19 Sep Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: RIBBA’s Annual Legislative Breakfast Tackles RI’s Racial Wealth Gap
RIBBA is proud to announce its Annual Legislative Breakfast, slated for Friday, February 23, 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI. Networking begins at 7:30 a.m., with the program commencing promptly at 8:00 a.m. Themed “Closing the Racial Wealth Gap,” this event highlights RIBBA’s commitment to economic equity and prosperity for all.
Amid Black History Month, the Legislative Breakfast serves as a crucial platform to highlight the pressing issue of the racial wealth gap in Rhode Island. Kicking off with an executive presentation on the racial wealth gap in Rhode Island presented by RIBBA’s Director of Policy, Kristina Contreras Fox. The presentation will take the audience on a journey into these disparities, where we will unveil eye-opening statistics, such as the jaw-dropping revelation that the net worth of black families has plummeted to an alarming 62% without homeownership. And that is just scratching the surface. Prepare to be stunned as we reveal even more shocking data points, highlighting the urgency of collaborative action to create pathways to economic mobility to address the stark realities faced by communities of color in Rhode Island.
RIBBA recognizes the urgency of addressing these disparities and is steadfast in its mission to tackle the racial wealth gap through a multi-faceted approach, focusing on financial empowerment, workforce development, business growth, and more, aiming to lower food insecurity, boost education, increase homeownership, and spur job growth.
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Kyle Bennett, Senior Director of Policy and Equity at the United Way of Rhode Island, will deliver the keynote, offering strategies to address the racial wealth gap and inspiring action. Joining the event are Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Executive Director of the Economic Progress Institute, Congressman Gabe Amo, Nina Pande, Executive Director of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, and Fabiola Brunache, Founder of Fab Living Realty, for a dynamic panel discussion. Attendees will gain actionable insights into entrepreneurship and economic development, with opportunities to hear from esteemed speakers such as the Mayor of Warwick, Frank Picozzi, Secretary of Commerce, Elizabeth Tanner, Esq., General Treasurer, James Diossa, Secretary of State, Gregg M. Amore, and Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. “We are thrilled to host our Annual Legislative Breakfast,” remarked Lisa Ranglin, President and CEO of RIBBA. “As community organizations, we cannot turn a blind eye to the alarming data revealing the persistent racial wealth gap. We must invest boldly and intentionally, as the same old approaches have yielded very little change. RIBBA is committed to leading by example and actively working to counteract this downward trend by fostering genuine inclusion and empowerment through our services and partnerships.” RIBBA has restructured funding opportunities to be partnership-based, supporting a model that exemplifies return on investment. We call for impactful initiative investment and are eager to strengthen relationships with partners and key stakeholders. We are also actively exploring ways to engage executives from large organizations in our initiatives. The event culminates in honoring RI State Representative Carol Hagan McEntee and RI State Senator Sandra Cano with the 2024 Legislative Champion Award, recognizing their immense support for economic growth in the State of Rhode Island. Join us in celebrating their remarkable contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape of Rhode Island! Space is extremely limited, and registration is required to secure your spot at this pivotal event. Join RIBBA in advancing economic equity and prosperity for all Rhode Islanders. Purchase your tickets today and ensure your participation in this transformative conversation! Do not miss out on this opportunity to be part of the solution. Together, we can close the racial wealth gap and build a more just and prosperous future for Rhode Island. For ticket purchases and more information, please visit this page or click the link below. |
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