Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes and speaks on Black politics, social movements, and racial inequality in the United States.

She is the author of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership (University of North Carolina Press, 2019). Race for Profit was a semi-finalist for the 2019 National Book Award and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2020.

Her earlier book From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation (Haymarket Books, 2016) won the Lannan Cultural Freedom Award for an Especially Notable Book in 2016. She is also editor of How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective (Haymarket Books, 2012) which won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBQT nonfiction in 2018.

Taylor is Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. She was recently named a 2021 MacArthur Fellow.

Gustavo Quiroga leads the Neighborhood Strategy practice at GraffitoSP, a real estate development and urban design advisory firm in Boston focused on complex ground floor planning, activation, retail leasing, and branding for institutional landlords and developers.

Gustavo touches all aspects of Graffito’s work. He helps spearhead the firm’s neighborhood-scale planning and strategy work, supports clients’ community engagement efforts, and produces creative placemaking and temporary urbanism initiatives with small business, artists, and community partners. He also supports retail leasing work on select projects.

In 2021 Gustavo took a leave of absence from Graffito to serve as Transition Director for Kim Janey’s historic transition from City Council President to 55th Mayor of Boston.

Betty Francisco is an entrepreneur, business executive, attorney and community leader. She recently served as General Counsel at Compass Working Capital. Betty is a dedicated community leader who has been involved with a number of non-profit and civic leadership organizations. She is co-founder of Latina Circle, a Boston-based network that is advancing Latina leaders into positions of power and influence and which recently launched Amplify Latinx to increase Latino civic engagement and political representation. She is also an investor with Pipeline Angels, a network of women investors creating capital for women social entrepreneurs.

Jen Faigel is a co-founder of the former CropCircle Kitchen, now CommonWealth Kitchen, and stepped in as Executive Director in 2014. Jen is responsible for setting organizational strategy, raising funds, wrangling staff and businesses, developing and managing strategic partnerships, and generally managing the chaos. Jen's background is in real estate and community economic development. She was the lead real estate consultant for the $15 million Pearl project, which is now home to CWK's flagship kitchen operation. In her career, Jen has developed more than 400 affordable homes and over 225,000 SF of commercial real estate - worth over $200m - as a means to create jobs and economic opportunity. Her motto in life is- "If you can't ride two horse at the same time, then you shouldn't be in the circus!" Jen's all-time favorite food is white clam pizza from Pepe's in New Haven.

As CEO of ICIC, Steve leads a dynamic and growing team of professionals dedicated to achieving economic prosperity in America's inner cities. Steve is focused on setting ICIC's strategic direction, leading the organization through a period of rapid growth and extending ICIC's national visibility and brand. He directs ICIC's efforts to secure new partners and drive private sector engagement and investment.

Prior to joining ICIC, Steve was elected Treasurer of Massachusetts in 2010 and served in that position from 2011 until 2015. One of his principal achievements in that office was the creation of the Small Business Banking Partnership, a pioneering initiative that was responsible for moving almost $400 million of state deposits into community banks that used these funds to make more than 10,000 loans with a value of over $1.6 billion, with a principal focus on businesses owned by women, minorities, immigrants and veterans.

Prior to taking office, Steve served for 35 years as President of Grossman Marketing Group, a fourth-generation marketing communications firm started by his grandfather. Steve has been an active leader in many civic, philanthropic and political organizations. These positions include former board chair of Brandeis University, former national chairman of the Democratic National Committee, former president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), founding board member of MassInc and life trustee of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Edgard demonstrates A+ customer service to all his clients, by establishing trust and offers the tools his clients need to bank with dignity. He offers is clients that personal touch of service with a clear understanding of their financial outlook. The goal is to improve the way people conduct their banking by providing a convenient way to do so.

Edgard is also involved in various community efforts to include “Truth to the Youth” where he teaches teens and young adults on awareness of financial fitness, team building, education preparation and social responsibility.

As a veteran of The United States Army, Edgard is always giving back to the military community. He is spearheading an initiative he’s started called “From Recruit to Retirement”. Partnering with various military locations and VA installations to discuss with enlisted military members, veterans and retirees on financial literacy and benefits throughout their military career.

