S3 Ep8 | What does Artificial Intelligence (AI) have to do with financial activism? And what should investors know as the field continues to evolve? This episode Renegade is joined by Katy Knight, President & Executive Director, Siegel Family Endowment and Deepti Doshi, Co-Director, New_Public to learn more about AI and innovation in this field. Our guests share how leveraging technology for the public good is a critical part of building inclusive access to information, education, and wealth-building opportunities.

About Deepti.
Deepti Doshi is a community organizer who has been working at the intersection of social change, social media, and leadership development across the private, non-profit and public sectors. As a Director at Meta, Deepti helped establish the New Product Experimentation team and created the Community Partnerships team. She founded Haiyya, India’s largest community organizing platform; Escuela Nueva India, an education company that serves the urban poor; the Fellows Program at Acumen Fund to build leaders for the social enterprise sector.

About Katy.
Katy Knight is President and Executive Director of Siegel Family Endowment, a foundation focused on the nexus of technology and society. Beginning as Deputy Executive Director in 2017, she has pioneered an inquiry-driven approach to philanthropy, grounded in the scientific method and centered on reframing big questions and learning alongside grantees. Katy has been recognized for her leadership in Crain's Notable Black Leaders in 2022, and City & State’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in 2015. She previously led Community Engagement at Two Sigma and held positions on Google’s Communications and Public Affairs teams, where she acted as a liaison to stakeholders in local government, communities, and nonprofits.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips
A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to help you prepare for the future of AI and investing.

• Be patient. Whether you are a funder, investor, or everyday activist, this work requires thoughtfulness and patience from everyone involved. That means patient capital, taking time to collect the right input, and thinking long term.
• Embrace duality. The future of technology can feel both exciting and terrifying, and we have to get comfortable with the fact that there are many possibilities. Find the reasons to be optimistic AND ask the hard questions that will push change for the better.
• Find ways to use and support tech for public good. Deepti and Katy shared several resources for our listeners to use technology in informed and inclusive ways.
  • New_Public Digital Spaces Directory
  • Siegel Family Endowment: TechCongress
  • Siegel Family Endowment: Public Interest Technology Case Studies

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This week Renegade Capital features a special guest episode from the Progressive Pockets Podcast! Hosted by Genet G.G. Gimja, Progressive Pockets is a podcast at the intersection of social impact and money that covers questions of how we might spend, donate, and invest more in line with our values.

In this episode, they talk about ways to line up our values and our money. When we think about the things that keep us up at night. Whether that’s climate change, or homelessness, or the systematic oppression of our communities, we usually talk about how we can claim our power when we vote. Some of us might protest, or organize ourselves in other ways. But what about….our money?

Where do we bank, where do we shop, where do we donate?

Whether you call it:

• Impact Investing
• Ethical Investing
• Socially responsible investing
• Sustainable Investing, or
• Values- Aligned investing

You have probably come across the term "ESG" when looking for investments that line up with your values. Often you may hear the abbreviation used as a shorthand for "socially responsible" investing. But this is a gross misunderstanding of what ESG really means!

Links

• MSCI ESG Ratings Explained- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79rZm7FCkOU
• Sustainalytics What is ESG?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwGmtThiwII
• An Institutional Approach to Gender Diversity and Firm Performance by Letian Zhang- https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=55194
• What MSCI’s ESG Ratings are and are not- https://www.msci.com/our-solutions/esg-investing/esg-ratings/what-esg-ratings-are-and-are-not

This episode was originally published here on Progressive Pockets.

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S3 Ep7 | What does it really mean to invest in social justice, and how do we know it’s making a difference? And is it something everyone can do? In this episode, Rachel Robasciotti, Founder & CEO of Adasina Social Capital, joins us to share how they have answered these questions. We’ll talk about how Rachel and Adasina combine data and financial activism to make social justice investing accessible for everyday investors.

About Rachel.
Rachel J. Robasciotti is the CEO and Founder of Adasina Social Capital, an investment and financial activism firm that serves as a critical bridge between financial markets and social justice movements. Rachel’s passion for social justice investing is rooted in her background as a Black, queer woman and growing up in a community that struggled for safety and financial security within a rural town that was largely segregated. Rachel is a fierce advocate for social justice in the financial industry and is regularly featured in the media as a leader in the field for integrating issues of racial, gender, economic, and climate justice into investment portfolios.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.

A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to help you invest for social justice.

• Review your investments. The best place to start is to take a look under the hood of your existing investments and accounts. The BRIDGE platform, created by Adasina and social justice partners, is a great place to see how your portfolio stacks up according to social justice criteria.
• Stay informed. Follow organizations like Adasina to stay up-to-date on legislation and the economy are impacting social justice issues.
• Invest in the Adasina ETF. Adasina’s ETF is easy for anyone to invest in, a one stop shop for social justice investing. You can learn more about the product here.

