CGI America Attendees Make 79 New Commitments to Action to Impact Lives of More Than 1.6 Million People in the United States

-

New commitments developed by leaders at fifth annual CGI America Meeting include efforts to increase access to educational and employment opportunities, connect small businesses with capital, advance clean energy solutions, support sustainable infrastructure, and more

Clinton Global Initiative to hold its sixth annual CGI America meeting in Atlanta, Georgia next June

Denver, CO – June 11, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, President Bill Clinton concluded the fifth annual Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) meeting, which convened nearly 1,000 leaders from business, foundation, NGO, and government sectors to advance solutions that encourage economic growth, support long-term competitiveness, and increase social mobility in the United States. Attendees made 79 new Commitments to Action that, when fully funded and implemented, will positively impact the lives of more than 1.6 million people in the United States.

“These past two days have reinforced for me, more than ever, that when you strip away all the little things that divide us, you can see just how tied together we all are,” said President Clinton. “And, most importantly, you have done so with a bias for action and a relentless focus on the future. Because of your efforts, more than 1.6 million people will be better off.”

Throughout the two-day working meeting, attendees collaborated to develop dynamic approaches for solving some of the nation’s most critical challenges by sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and generating Commitments to Action—new, specific, and measurable plans for addressing significant challenges. Among the 79 new commitments announced are programs to provide low-income and subprime consumers with alternatives to predatory loans; a project to train 500 tribal members to install and maintain solar energy systems on the Navajo Nation; and a coordinated effort to improve job quality for domestic care workers by asking employers to commit to a short list of key job quality standards for their employees.

When fully funded and implemented, new 2015 CGI America commitments will ensure that:

  • Nearly 210,000 jobs will be created or filled.
  • More than 126,000 girls and women will be positively impacted by programs to improve quality of education, increase access to employment and skills development opportunities, and invest in women as stewards of community health.
  • More than $11.3 million of new capital will be invested in or loaned to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
  • More than 111,000 students will gain access to STEM education opportunities.
  • More than 1.2 million people will receive access to training programs, either formal or informal (includes skills development, financial literacy, capacity building, and leadership development)
  • More than 160,000 educators will participate in professional development programs, equipping participants with effective educational tools.
  • More than 120,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents will be avoided.

Since its establishment in 2011, CGI America participants have made more than 500 commitments, which have improved the lives of nearly 2.4 million people. As a result of previously made commitments, more than 920,000 people have benefitted from professional skills training; more than 500,000 children have gained access to improved quality of education; nearly $1.2 billion of new capital has been invested or loaned to small and medium size enterprises; and nearly 4.1 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses have been avoided.

In the Closing Session, President Clinton thanked Mayor Michael Hancock of Denver for hosting CGI America in Denver for the last two years, before welcoming Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta to announce that the Clinton Global Initiative will hold its sixth annual CGI America meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 2016. Commitments to Action already underway in the state tackle critical challenges in infrastructure, education, workforce development, and more. Looking forward, 2016 CGI America attendees coming together in Atlantawill continue to join together to positively impact people’s lives in communities across the nation.

Following the 2015 CGI America meeting, look for more commitment announcements and catch up on sessions and panels you missed on our website, as well as CGI Conversations filmed for air and moderated by CNN on “The Business Case for Investing in America’s Workforce” and Bloomberg TV on “Tequity: Innovation, Technology, and Diversity.” Please follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook atfacebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative. The event hashtag is #CGIAmerica.

Support for CGI America 2015 is generously provided by Banc of California, American Federation of Teachers, CA Technologies, The Kresge Foundation, Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Toyota Motors North America, CH2M, Cheniere Energy, The Coca-Cola Company, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Noble Energy, APCO Worldwide, and Diageo.

The following new commitments and progress reports were announced at CGI America 2015:

Improving Disaster Resilience & Recovery in the US
Commitment By: Toyota; St. Bernard Project (SBP)
Partners: Corporation for Community and National Service (CNCS)

In 2015, Toyota and St. Bernard Project (SBP) are committing to improve the way America prepares for and responds to natural disasters. Through a three-year, five million dollar investment from Toyota, SBP will expand the scope of its existing Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lab. In addition, Toyota will support the training of 140 AmeriCorps members each year in the Toyota Production System philosophy. The Corporation for Community and National Service (CNCS), which administers AmeriCorps, will partner to support SBP’s post-disaster rebuilding training, which will be available at no cost to grantees engaged in disaster recovery work. As a result, 30 communities will be trained to understand and mitigate risk, and a total of 420 AmeriCorps members will receive training from Toyota over the course of this commitment.

Churches Investing in Microbusiness
Commitment By: Criterion Institute
Partners: Association for Enterprise Opportunity; Christian Theological Seminary; Episcopal City Mission; Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Kiva Zip; Sunrise Community Banks; Village Capital

In 2012, Criterion Institute committed to mobilize 1,000 churches and their congregations to each invest up to $5,000 in a local business, which will improve livelihoods and in turn support businesses in harder to reach communities. Today, their regional coordinators in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, and San Francisco have recruited 40 church congregations. With another 200 congregations and at least four new cities in the pipeline, Criterion Institute and their partners are well on their way to investing in 1,000 businesses by 2018.

Unleashing the Power of One in Three
Commitment By: Association for Enterprise Opportunity; Daria Shehaan
Partners: American Dream Fund; Citi Foundation; Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence; Grameen Foundation; Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Inc.; Mercy Corps; On Deck Capital; Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN); Sam’s Club; Wal-Mart Corporate Affairs

In 2011, Association for Enterprise Opportunity committed to unlock the job creation potential of microbusiness owners and aspiring entrepreneurs through the One in Three Campaign – which engages in public awareness raising, business model innovations, and funding. Today, their business model pilot has originated more than $1 million in microloans and with the support from the Sam’s Club Giving Program, will deploy a total of $10 million by the end of 2016. To get them there, Association for Enterprise Opportunity and their partners will use cross-sector collaborations, technology, and capital from their newly launched DreamFund, created so that entrepreneurs can access lower-cost credit products, grow profitably, employ others, and contribute to vibrant communities.

Improving Access to Responsible Credit Via Technology
Commitment By: Emerge Financial Wellness
Partners: Catalyst Miami; Empowering and Strengthening Ohios People (ESOP); LogicFI

In 2014, Emerge Financial Wellness, with LogicFI, committed to provide unbanked and underbanked Americans in low income communities across the U.S. with access to affordable and responsible small personal loans and credit products. They committed to do this through a web program that would provide online loan applications, an automated underwriting platform, and near real-time decisions – simplifying the lending process for these consumers. Today, their system is currently undergoing beta testing with three existing lenders, and they have already facilitated over 5,000 loan applications and disbursed more than $600,000 in small loans, empowering more individuals with the financial freedom to move forward with their lives and prosper.

State of Hawaii Energy Efficiency Performance Contracting 
Commitment By: State of Hawaii
Partners: Airports Division, Hawaii DOT; City and County of Honolulu; County of Kauai; University of Hawaii at Hilo

In 2013, the State of Hawaii committed to expand their existing investment in energy savings performance contracting by updating its state and county buildings and facilities. Over the past two years, the State of Hawaii has invested more than $168 million in energy savings projects. This brings their cumulative investment to $315 million, which has resulted in over 10 million tons of avoided greenhouse gas emissions, and an estimated $830 million in energy cost savings for their state.

Hawaii Statewide Modern Grid-Workforce Training Development
Commitment By: State of Hawaii
Partners: University of Hawaii; Honolulu Community College; Hawaii Natural Energy Institute; Hawaiian Electric Industries; Blue Planet Foundation

In 2015, the State of Hawaii, with the University of Hawaii, is committing to launch The Hawaii Statewide Modern Grid-Workforce Training Deployment, a statewide curriculum and technical training program for the next generation of skilled smart grid technicians, electrical engineers, and managers. This effort will prepare Hawaii’s workforce to deploy advanced metering infrastructure by 2020, and achieve their 100 percent renewable energy mandate by 2045.

Seeding Puerto Rico’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs 
Commitment By: Popular, Inc.
Partners: AARP; Alianza para la Educación en Economía y Finanzas Personales; Anna G. Mendez University System; Catholic University of Puerto Rico; Centro Unido de Detallistas; Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico; conPRmetidos; El Nuevo Día; Foundation for Puerto Rico; Guayacan Group; Iniciativa Tecnológica Centro Oriental; Iniciativa Tecnológica del Este; Inter-American University of Puerto Rico; Microsoft; MindChemist; Puerto Rico Museum of Art; Puerto Rico Products Association; Puerto Rico TechnoEconomic Corridor

In 2013, Banco Popular committed to increase participation in the entrepreneurial sector of Puerto Rico’s economy by supporting the Echar Pa’lante Collective Impact Initiative’s (EPL) after-school programs, mentorship opportunities, and skills-based training for students, teachers, and university professors in Puerto Rico. Today, 287 public school teachers and 123 university professors have received their first entrepreneur training certification, and more than 2,300 teachers have completed EPL’s financial education program. The Department of Education has allocated more than $500,000 in funding to support the program in 30 cities and schools, reaching around 10,000 students, who have started over 100 micro-enterprises.

Banks and Community Leaders Collaborating for California’s Benefits
Commitment By: Banc of California
Partners: California Reinvestment Coalition; Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

In 2015, Banc of California – along with the 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, and the California Reinvestment Coalition – is committing to create a public welfare fund with at least twelve other leading banks. Banc of California will utilize the expertise of that state’s community leaders to evaluate investment opportunities based on the prospective benefits they offer to low- and moderate-income communities. Over the next three years, the $200 million in capital raised by their fund will be deployed with a focus on affordable housing, community development, small and micro business lending, and asset building and financial education. In doing so, banks will better be able to address the needs of historically underserved communities in California.

Campaign for Every Kid’s Future
Commitment By: Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED)
Partners: National League of Cities, Senator Chris Coons, Utah Education Savings Plan, I Have A Dream Foundation, Kansas University, Washington University in St. Louis, The Harold Alfond Scholarship Fund, Office of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Colorado Department of Human Services, City of St. Louis, City of San Francisco

In 2015, Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), along with their partners, is committing to launch the Campaign for Every Kid’s Future to ensure that 1.4 million children have savings set aside for college by the year 2020. In their quest to make sure that one day every kid in America has a Child Savings Account (CSA), CFED will assist local and state agencies in advocating, designing, and raising matching dollars for CSA programs through an online platform. The campaign aims to support programs in 25 cities across the country, as they work to close the financial and aspirational gap of children aiming to turn their college dreams into reality.

Wash Time is Talk Time: Early Literacy Promotion in Laundromats
Commitment By: Coin Laundry Association (CLA); Too Small to Fail
Partners: Laundry Project; Jumpstart; University of Arkansas; First 5 Alameda County (F5AC); Encore.org

In 2015, the Coin Laundry Association (CLA) and Too Small to Fail are committing to help nearly 800 parents engage in talk time with their children, at 5,000 laundromats in underserved communities across the country. With the average visit taking around two hours, laundry time offers a valuable, yet often overlooked opportunity for parents to engage in language-rich activities with their children. Talking, reading, and singing are critical to early childhood brain development and language skills later in life. Too Small to Fail will create bilingual English and Spanish toolkits and booklets with resources to help parents, laundromat owners, and community volunteers use their everyday time, as talk time.

Play Time is Talk Time: Early Literacy in Playgrounds
Commitment By: Shane’s Inspiration
Partners: Landscape Structures, Inc. (LSI); Too Small to Fail (TSTF)

In 2015, Shane’s Inspiration, in partnership with Landscape Structures, Inc. and Too Small to Fail, is committing to develop 20 new “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” themed playgrounds in resource-poor settings nationwide, as well as a new educational playgrounds booklet, which will reach almost 1,000 families. The playground signs and panels – which will reach an estimated 36,000 visitors per playground each year – will incorporate visuals and messages designed to boost a child’s early brain development by prompting fun, vocabulary-rich conversations, stories, and songs while adults and children play together.

Changing Youth Perceptions of STEM through Creative Writing 
Commitment By: Time Warner Cable Inc.
Partners: 826 National; Coalition for Science After School

In 2012, Time Warner Cable, along with 826 National and the Coalition for Science Afterschool, committed to pilot a STEM-based creative writing workshop that would engage students in a fun, hands-on exploration of science, and serve as a springboard to further explore STEM subjects and careers. Today, these partners have completed two summer workshops with 60 participants, more than 90 percent of whom came from public schools is Los Angeles and New York City. Students were inspired to write short stories, poems, and essays, demonstrating how science can ignite a child’s imagination and open their minds to the exciting opportunities that await if they choose to pursue a career in the STEM fields.

Expanding the Reach of STEM and Creative Writing 
Commitment By: YMCA
Partners: Time Warner Cable; 826 National

In 2014, YMCA of the USA teamed up with Time Warner Cable and 826 National to increase the number of students choosing to pursue STEM field studies and careers across the country, by committing to take 826 National’s existing STEM and Creative Writing curriculum and pilot it in five YMCA locations across the country. As one of the nation’s largest youth development organizations, the YMCA is well-positioned to deliver this programming to around 200,000 young people. In just one summer, these pilots engaged nearly 700 students in science-themed creative writing activities to boost their interest and competency in STEM and improve their awareness and perceptions of STEM careers.

More Hopeful Futures Initiative
Commitment By: Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR)
Partners: Cedar Valley United Way; R.J. McElroy Trust; Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo; Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque; David and Laura Merage Foundation; United Way of Santa Cruz County; Marvell-Elaine Reads; Mid Iowa Community Action; Read on Arizona; United Way of Central Iowa; United Way of Story County; United Way of New York City; Attendance Works; Children’s Dental Health Project

In 2015, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) is committing $30 million, in tandem with close to 40 partners, to help increase third grade reading proficiency for 50,000 children by 2018. They will use a multimedia campaign to share tools and information with parents and others caring for children, and then develop targeted community action plans to improve literacy, health, and development outcomes across 32 communities in five states including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, New York and Iowa. CGLR aims to have fewer children starting school with undetected developmental delays, physical ailments, and vision and hearing impairments. Their commitment also aims to assist more struggling readers in making progress over the summer break, instead of falling behind their peers.

