IASP Events

FDIC's Boston and Worcester Alliances for Economic Inclusion General Forum on Innovation in Savings and Wealth-Building

Brandeis University - May 21, 2008

The FDIC invited the Institute on Asset and Social Policy to join them in sponsoring a joint general forum of the Boston and Worcester Alliances for Economic Inclusion. As a part of a national initiative of the FDIC, the regional office has formed alliances in the cities of Boston and Worcester to improve the economic well-being of unbanked and underserved individuals and families, and foster mutually advantageous banking relationships with mainstream financial institutions. This general forum provided an opportunity to bring together representatives from over 60 financial institutions and community groups to examine what impacts the ability of low and moderate income families to begin to save.

Thomas Shapiro, IASP Director, joined Timothy Delessio, FDIC Community Affairs Officer, in welcoming participants at the joint general forum. Lisa Lynch, incoming Dean of the Heller School, presented opening remarks on “The Importance of Savings and Financial Security.” Peter Tufano, Professor of Financial Management and Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School, addressed "Financial Innovations to Support Savings: From Coercion to Excitement." The morning’s agenda also included the presentation “Wealth Inequity, Debt, and Savings: Implications for Policy and Financial Services” by Sandra Venner, IASP Program Director, summarizing the first year findings from research conducted for MASSCAP’s Asset Formation Initiative and the findings from focus groups conducted for IASP’s Massachusetts Asset Policy Initiative.

To learn more about the Alliance for Economic Inclusion national initiative and to contact the Boston FDIC office, visit http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/community/AEI/index.html.

Click here for the PowerPoint presentation by Sandra Venner. For more information, contact Sandra Venner at venner@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8688.