Opportunity Finance Network’s Post

The community development finance industry is at an inflection point. Challenging, yes. Volatile, yes. But also ripe with opportunity. Read about President and CEO Harold Pettigrew, Jr.'s first year at OFN, in his own words. #LetsGetToWork #CDFIs #EconomicJustice #ClimateJustice

The Digital Signage Federation (DSF) has announced its 2025 Board of Directors: Jason Ault [Coffman Media], Frank Barnes (i5 LED), IV Dickson (Sage Net), and Jay Leedy (Videri). These leaders bring extensive industry expertise and will serve from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026. The DSF also acknowledged outgoing board members for their service, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the digital signage industry through education and advocacy. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dYTcHQhZ #DigitalSignage #DSF2025Board #TechLeadership #DSF #DigitalSignageFederation

When the algorithm places posts on my feed, I try to react honestly without regard for hurting anyones feelings. I am being targeted with content, so I am being prodded to react. I am a social justice warrior at the core. I don't give a damn what religious lable anyone wishes to wear or more realistically had it branded on them as children and are doing their best to leverage that lable into doing something worthwhile for the world, their neighbors, or themselves. It is good to see people doing good work. We need social groups like these in every town. America would be a significantly kinder, friendlier, and safer place to live. However, it is extremely difficult to comprehend local social justice when globally we as American's (both Jews and Christians) are being programmed to support mass murder and the total destruction of life and property of people overseas that we cannot see or hear or help in any real way. It matters immensely how one answers this question. Is it only regional or local social justice we care about or does that notion apply to all people, everywhere? The lables Christian and Jew have been destroyed and redefined by those who lust for power and wealth. They have manipulated of our media and our government at every level to such an extent that we now have churches and temples cheering for mass murder labeled as self defense. White Nationals are not Christian and Zionists are not Jews. Anyone joining any social justice organization should be clear about the definitions going in because even Hitler and the Nazi's had millions of innocent families engaged in what they believed were social justice groups that were entirely for the benefit of the German people.

Today, passionate ACaFSA leaders from across Australia met online as we work collaboratively as values aligned organisations and individuals to design foundational supports for children and families across Australia. We know how critical the early years are, with foundational supports providing a key opportunity to codesign a brighter future. Our key working groups provided updates across the focus areas of: 1. Governance 2. Marketing 3. Evidence 4 Family Needs Mapping 5. Vision and Principles 6. Definitions Our shared vision and principles for foundational supports are nearing completion, providing an essential cornerstone for our forward priorities. With a particular focus in today's meeting on family needs mapping, ACaFSA deep dived into system delineations between mainstream, general foundational supports, targeted foundational supports and NDIS. In this, the importance of role definitions for an aspirational future state were recognised, mapped against the optimal journey for children and families and what we know to date about the future ecosystem, accounting for jurisdictional nuance. Insightful and robust discussions made for a productive meeting with much forward momentum! An honour to have so much expertise from across the country working together.

Safeguarding children and adults has become increasingly complex. Sector leaders in social care are reflecting on models of safeguarding and identifying opportunities for innovation. An open access Research in Practice briefing focuses on adolescence to adulthood with examples of moving to a transitional approach to safeguarding. https://ow.ly/3Wbp50Uhky3 / #NCASC24

