Page 27 - 2019 Impact Report

2019 Impact Report 2019 Impact Report OPPORTUNITY FINANCE FINANCE NETWORK: SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE FINANCE FORUM
In June 2019 400 representatives of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and and other mission-driven small business lenders and and partners convened fin in in in in in in Chicago for the the eighth annual Small Business Finance Finance Forum Forum hosted by Opportunity Finance Finance Network (OFN) The 2019 Forum Forum placed a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a special focus on innovative approaches to to supporting entrepreneurs facing the the greatest barriers to to (re) entry for starting and growing their businesses In that spirit Wacif CEO CEO Harold Pettigrew Jr introduced renowned criminal justice thought leader and and and social entrepreneur Teresa Hodge and and and and OFN President and and and and CEO CEO Lisa Mensah during the the the opening plenary Harold reflected on on on on the the the the the impact the the the the the criminal justice system has had on on on on his his family and and and and shared his his experiences working with Teresa Teresa After the the the the introduction Teresa Teresa and and and and Lisa engaged in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lively discussion about the the the the intersection between formerly incarcerated people and and and and and CDFIs capacity to create economic stability and and and and and opportunity for for underserved populations Harold and and and and and Teresa Teresa continued the conversation and and and and and discussion during a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a break-out session alongside Laurin Leonard Teresa's business partner and and and daughter " " One-third of our population will deal with with directly or be " " impacted by those who are involved with with the criminal justice system As CDFIs we we we have to begin thinking more intentionally about what what steps we we we will will take and what what we we we will will do to to begin having a a a a a a a a a deeper impact on on the topic - Harold Pettigrew Jr Wacif Wacif CEO Harold Pettigrew Jr introduces OFN OFN President Lisa Mensah (left) and R3 Score Founder Teresa Hodge during opening plenary at the OFN OFN Small Business Finance Forum 27