Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap is an informational podcast focused on issues and opportunities related to the racial wealth/equity gap and economic challenges facing Black Americans.

Through the CEO Action for Racial Equity (CEOARE) Economic Empowerment Platform, our goal is to develop and promote sustainable economic policies and catalyze corporate engagement strategies that empower Black Americans with equitable opportunities to amass, maintain, and pass on wealth.

This podcast educates CEOARE stakeholders on economic empowerment matters relevant to Black Americans across all three platform solutions – Community Development Financial Institutions, Business Diversity and Fair Chance Hiring. Tune in to the latest episodes of “Closing the Gap” below.

A Look Ahead for CEOARE’s Business Diversity Team

This episode features Tricia Parolo and James “Doc” Dockery, CEO Action for Racial Equity fellows. During the conversation Doc discusses current fellowship activities that can help educate Signatory organizations on the impact of the fair inclusion of Black-owned businesses in an organization’s procurement practices and the direction of the team moving forward.

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Meet Supplier Diversity Professionals and CEOARE Fellows Chris Stanley and Randy Brown

In a conversation led by CEO Action for Racial Equity (CEOARE) Fellow Alejandra Alanis, hear about the current challenges and changes happening in the Supplier Diversity profession. The episode also features CEOARE Fellows Chris Stanley (VP Global Supplier Diversity at State Street) and Randy Brown (Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity at Denny’s).

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Meet Dafina Williams from Opportunity Finance Network

Dafina Williams, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), and Aaron Matthias-Long, former Fellow, CEO Action for Racial Equity, talk about the value and importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the role these specialized institutions can play in building community wealth.

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Meet Lenwood Long from the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs

Lenwood Long, President and CEO, African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, and Tania Makker, former Fellow, CEO Action for Racial Equity, discuss the value and importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the role these specialized institutions play in building community wealth.

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Meet Dimitrius Hutcherson from First Independence Bank

Dimitrius Hutcherson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Technology Officer, First Independence Bank, and Byron Gibbs, Fellow, CEO Action for Racial Equity, talk about the value and importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the role these specialized institutions can play in building community wealth.

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Meet John Holdsclaw IV from Rochdale Capital
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John Holdsclaw IV, President & CEO, Rochdale Capital, and Bea Gatebuke, Fellow, CEO Action for Racial Equity, discuss the value and importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the role these specialized institutions can play in building community wealth.

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Meet Donna Gambrell from Appalachian Community Capital

A focused conversation on Appalachian Community Capital’s mission of promoting small business development throughout the Appalachian region. Learn about actions that corporations take to support and strengthen CDFIs.

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Meet Colleen Hafner from St. Louis-based Rise Community Development

Hear about the value and importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the role these specialized institutions play in building community wealth. Discussion points include business success stories, Rise and its mission of revitalizing St. Louis communities, and the future of CDFIs.

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CEO Action for Racial Equity

The Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind, business-led initiative working to advance racial equity through public policy.