Short origin story (with shoutouts)... Six years ago, Kristen King handed me the Bridge to Completion report created by the Tennessee College Access and Success Network & Nashville Public Education Foundation. This report started me down a path that I would devote my next 6 years of my life waking up every morning thinking about. As principal at RePublic Schools, my very next PD session was focused on this report and it became the backbone of my "why" and my "what" in education. Why were we measuring "success" on low-income students graduating from high school and getting accepted into college and not on students getting college degrees and being fruitful employees? What could we do to solve the problem of only 24% of Nashville students earning a college degree? Fast forward to 5 years ago, when Kristen and I were considering the idea of Persist Nashville, a good friend of mine, Stephen Zralek, connected me with Jennifer H. to have lunch. What I didn't know from that meeting was that, along with Bob Obrohta, Jennifer was the primary architect of the report that started me down the path. As a super energetic and often naive founder with an idea, Jennifer was willing to take a chance on me and be my first Board Chair. Once a month I would walk into Jennifer's office with a list of 17-19 ideas and she would tell me go for it, a gentle maybe, and only occasionally a no. Behind the scenes, Jennifer was making sure I was seated in the right rooms, listening to the people who really understood the problem of college persistence and could help us solve it. She often had to smooth over my rough edges and gracefully advocate for my good intentions. In all ways, she helped me and Persist grow. 2 years ago, Jennifer and I were selected for the Tennessee SCORE Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute, one of the best professional programs I've been a part of. Through these intensive retreats, something clicked, and I realized that Jennifer was really what our team at Persist needed. Her ability to understand and navigate complex systems, leadership style, and fierce advocacy for students was what Persist needed as we emerged from our infancy stage of organizational development. 1 year ago, my team agreed and unanimously voted to bring her on as our first Chief of Staff. Over the past year she has built a new strategic plan, helped me navigate one of the most challenging seasons of our organization, and built the systems we need to smartly grow. 1 day ago the Board approved Jennifer to be our next Executive Director and I could not be happier. You've helped this idea become a reality and now you and Kristen will take this reality to new heights. So thankful for you. For those wondering, I'm not leaving Persist. My role will shift down in July to focusing on our work outside of Nashville as I take on a new role serving schools in Nashville. More to come, but for now, cheers to Jennifer. You will be an extraordinary leader of our team!

#HDN - it was an interesting session at the event with Amanda Dubarry & Kevin Maxwell MBE presenting to us about how boards can be more inclusive through different pathways, including Next Generation Trustees similar to what many Housing associations & Social Lanflord boards are doing with Board Designatee so as to allow for better succession planning on boards and helping to improve the diversity of the board. Rgds Mukesh Malhotra, BEM, BCAv, PHF, MSC, CISM

Thank you so much for the partnership Washington Workforce Association for your work to advance the Community Reinvestment Plan Workforce Strategies that are making an impact. State-Funded IDAs (Individual Development Accounts): Washington’s Community Reinvestment Project (CRP) reintroduces state-supported IDAs, offering low-income individuals matched savings up to $10,000 for education, homeownership, and business development. Similar to investments in neighboring states like Oregon and California, enhancing economic mobility and stability by providing essential financial tools to build long-term assets. Focus on Underemployment: The CRP and Poverty Reduction Workgroup are driving a shift in Washington’s workforce system to address underemployment alongside unemployment. Programs like the EcSA Career Accelerator provide financial incentives, job training, financial coaching, and asset-building opportunities, integrating diverse services to support long-term financial stability and prevent economic crises. Small Business Grant Program: Washington’s CRP launched its first Small Business Grant Program, focusing on equitable economic development for underserved communities. Engaging over 820 Black, Latine, and Tribal-owned businesses, the program offers grants, workforce development support, and subsidized training for hiring and skills development. Business Navigators assist with resources to drive operations growth, promote good-paying careers, and dismantle systemic barriers, fostering economic stability and job creation in historically marginalized communities.

We hope environmental organizations will continue to embrace increasing the use of biofuels as one of their goals to reduce the carbon content and toxic emissions from every gallon of gasoline and diesel in every vehicle every day. The path to a healthier environment and environmental justice has to be paved with cleaner fuels and powered by educated consumers. While new markets and technologies for electric vehicles continue to develop, there are no good reasons not to use biofuels to replace the benzene and benzene-laced aromatics in gasoline and diesel fuel. #gasolinegate

There’s an exciting trend developing; people who don’t come from a “fire background” are being drawn to the fire space, bringing new perspectives, talents and experience to bear on the wildfire crisis. Seth Schalet is a great example. Drawing on decades of business and philanthropy leadership experience, Seth turned the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council into the only such organization to pay its own way, with profitable operations and a full time staff. As he’s done many times with previous ventures, he’s used his keen business skillls and powerful collaborative abilities to turn SCCFC into a brilliantly effective and self sustaining model for other non-profits. Very few people understand the concept of “no margin, no mission” as well as does this dynamic CEO. And as I mention in the show, Seth Schalet is one of the best examples of what it means to be a mensch. (Look it up if you don’t know the term.) Learn a few of his secrets to success here in his fascinating interview. Spoiler, it begins with character, integrity, humility, curiosity, and drive.