When I think about stepping into this role as President & CEO of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, I’m reminded of a moment from my early twenties. I was a young mother in Durham, North Carolina, piecing together life with little more than determination and a belief that things could be better. At the time, I didn’t have the language of “equity” or “systems change.” I just knew that opportunity wasn’t evenly distributed, and that people like me, people like us, deserved more than what society was offering.
That moment still lives with me. It shapes how I lead, how I serve, and why I believe equity is the only acceptable outcome.
Building on a Legacy
The Alliance was founded with a simple but powerful conviction: when Black-led CDFIs are strong, Black communities are strong. Over the last five years, under the extraordinary leadership of Lenwood V. Long, Sr., we built a movement that put our members at the center of the nation’s economic justice conversation. We showed that investments in Black communities don’t just change neighborhoods, they strengthen the entire fabric of this country.
Now, as I step into this role, I do so with deep gratitude for the foundation that has been laid and with clear eyes on where we must go next.
My Vision for the Next Chapter
Over the next 1–3 years, my focus is threefold:
- Financially: Grow our loan fund, strengthen our assets, and expand earned income, because financial stability gives us the freedom to serve boldly.
- For our members: Foster a family atmosphere where members feel at home, valued, and supported with tools, services, and opportunities that drive measurable impact.
- For our team: Continue to nurture a culture of trust, respect, opportunity, and collaboration, because how we work together is as important as what we achieve.
We will broaden our circle of stakeholders, create new customer pathways, and expand our brand recognition so that partners and investors know with confidence: the Alliance is where solutions thrive.
Carrying the Torch, Unapologetically
I want to be remembered not just as the leader of an organization, but as an unapologetic advocate for our communities—a leader who put people first, who created room for others to shine, and who never lost sight of the fact that our collective power is greater than any one of us.
I stand in the lineage of Black women who have carried multiple roles at once—mother, daughter, leader, advocate. My womanhood, my Blackness, my journey as an HBCU graduate, entrepreneur, and community builder are not footnotes; they are the very strengths that guide me in this role.
Moving Forward, Together
Our charge is clear:
- We must remind the nation how critical Black communities are to America’s progress.
- We must come together, because history has taught us what happens when we stand divided.
- We must confront the racial wealth gap not as individuals, but as a united force.
I believe in this work because I’ve lived the struggle, and I’ve seen the power of solutions born from within our communities. That’s what makes the Alliance more than anorganization, more than a moment, but a movement for sustainable change.
So, as we begin this new chapter, I invite you to walk with us, build with us, and believe with us. Because together, we are the solution to our greatest challenges.
Equity is the only acceptable outcome.
Amber Banks
President & CEO, African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs
