The 2008
Iowa/Nebraska NAACP State Conference of Branches’ Economic
Empowerment Conference (EEC) was planned for 2 years and
successfully implemented on September 19, 2008 with a
registration of more than 100 executives, managers, and
specialists from business, community-based, government, and
education entities. The EEC was sponsored by the Bankers Trust
Company, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Finance
Authority, Iowa Workforce Development, and Iowa State
University.
Briefly, the
purpose of the EEC was to bring major economic forces in Iowa
together in order to research and present the most recent policy
and program information regarding how minorities and low-income
participate in Iowa’s economy with reference to employment,
housing, and small business. The EEC was presented through the
utilization of workshops focusing on the following topics:
-
Understanding
Minority Participation in the Iowa Economy as presented by
David Swenson, Associate Scientist, Department of Economics,
Iowa State University
-
Connecting
with Your Local One-Stop Center as presented by Lori Adams,
Administrator, Division of Workforce Centers, Iowa Workforce
Development.
-
Expanding
Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities as presented by
Irene Hardisty, Director of Single-Family Housing
Production, Iowa Finance Authority.
-
Foreclosure
Prevention in Iowa as presented by Patrick Madigan,
Assistant Attorney General, Iowa Attorney General’s Office
and Stephanie Preusch, Executive Director, Iowa Home
Ownership Education Project.
-
Iowa Targeted
Small Business Assistance Programs as presented by Donna
Lowery, Program Manager of Targeted Small Business Financial
Assistance Program.
-
State
Government Employment as presented by Law Professor Russell
Lovell, Drake University.
The workshops
were followed by an Executive Luncheon where participants were
treated to a very interesting presentation by Suku Radia,
President of the Bankers Trust Company, as he explained how
cultural diversity is playing an increasing role in Iowa’s
economy and how we must continue to find ways to capitalize on
our state’s changing demographics.
During the next
several months, the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP State Conference of
Branches will do an in-depth study of the planning,
organization, and implementation of the EEC and post updates on
this web site as to our findings. Meanwhile, we are now
providing you with the content of the EEC workshops (just click
on each workshop icon to obtain the information that was
presented). Please use the information to make a difference in
your community!
We are also
providing you with some pictures taken at the EEC to provide you
some visual tidbits as well.
If you would like
to comment on the information thus far presented, please
and let us hear from you.
Click on the
items below to learn more about the 2008 EEC activities.
Click here to view the Summary Report:
2008 Economic Empowerment Conference
