Native Communities? Experts to Gather in D.C. to Focus on Affordable Housing, Jobs

 Print Article

Financial institutions to promote entrepreneurship development, affordable housing opportunities, job creation and expanded Native asset building for their underserved communities
Financial institutions to promote entrepreneurship development, affordable housing opportunities, job creation and expanded Native asset building for their underserved communities

RISMEDIA, October 25, 2006?Nearly 80 representatives from 30 Native community development financial institutions (NCDFIs) across the United States will gather in Washington, D.C. on October 30-31, 2006 to promote entrepreneurship development, affordable housing opportunities, job creation and expanded Native asset building for their underserved communities.

The Native CDFI Convening will be hosted by Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and the First Nations Oweesta Corporation (Oweesta). The Native CDFI Convening will be part of OFN?s 22nd annual conference in Washington, D.C., taking place from October 30 ? November 2, 2006. The four-day OFN gathering will bring together hundreds of community development experts from across the United States. During the Native Convening, Oweesta will debuts Our Native Circle, The Native Community Development Resource Center Web site.

Native CDFIs and asset building institutions are playing a growing role in creating opportunity and economic strength among Native communities. The Convening will discuss the progress of the industry as well as new tools for opportunity finance and integrated asset building. A first-ever awards ceremony will honor Native CDFIs for their vision and leadership within this growing field.

Native Convening panelists and presenters will include: Tom Klyve of White Earth Investment Initiative; Dave Fleming of Lac Courte Oreilles Credit Union; Kristi Coker of Citizen Potawatomi CDC; Tanya Fiddler of Four Bands Community Fund; Elsie Meeks and Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy of First Nations Oweesta Corporation; and Mamata Datta of Opportunity Finance Network

Representatives will be in attendance from the following NCDFIs, CDFIs, support organizations and tribal institutions, with additional representatives still being added: Aleutian Housing Authority; Aneth Community Development Corporation; California Indian Manpower Consortium; Cascadia Revolving Fund; CDFI Fund; Central Oregon Partnership; Citizen Potawatomi; Cooperative Fund of New England Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Oweesta; Four Corners Enterprise Community; Four Directions Development Corporation; Habitat for Humanity International; US department of Housing and Urban Development; Indian land Capital Company; Laguna Housing Development and Management Enterprise; Midwest Minnesota CDC; Native TANF Programs; Navajo Partnership for Housing; Pascua Yaqui Tribe; Rural Community Assistance Corporation; Rural Community Innovations; Salt River Financial Services Institution; Sicangu Fund; Teton Coalition; The Lakota Fund; The Sequoyah Fund; USDA/Rural development; and the Wind River Development Fund.

For more details, go to www.opportunityfinance.net or www.oweesta.org.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to:
realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.