Amplifying the power of Black Leadership
The Alliance supports and empowers Black CDFI CEO members to lead and grow their institutional operations, teams, and social impact.
Our Mission
The Alliance is a membership-driven intermediary organization that aims to: build the capacity of member organizations; build bridges to economic stability, well being, and wealth for Black individuals, families, and communities; and build power in Black communities by challenging and influencing financial sectors to operate more equitably.
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Building Capacity
Black-led CDFIs are resourced with the financial capital, human capital, and technical capacity to be catalysts for economic mobility, prosperity, and wealth-building for Black families and communities.
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Building Bridges
Ensure that all Black communities have full and fair access to equitable financial tools, to build prosperity and wealth.
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Building Power
We are unapologetically aspirational for wanting the best for our communities. We believe in redesigning systems to benefit those who are most marginalized.
Empowering Black-Led CDFIs
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Advocacy
We elevate the voices of Black community leaders by serving as a thought-leader for CDFI public policy issues and engaging in research that are in the best interest in the of Black CDFIs’ sustainability and stakeholders.
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Women-Led Initiative
We address the unique capacity building needs of our Black & female CEO members who systemically face racial & gender resource inequities, adversely impacting the balance sheets and financial trajectories of their CDFIs and the communities they serve.
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African American Equity Impact Scorecard
We work with partners and members to identify the availability and cost of financial products in member communities. It provides partnership-building and other support services to members to develop products or engage partners to fill market gaps.
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Access to Capital
Utilize research tools to elevate the disproportionate investment in Black-led CDFIs, and to advocate for a redistribution of capital flow to these CDFIs.
Meet Our Team
Our team is made up of passionate individuals committed to the support and growth of Black communities and closing the racial wealth gap.
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Donna Gambrell
Chair
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Calvin L. Holmes
Vice Chair
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Vandell Hampton, Jr
Secretary
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Inez Long
Assistant Treasurer
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Victor Elmore
Treasurer
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Marshall Crawford
Board Member
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Watchen Harris Bruce
Board Member
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Lenwood V. Long, Sr.
Chief Executive Officer
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Amber Banks-Bond
President
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Awamary Lowe-Khan
Interim CFO
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Chavelle Sangokoya
Senior Vice President, Programs & Initiatives
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Erica L. King
Senior Vice President, Economic Development and Lending
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Ryan Gremillion
Senior Vice President, Policy & Research
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Eleanor Reid
Vice President, Development
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Janice Dsouza
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
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Justin Minott
Vice President, Membership Services
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Angela Milton
Membership Services Director
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Alisha Brown
Marketing & Communications Director
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Charmaine Grafton
Human Resources Director and Office Manager
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Ariana Miller
Black Renaissance Fund Director
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Willie Harrell II
Senior Accountant
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Germaine McIver-Cherry
Sr. Program Director
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Laudz Jean-Jacques
Sr. Program Director
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Richard B. Moore
Program Director / Consultant
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Somala Diby
Sr. Program Director
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Dr. Teresa McDonald
Program Director
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Marcus Long
Senior IT Network Specialist
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Iyanna Peoples
Marketing & Communications Associate
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Isis Pierre
Development Associate
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Nucdalie Cherident
Policy & Research Associate
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Hilen Flores
Executive Assistant
Policy & Research
We engage in public policy activities that strengthen Black-led CDFIs and positively impact the economic prosperity of African American populations nationwide.
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January 06, 2022
The Alliance MDBA Rural Business Center Comments
To achieve the goals of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the Alliance proposes that the agency collaborate with CDFIs with a proven track record of reaching communities of color in rural areas and rural areas with persistent poverty.Download PDF -
December 21, 2021
Small Business Lending Decline Letter
Download PDF -
November 16, 2021
SBA Direct Lending Program Letter
The Alliance co-authored a letter to the Chairs of the House and Senate Small Business Committees to express concern regarding the proposed SBA direct lending program Section 100502, titled “Funding for Credit Enhancement and Small Dollar Loan Funding.”Download PDF -
January 06, 2022
Comment on Proposed Rule “Small Business Lending Data Collection under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act"
The Alliance signed on to a letter supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposal to gather data and demographics on farm lending activity by financial institutions, including government-lending entities.Download PDF
Our Partners
Our funders and partners enable us to invest in our members to better fortify them to increase the impact they have in primarily Black communities.