Katherine is currently serving as the Director of Economic Development at the Massachusetts Association of Community development Corporation. Katherine has been a fierce advocate for affordable housing and economic development for over 10 years. Her experience stems from working with the public, private and nonprofit sectors in Massachusetts. Katherine was born and raised in Boston and has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Pine Manor College.

Jason Andrade joined Compass in June 2018. As the Director of Financial Services, Jason is responsible for developing and leading culturally proficient financial coaching and education practices for Compass’ coaching staff and clients. Jason has worked for more than 10 years in the asset-building field with a focus on expanding access to free or low-cost high-quality financial advising and tax preparation services.

A native of the Bay State, Joel Wool has lived in Dorchester since 2011 and serves as Chief of Staff to the Boston Housing Authority. He has worked in the fields of environmental advocacy, housing, local government and public health. His neighborhood involvement includes serving on the board of the Dot House Health and support for the Dorchester Community Food Cooperative. He previously served as Policy Director for City Councilor Lydia Edwards after many years working on environmental justice and climate change. He is a graduate of Emerson College and Tufts University. Joel is also an alumnus of AmeriCorps and the JOIN for Justice Fellowship.

Vartika joined CONNECT as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2019. When COVID-19 hit midway through her VISTA year, she played a central role in setting up the CONNECT hotline and by strengthening partnerships with local organizations and municipalities developed a process that supports community members in accessing the emergency rental assistance funding provided by the State to prevent evictions. She was also fundamental in moving CONNECT’s VITA program from in-person to a fully virtual service approved by the IRS; one of the first tax sites in Greater Boston to reopen virtually after COVID-19. Her in-depth knowledge of both the State’s rental assistance program and VITA made her a great fit for the Financial Capabilities Manager position that she assumed at the end of her VISTA term in August 2020.

In her role as CONNECT’s Financial Capabilities Manager, Vartika has continued to expand the rental assistance / eviction prevention and VITA programs. She works closely with community partners, legal aid providers, and key stakeholders to help community members access resources and services so they can ultimately achieve financial stability.

Vartika received her B.S from Boston University and is a passionate advocate for policy changes that address systemic barriers disproportionately impacting those who are most vulnerable during a crisis.

Mimi Turchinetz is the Founder and Director of the Boston Tax Help Coalition and the Assistant Deputy Director for the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment. She created the Boston EITC Campaign in 2001 and has guided a coalition representing municipalities, businesses, regulators, and community-based organizations to effectively operate the Coalition since its inception. She also oversees several key OFE programs including the Bank On Boston initiative that provides integration opportunities for financial partners to open safe and affordable bank accounts for unbanked residents in conjunction with tax preparation and other services. Ms. Turchinetz is the co-chair of the Systems Change Working Group, a policy and advocacy committee of Boston Builds Credit, a collaborative impact citywide credit building initiative. Ms. Turchinetz is a lawyer and received her Juris Doctor from New England Law/Boston; she has been an ADA in Suffolk County and Staff Counsel for the Joint Insurance Committee at the Massachusetts State House. In 2010, she was named a “Woman of Justice” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Chi Chi Wu is a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center focusing on consumer credit issues, including legislative, administrative, and other advocacy. Chi Chi’s specialties include fair credit reporting, credit cards, refund anticipation loans, and medical debt. Before joining NCLC, Chi Chi worked in the Consumer Protection Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and the Asian Outreach Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services. Chi Chi is a graduate of Harvard Law School and The Johns Hopkins University.

