Interviews with City Officials: Becoming a CDFI Friendly Community
In August and September of 2023, we hosted a series of interviews with mayors, city officials, and community leaders to discuss their experience working with CDFI Friendly America and the effects the CDFI Friendly process had on their cities. All of these leaders played a pivotal role in making their community CDFI Friendly. Watch to learn about the unique challenges and approaches in each city.
Bloomington, Indiana
At the time of this interview (September 18th, 2023), John Hamilton was the current mayor of Bloomington, Indiana. John had prior experience with CDFIs and knew that there were unmet financing needs in Bloomington that CDFIs could address. Before CDFI Friendly America was created, John called upon Mark Pinsky to help create a CDFI to meet some of the needs. Instead, together with the Community Foundation of Bloomington, they developed the first CDFI Friendly community.
Bloomington, Indiana
Tina Peterson is the President and CEO of Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County in Indiana. Tina was very involved in the creation of CDFI Friendly Bloomington and has been on the Board of Directors since 2019.
Fort Worth, Texas
Christina Brooks is the Chief Equity Officer and Director of the Diversity & Inclusion Department for the City of Fort Worth, Texas. Christina was instrumental in bringing CDFI Friendly to Fort Worth and served on the Steering Committee for CDFI Friendly Fort Worth during its start-up year. Christina previously held the role of Diversity and Inclusion Officer and LGBTQ Liaison for the city of South Bend, Indiana, where she also championed the creation of CDFI Friendly South Bend.
South Bend, Indiana
At the time CDFI Friendly South Bend was initiated, James Mueller was working in the Department of Community Investment under Mayor Pete Buttigieg, focused on economic engagement and empowerment within South Bend. They saw the creation of CDFI Friendly Bloomington and realized it would be a great way to approach economic development in South Bend’s underserved communities. James Mueller then became Mayor, where he has continued to support the efforts to bring more CDFIs into the region.
Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor Mattie Parker of Fort Worth, Texas supported the efforts to bring CDFI Friendly to Fort Worth. Mayor Parker and Fort Worth’s City Council tasked the Economic Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion departments with using the city’s ARPA funding to increase economic development and address unmet financing needs. The departments teamed up to work with CDFI Friendly America and create CDFI Friendly Fort Worth.