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S3 Ep6 | The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with almost 2.2 million people in prison, and 1 in 7 Americans have an immediate family member incarcerated for more than a year. And yet the prison-industrial complex remains a robust, well-funded system. The right data gives us not only a picture of the dire state of incarceration, but a powerful tool to invest in social change. In this episode, Tanay Tatum-Edwards, Founder & CEO of FreeCap Financial, shares how social justice-informed financial data can help investors take real action against mass incarceration.

About Tanay.
Tanay Tatum-Edwards is the founder and CEO of FreeCap Financial, Inc, a research company that provides investors and money managers with intelligent, social-justice oriented data to equip individuals and collectives with the tools they need to enact positive change in this world. Before FreeCap, she developed a lifelong commitment to using investment strategies to create systemic social change while working in asset management. Tanay has multiple loved ones impacted by mass incarceration and is committed to using her expertise to address it. Prestigious fellowships have supported her work, including Echoing Green, Fulbright, Halcyon Incubator, and Roddenberry Foundation.

Tanay regularly shares insights from FreeCap’s research at events, including SOCAP, Confluence Philanthropy, Stanford University, Vassar College, Tufts University, Georgetown University, and Yale University. Her thought leadership has been spotlighted in major news outlets, including MarketWatch. A foodie, NBA fan, and lover of hip-hop, Tanay received an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where her classmates elected her commencement speaker, and a B.A. in Africana Studies & Sociology from Vassar College, where she served as student body president.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.

A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to help you use your investments to fight mass incarceration.

• Check if your investments are incarceration-free. As You Sow has a great resource to see if your 401k or personal portfolio is prison-free. You can also share this resource with your advisor and ask questions about other ways to decarcerate your investments. They also have some great suggestions as part of the Prison-Free Action Toolkit.
• Join the Waitlist for FreeCap’s Free Prison Risk Index. FREE is an index that makes it possible to invest in companies who lead in fair chance hiring and disrupt the prison industrial complex. The index will be made up of FreeCap’s highest rated companies and will be the first of its kind to incorporate a companies’ fair chance hiring practices and prison risk mitigation efforts. Join the waitlist

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S3 Ep5 | To “MacGuyver” something is to use something in an inventive way, using what you have in a creative way to repair or make something new. In the context of finance, traditional capital systems don’t always work with the resources we have on hand, so many of us find ways to “MacGuyver” money to fit our needs as best we can. In this episode, Lakota Vogel shares how Four Bands Community Fund finds inventive solutions to make products and services that work for local Indigenous communities. Four Bands translates the traditional Lakota values of self-sufficiency, wise resource management, and a spirit of entrepreneurship into practical applications for today’s modern economy.

About Lakota.
Lakota Vogel is the Executive Director at Four Bands. In this role, Lakota provides leadership for Four Bands, establishes new and fosters existing partnerships, and leads and manages efforts to reach organizational goals. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, Lakota served as the Assistant Director at Four Bands for five years. Before Four Bands, Lakota taught on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation at Todd County High School with Teach for America. Lakota obtained a BA in Sociology at the University of Notre Dame and an MA in Social Work Degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Lakota also completed a summer fellowship with National Congress of American Indians, served on the Native American Alumni Board of Directors at the University of Notre Dame, and initiated program evaluations at the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. In recognition of her leadership, initiative, and dedication, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development named Lakota as part of its 2018 class of “Native American 40 under 40.” Currently, Lakota serves on USDA’s Equity Commission and sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ board of directors. Lakota is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.
A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to support financial solutions that work for Indigenous communities.

• Challenge Your Assumptions About Risk. It’s easy to rely on our pre-existing notions of financial concepts like risk, without stopping to wonder if those definitions really work for everyone. Don’t just rely on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to challenge the status quo. Stop to ask questions about the community you’re investing in, their needs, and the value they bring to the deal.
• Learn About Other Financial Systems. In order to find creative capital solutions, we can look to other cultures and communities for inspiration. Get educated on the values and history of native communities and what institutions like Four Bands Community Fund are doing to serve their clients.
• Offer Your Time and Expertise. Once you have learned more, find a place to serve as a volunteer, board member, or advisory committee member. Offer your networks and your voice to support Indigenous communities from a leadership position.

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S3 Ep4 | Climate change is impacting not only our oceans and ozone, but our own cities and homes. That means there are environmental, economic, and social repercussions that we have to start thinking about today. Investing in climate resilience means finding ways to prepare people and communities for our climate-changed world. In this episode, Andrew Crosson and Baylen Campbell from Invest Appalachia share how they are using the existing strengths of Central Appalachia and economic development to create a climate-resilient region.

About Invest Appalachia.
Invest Appalachia is a regional blended capital platform, designed to accelerate and expand community investment across Central Appalachia.

About Andrew.
As Invest Appalachia’s founding CEO, Andrew (he/him/his) is responsible for overall strategy and impact. Andrew has been integral to the planning and design of IA since its inception. Previously, Andrew worked for 9 years with Rural Support Partners to advance community economic development in Appalachia, leading major initiatives related to local food systems development, clean energy, impact investing, network development, non-profit management, and strategic planning. Andrew was born and raised on a family farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

0:00 Host Discussion
5:59 Guest Interview Starts
43:24 Host Wrap Up

About Baylen.
Baylen Campbell (he/him/his) is Invest Appalachia’s Director of Community Impact. Originally from and based in Hazard, Kentucky Baylen brings experience working as an economic development and social impact practitioner. In partnership with the Community Advisory Council Baylen leads IA's Catalytic Capital development, deployment, and community accountability. Additionally, he manages IA's impact measurement, policy research, and partnership development with a focus on capacity building. He is passionate about utilizing strategic communications and storytelling to shift outdated narratives of Appalachia.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.
A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to support climate resilience with your dollars.

• Learn about the Climate Impact in Appalachia. Invest Appalachia has released a new report on Climate Resilience in Central Appalachia which is packed with data about the impact of climate change in the region and the opportunities for investor engagement.
• Bring a Climate Lens to Everything. The impact of Climate change isn’t limited to environmental work, it will affect all of our work. Whatever your role or investment focus, climate should be part of your approach.
• Invest in Climate Resilience. If you’re an institutional investor or grantor, you can find place-based projects like Invest Appalachia who are already working on climate resilience in their communities. Individuals can learn more about initiatives local to their own cities to see how they can support climate resilience at home.

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S3 Ep 3 | According to a new study, Black and Hispanic real estate developers together make up less than 1 percent of their industry. This gap in the real estate industry isn’t just a representation crisis, it’s also a huge missed opportunity – the study estimates a more diverse industry could create more than $100 billion in new revenue. Investing in systemic change could close this gap and actually bring lasting economic growth to many communities. US Bancorp Impact Finance, a subsidiary of US Bank, has taken a lead role in addressing systemic issues by investing in community development across the nation. In this episode Miranda Walker, US Bancorp’s Affordable Housing Impact Capital Manager, shares how they are creatively working with CDFIs and BIPOC led developers to uplift local communities.

About Miranda.
Miranda Walker joined U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance in 2022. In her role as impact capital manager, Miranda focuses on deploying capital to emerging developers of color. Prior to joining U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, she managed the development of affordable housing in the Twin Cities. Her nearly 15 years of development experience involved feasibility analyses, site acquisition, entitlement, design development, construction management, financial modeling, tax credit application and financing, and permanent financing conversion. In addition to her affordable housing work, Miranda has served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Brooklyn Park and as a volunteer for Hands On Twin Cities and Habitat for Humanity. Currently, she serves on the board of Alliance Housing and provides advisory support for Twin Cities LISC. Miranda earned a B.A. in Studies of Cinema and Media Culture and a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.

A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode for taking action to increase diversity in real estate development.

• Invest in diverse and emerging developers: There are opportunities for investors at every level to use capital to support diverse and emerging real estate developers. Everyday investors can open accounts and place deposits with banks that drive this work, like US Bank and local CDFIs. Institutional investors, other developers, and philanthropists can look for partners and initiatives already committed to this work.
• Find the diverse developers in your community: Grove has published a map and directory of Black and Hispanic developers to assist those who want to connect and do business with these developers. Learn about the ongoing work in your own community and stay up to date on the current issues they face.
• Invest With US Bancorp Impact Finance: If your organization wants to expand its investment portfolio to include real estate that supports developers and communities of color, contact US Bancorp Impact Finance to learn how you can drive systemic change.

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S3 Ep1| After a year where The Barbie Movie, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce have all broken records in the entertainment industry, the world has gotten a glimpse of the economic power of women. According to the US Department of State, the financial contributions of women are vital for achieving a more stable and secure financial system. In this episode guests Beth Bafford and Anna Mabrey from Calvert Impact share why investing in gender equity is not just good for women – it's good for business and good for society.


About Calvert Impact.
Calvert Impact is a nonprofit investment firm that has helped thousands of people and institutions channel over $2 billion in impact investments to social enterprises throughout the US and around the world.

About Anna.
As Director on the Investor Relations team at Calvert Impact, Anna’s goal is to collaborate with institutional investors and Financial Advisors, using the Community Investment Note and across asset classes, to build the impact investing space and make a more sustainable and equitable world.

About Beth.
Beth leads Calvert Impact Capital's strategy and new business development efforts to build financial products and services that accelerate private capital for the benefit of communities in the US and around the world. She leads the organization’s syndications and structuring practice and oversees corporate strategy, communications and impact management and measurement. Beth serves on the Advisory Board for the CASE Initiative on Impact Investing (CASEi3) at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, the Investment Committee for the Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation, the Impact Investment Committee for the Baltimore Community Foundation, the Advisory Board of Higher Ground Labs, and the Board of Founders First Capital Partners. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and four young children.

Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.
A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to invest in women's economic power.

• Build confidence through resources: There are many resources and communities available that can help you become more confident in your financial skills.
• Review your current portfolio and consider investing in products that support women.
• Support the Fearless Fund and donate to The Fearless Foundation.
• Openly discuss money with the women and girls in your life.

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