Vanessa (Van) Randolph has diligently served in the financial services industry for over 25 years. In her current role, she strives to identify tangible and long-term solutions to help close minority homeownership gaps and address systemic racism in housing. She also works to expand sustainable, affordable homeownership and mortgage credit through the delivery of educational outreach and engagement with lenders, housing developers, and community-based partners. Van has held various positions related to mortgage originations, processing, underwriting, product development, and foreclosure prevention. In addition, she has a tremendous amount of experience in government regulatory oversight and consumer protection compliance. Her work has culminated in the formation of many broad-based partnerships and collaborations designed to promote the availability --and use-- of safe and responsible financial products and services; help increase access to capital for small business owners; and advance the economic inclusion agenda. Van holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administrative Services from the University of Toledo, Ohio and a Master of Science Degree in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Daphna Gluck is he Director of Program Evaluation in the Office of Economic Empowerment at the Massachusetts Treasurer’s Office, where is designs and executes evaluations of the various programs provided by the office. In addition, Daphna oversees community outreach efforts to promote Treasury’s CSA program, the BabySteps Savings Plan. Prior to her current role, Daphna served as a Research Consultant for OEE where she conducted a wide-scale study of the financial education offerings in the Massachusetts public school system. She previously worked as a senior attorney in the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Daphna holds, a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy from UMass Boston, as well as a Master of Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Sasha Abby VanDerzee (she/her/hers) is the Senior Program Manager for Boston Saves in the City of Boston. Before joining Boston Saves in August 2020, she worked as an independent consultant. She was the Lead Organizer on the Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America (REFCA) conference and overhauled the strategic hiring plan to recruit and hire a cohort of 150 Americorps' Teaching Fellows with Citizen Schools in MA, CA, and NY. She is the current Board President for Company One Theatre and volunteers with both her son's BPS school in Roxbury and with her undergraduate alma mater, Clark University. She earned a Doctorate in Education focused in Organizational Leadership & Communication from Northeastern University.

Christine Jauregui is Director of Community Relations for Inversant, a nonprofit working to make higher education attainable and affordable for everyone. As a marketing strategist and decision scientist, Christine has worked in non-profit, for-profit, and quasi-governmental organizations large and small. Outside of work, Christine serves on the boards of the Affinity Leadership Consortium, Prospanica Boston, Wellspring Multi-Service Centers, and is the Equal Opportunity and Outreach Officer for the Hull Democratic Town Committee. She earned a BA in Economics from Smith College and an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Anthonina is a HUD Certified Homeownership Advisor with Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Anthonina manages the First-Generation match savings program, teaches the First Time Homebuyers, Homeowners Landlord and Condo courses educating participants on tips that will allow them the necessary tools and insight to be successful in homeownership. She previously worked for the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) an organization that helps clean energy companies start, scale and succeed with unique business, innovation and policy leadership. As an advocate for energy efficient housing, she is excited about educating low to moderate income homeowners about clean energy technologies that will allow new homeowners save money on their energy bills while helping the Commonwealth meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. Anthonina is a graduate of Wheaton College. As a community activist for maternal and infant health, she aims to help families reach another goal – homeownership. She is a proud Boston native and fluent in Haitian Creole.

Evan Diamond is V.P., Financial Education Specialist at Cambridge Savings Bank. He has earned the title of Certified Financial Education Instructor from the National Financial Educators Council. Evan is passionate about helping members of all the communities that Cambridge Savings Bank serves take significant steps toward increasing their financial well-being. Of the 31 years that he has worked for the bank, the most recent 11 have proved the most rewarding to him. During that time, Evan and other employees have presented engaging live and virtual workshops and lessons to more than 32,000 individuals. Empowering so many program participants with critical money-management skills aligns with Cambridge Savings Bank’s “Always you” customer-centric approach.

Evan earned a degree in English Literature from Swarthmore College in 1985.

Jesse Kanson-Benanav is the Executive Director of Abundant Housing MA where he oversees all aspects of the organization's mission to stand up for abundant housing for all in communities across Massachusetts. Jesse brings to this role nearly 20 years experience in the affordable housing industry where he's worked as a community organizer, policy consultant, and most recently as a developer of affordable homes at a number nonprofits serving Massachusetts and New England. Outside his professional career, Jesse became active in the grassroots pro-housing movement in 2012 as founder of A Better Cambridge (ABC) where he served as chair until 2019. Jesse's work with ABC was recognized as a "Game Changer" in 2016 by the Boston Globe for its positive contributions to the local economy, and he was recognized as a "Rising Start" by Metro Housing Boston in 2019. Jesse is a graduate of Oberlin College and has a Master of City Planning Degree from MIT. He lives in Jamaica Plain, Boston, with his wife and toddler.