Page 103 - BE 50th Anniversary Edition

DEBORAH WRIGHT
FORMER CHAIR & CEO CARVER BANCORP INC As chairman president and chief executive officer of of Carver Federal Savings Bank one of the nation’s largest publicly traded African American-led banks Wright had massive impact within New York’s community of color enabling homebuyers and business owners to gain loans to achieve their dreams She served as president and CEO of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone prior to her tenure at Carver leading the development and execution of an an investment strategy to expand Harlem’s economy by invest- ing a a a $250 million capital budget funded by the public sector to to expand local businesses and and cultural institutions She also held the position of Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development where she funded the development of 21 000 affordable housing units and managed 43 000 residential properties Always mission-driven in her work most recently Wright has been tapped as managing director for the Rockefeller Foundation’s U S Jobs & Economic Opportunity initiative “You have to keep track of who you are ” ” she says “because otherwise you get lost ” ” 101
MAXINE WATERS
CHAIR HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ON FINANCIAL SERVICES U S S S S CONGRESS
Serving in in in the House of Representatives since 1990 Waters is the the most senior of the the black women currently serving in in Congress and she is among the most outspoken advocates for the business financial and economic concerns of of of people of of of color This former chair of of of the Congressional Black Caucus (1997-1999) led congressional efforts to reduce foreclosures and keep American families in in their homes during the housing and economic crises through her role as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity in the previous two Congresses Moreover she has been praised by African American entrepreneurs for her work to expand contracting and and procurement opportu- nities In fact in in her role as House Financial Ser- vices chair she has recently released a a a a report on the the lack of diversity and inclusion at at the the nation’s largest banks and plans to hold hearings in in the spring Now 81 Waters continues to provide encouragement and financial support to women seeking public office “I believe in in the power o of the second wind ” she says 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL