Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
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Finance Forward: Columbia, South Carolina

Note: This is a past event, additional resources may be available below.

Thu Jun 1, 2017
Columbia, SC 29201

Date

Thu Jun 1, 2017
2:00pm – 3:30pm EDT

Location

Columbia, SC 29201
The Bar Conference Center
1501 Park Street

Contact

    [email protected]

Hosts

  1. Financial Security Program

Income volatility and financial insecurity can take a devastating toll on our families and communities. We joined Mayor Steve Benjamin and a distinguished panel to discuss practical, innovative, private and public solutions to income volatility in Columbia and beyond.

This event brought together a panel of experts from multiple sectors to publicly share their understanding of income volatility and to discuss the most possible, practical, and promising solutions.

Panelists & Speakers:

  • Mayor Steve Benjamin, Columbia, South Carolina
  • Amelia Erwitt, Managing Director, CFE Fund
  • Clint Key, Research Officer, Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Sasha Orloff, CEO & Founder, LendUp
  • Wanda Pearson, Chief Programming Officer, The Cooperative Ministry
  • Ida Rademacher, Executive Director, The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program
  • Joanna Smith-Ramani, Program Director, EPIC

FinanceForward

is a new multi-city event series produced as part of Aspen EPIC that, for the first time, will bring together U.S mayors, businesses, community advocates, and nonprofit leaders to identify and advance innovative, actionable solutions to income volatility. A growing body of research shows that month-to-month income fluctuates wildly for low-and moderate-wage workers. This unpredictable income significantly impacts the financial lives of these individuals – making it hard for them to meet monthly expenses, save, pay down debt, qualify for a loan, or handle a major unexpected expense.

The financial insecurity that results from income volatility can take a devastating toll on families and their communities, with painful impacts that span everything from credit and health care access to education, housing and public utilities.

As one working parent put it, being able to make ends meet “just depends on my schedule. Sometimes I won’t get 35 [hours]. I’ll get 32. It’s a big difference! That’s $50 for food.”

The series aims to start a national dialogue that will shine a light on income volatility across a geographically and industrially diverse range of U.S. cities, with a goal of identifying innovative, practical solutions that can inspire action in communities across the country.

Our first stop is Columbia, South Carolina where Mayor Steve Benjamin will kick off the series.

The event will bring together a panel of experts from multiple sectors to publicly share their understanding of income volatility and to discuss the most possible, practical, and promising solutions. Featured speakers will include experts from:

  • Aspen Institute Financial Security Program
  • Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Urban Institute
  • Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund
  • The Cooperative Ministry
  • LendUp

Register now to attend and check back soon for more details around speakers and special guests.