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Scholars, community leaders examine racial wealth gap at Lender Center symposium in Atlanta — Syracuse University News

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Scholars, community leaders examine racial wealth gap at Lender Center symposium in Atlanta — Syracuse University News

Nationally recognized author, activist and philanthropic strategy advisor Edgar Villaneuva joined Syracuse University faculty and Atlanta community, business and government leaders June 4 for the latest Lender Symposium Center for Social Justice examining the racial wealth gap.

“Closing the Racial Wealth Gap: Public, Private and Philanthropic Collaborations” focused on how a plan for targeted and intentional philanthropy can help close racial wealth disparities and lead to practical implementation of equity economic. Syracuse faculty members who have studied the causes and solutions to America’s racial wealth gap, leaders from the Lender Center and officials from the MetLife Foundation took part in the discussion. Also attending the event were several local business leaders who have supported the Atlanta community by investing in innovation and startups, neighborhood revitalization, and historic preservation.

Villaneuva discussed the need for reparations for Black and Native American communities and his Decolonization of Wealth Project’s efforts to create racial equity through education and “radical reparative giving.” The discussion was led by alumna Angela Y. Robinson ’78, director of operations for the National Association of Black Journalists.

A roundtable discussion with community leaders followed. Participants included alumnus Thomas R. Boyle ’83 of Fourth Ward Neighbors; Brendan Doherty, Atlanta housing commissioner and founder of The Same House; Cheneé Joseph, president and CEO of Historic District Development Corporation; and Jodi Merriday, Neighborhood Ombudsman for the City of Atlanta. Other participants included Marcelle Haddix, associate vice president for strategic initiatives at Syracuse University, and Kendall Phillips, interim director of the Lender Center. The closing remarks were delivered by David Edwards, Neighborhood Policy Advisor for the City of Atlanta and Director of the Center for Urban Research at Georgia Tech University.

The event was part of an ongoing Lender Center initiative to examine the racial wealth gap in America and identify solutions to mitigate its impact. Over nearly two years, the work has resulted in symposia and community conversations in Syracuse, Washington, DC, and Atlanta; funding for nine university research projects; and the creation of three postdoctoral fellowships. The center also formed a Thought Leaders Advisory Group on the Racial Wealth Gap, comprised of 15 notable business and community leaders and academics from universities across the United States. These measures were made possible by a $2.7 million grant from the MetLife Foundation that was awarded in fall 2022.

woman and man shaking hands in a room

Kira Reed, senior research associate at the Lender Center for Social Justice, left, welcomes guest speaker Edgar Villaneuva to host a conversation in Atlanta on the racial wealth gap in America. Villaneuva advocates for the use of intentional philanthropy to ensure economic racial equity.

Man introducing six panelists

Kendall Phillips, far left, interim director of the Lender Center, welcomes the roundtable panelist group for a question-and-answer segment.

panel of speakers with a large audience

A large audience gathered for the third conversation hosted by the Lender Center for Social Justice and supported by the MetLife Foundation to discuss the causes and potential solutions to the racial wealth gap in America. The event took place at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Roundtable panelists (left) were Brendan Doherty, Atlanta housing commissioner and founder of The Same House; Jodi Merriday, Neighborhood Ombudsman for the City of Atlanta; Angela Y. Robinson ’78, of the National Association of Black Journalists; Cheneé Joseph, president and CEO of Historic District Development Corporation; and Thomas R. Boyle ’83 of the Atlanta community group Fourth Ward Neighbors.

a woman with outstretched hands and a man are talking in discussion

Robinson, left, hosts Villaneuva’s speech with the audience.

group of men and women standing at event

Roundtable panelists included Atlanta investors, business leaders and neighborhood advocates, from left, Brendan Doherty, Jodi Merriday, Cheneé Joseph, Thomas R. Boyle ’83 and David Edwards.

women and men speaking at a reception

A number of alumni participated and attended the conversation about the racial wealth gap. Thomas R. Boyle ’83, center, was a panelist on the roundtable. He is involved with the Atlanta historic preservation association Fourth Ward Neighbors.

a group of people talking at a reception

MetLife Foundation representative Charlie Pettigrew, right, chats with guests at the event reception. They include Vicki Brackens (left), president of Brackens Financial Solutions Network, LLC of Syracuse; and University staff members Peter Cronin (second from left), vice president for advancement and external affairs; Stephanie Walgamott (center), director of regional development/South; and Rachel Vassel (right), associate vice president, multicultural advancement. A grant from the MetLife Foundation supports community conversations on the racial wealth gap and other research initiatives.

group of women and men at an event

Alumnus Jonathan Olens ’15, center, was among the participants.

group of four people

Alumnus Jonathan Olens ’15, center, was among the participants.

group of man and two women

Faculty who have received research grants from the Lender Center Racial Wealth Gap were also in attendance. From left, Willie Reddic, Whitman School of Management; and on the right, Laverne Gray, School of Information Studies. At center is the School of Law’s Kristen Barnes, a member of the Racial Wealth Gap Initiative’s Thought Leaders Advisory Group.

group of three men

Pablo Mitnik (left), member of the Lender Center for Social Justice Thought Leaders Advisory Group, University of Michigan Center for Inequality Dynamics, and Gregory Price (right), minority and emerging faculty member of the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of New Orleans is joined by Hannibal Newsom (center), assistant professor in the School of Architecture at Syracuse University and recipient of the Lender research project Center.

three young people at a reception

The three postdoctoral associates from the Lender Center Racial Wealth Gap initiative were also present. From left to right: Yvonne Christophe, Mauricio Mercado and J Coley.

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