uncomfortable with them.
Banking the Unbanked
Bank On Mobilizing & Outreach: Engaging more banks and service providers Research: Collecting data during the first year Building Political Will: Working with other Treasurer’s to create similar programs across the state
Banking the Unbanked
Alternative Payday LoansResearch: Profitability Model & ToolkitBuilding Political Will: Working with the State Treasurer’s office & Chicago Treasurer’s office to disseminate toolkit.Mobilization: Training Community Spokespersons
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
CPM Policy AgendaPolicy Setting
ProcessChallenges
Lessons Learned
Mississippi: Asset-Building Policy
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Policy-Agenda-Setting Process
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Moving Our Agenda Forward
Policy Change
Communications Research
Building Political Will Mobilization
Engaging Members In Agenda Creation
Formal Informal Surveys Focus Groups Leadership Meetings
One-on-One Community Meetings
Brown Bag Lunch Series Story Collection
Political Environment in Illinois
Democrats controlling the State General Assembly with Concentrated Power
Republican State TreasurerMany New State Legislators in 2013Difficult Budget Environment
Moving Policy in this Environment
Advocating for Small Changes with Limited Cost
Example: Children’s Savings Accounts 529 Account AccessDefault Investment TypeExemption from Asset Test on TANFRequiring Data Collection on ApplicantsAcceptance of ITINs
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Moving Policy in this Environment
Advocating for Small Changes with Limited Cost
Example: Alternative Small Dollar Loans & Payday Reforms Zoning Legislation Linked Deposit Ordinances
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Moving Policy in this Environment
Building a Case for Future Change
Example: Automatic IRAInformational HearingRetirement Savings Report Media Campaign
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Moving Policy in this Environment
Recognizing Opportunities
Examples:Leveraging National Initiatives to Affect Change (i.e. GEAR UP CSA Pilot Program)Partnership with Department of Child Support Services
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Empowering Mississippians
Developing an Asset-Building Agenda: Lessons From The Field
Asset-Building Policy Development In Mississippi
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Strategy for policy advancementOvercoming Obstacles
Implementation
Asset-Building Policy: The Process
Empowering Mississippians
DEVELOPING AN ASSET-BUILDING AGENDA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Cooperative Statute Expansion BillPayday Lending Legislation
Educated constituencyPowerful Lobbyist
Civic Engagement Campaign Submit Bill in 2013 Legislative Session
Policy Campaign
Measuring Our Impact
Measuring Progress Made Toward Goal• Meetings with Legislators• Number of Policy Champions – decision makers
participating in events, co-sponsors• Number of Advocates participating in a campaign• Spokesperson trainings on the issues• Media exposure• Communication “Hits” – downloads of a report, shares on
social media, website traffic, etc.• Administrative & Legislative Changes
Empowering Mississippians
Melbah SmithDirectorCoalition for a Prosperous Mississippi
Lucy MullanyIABG CoordinatorSenior Policy Associate, Heartland Alliance
www.illinoisassetbuilding.org
Contact
Lucy MullanyIABG Coordinator
Senior Policy Associate, Heartland Alliance312-870-4939
lmullany@heartlandalliance.org
Learn More: www.illinoisassetbuilding.org