Empowering Youth Leaders through Entrepreneurship in Education
Commitment By: BUILD
Partner: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

In 2015, BUILD is committing to launch an enhanced program model designed to serve more students nationwide at a lower cost, while deepening their experiential learning. They will do this by scaling their 2012 commitment, Engaging Corporations in Entrepreneurial Education, to five new regions, with more partners and a digitized version of their experience-based curricula. PwC will provide the financial investment to help BUILD expand the program and will provide its employee volunteer base to support BUILD’s workforce development track. Their real-world entrepreneurship program will reach 2,700 students in under-resourced communities, enabling them to develop their own business ideas and plans, pitch to venture capital advisors, and launch real businesses as early as the 9th grade.

HOPE B- Business Compact: Expanding Skills for U.S. Youth
Commitment By: Operation HOPE, Inc.
Partners: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; Focus Brands

In 2015, Operation HOPE, Inc. is committing to recruit and organize 10 leading CEOs to become founding partner-members of the HOPE B- Business Compact. Each founding partner-member will provide internships to 10 high school students from low-income, underserved communities who have achieved a grade point average of B- or better. All 100 participating students will receive a $500 allowance covering transportation, food, and the cost of one business suit or professional outfit.

UBS Next Gen Leaders: College Matching Portal
Commitment By: UBS Wealth Management USA
Partners: Tennessee College Access & Success Network (TCASN); Discovery Education

In 2015, UBS, through the UBS NextGen Leaders initiative, is committing to partner with Tennessee College Access & Success Network, and Discovery Education, to build a technology portal – the TalentEd Project – that will support an online community of college access and admissions professionals. This community will connect high-potential, lower-income, first-generation college-goers with institutions that are a good fit for them- expanding the admissions pool of these high-potential students, while increasing the likelihood that they will graduate from college and attain career success.

Generation: Closing the Skills Gap for Young Adults
Commitment By: McKinsey Social Initiative
Partners: McKinsey & Company; USAID; Walmart Stores, Inc.

In 2015, McKinsey Social Initiative is committing to provide job training to 200,000 unemployed or under-employed young people in 25 cities across the United States. Through an expansion of their Generation USA pilot, over the next five years, they will develop and implement job training in healthcare, retail, information technology, and other skilled trades. Through their commitment, McKinsey Social Initiative aims to launch young Americans into the start of fulfilling careers.

Small Business Pathways for Opportunity Youth
Commitment By: Small Business Majority FoundationPartners: Worksystems, Inc.; Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization; Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment; Thrive Networks; Youth Job Center

In 2015, Small Business Majority is committing to build on the success of their 2014 commitment, Business Pathways for Opportunity Youth Program, by expanding their youth-employer matching programs to two new cities in Oregon and Illinois. They will also secure an additional 200 pledges from small businesses owners within their network, in order to offer mentorships, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships to future young entrepreneurs across the country.

Powering Career Skills: New Educational Pathways to Today’s Technology Careers
Commitment By: AT&T Inc.; General Assembly

In 2015, AT&T and General Assembly (GA) are committing to support the General Assembly Opportunity Fund, a fellowship program aimed at providing hands-on education and career opportunities in technology to underrepresented groups. Their contributions will provide 20 fellowships to GA’s 12-week Web Development and User Experience Design Immersive programs, as well as tuition for an additional 50 students to participate in their 12-week online Web Design course.

Appalachian Community Capital
Commitment By: Appalachian Regional Commission; Deutsche Bank Ag; Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation; Pathway Lending; Virginia Community Capital
Partners: Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs; Alternatives Federal Credit Union; Appalachian Development Corp; Bank Of America Corporation; Blue Moon Fund; Commonwealth of Virginia; Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Inc.; Mountain Association for Community Economic Development; Mountain BizWorks; Natural Capital Investment Fund; The Progress Fund; Three Rivers Planning and Development District

In 2013, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and their partners committed to establish a new financial institution, Appalachian Community Capital, to significantly increase business lending in the area by pooling capital needs, attracting investors at a larger scale, and providing a simplified vehicle for impact investors that reduces transaction costs. Today, Appalachian Community Capital has already secured $15 million in new investments. This first round of investment alone is expected to provide financing for 165 small businesses which will help create nearly 800 jobs in the region. ARC’s commitment will enable local entrepreneurs to start their own enterprises, create high quality jobs, retain local earnings, and ultimately improve the quality of life for people in Appalachia.

STEM-TEK (STEM Transforming Eastern Kentucky)
Commitment By: East Kentucky Power Cooperative; Project Lead the Way
Partners: Morehead State University; Kentucky Educational Development Corporation; Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)

In 2015, The East Kentucky Power Cooperative and Project Lead The Way are committing to pilot a comprehensive K – 12 STEM education initiative. It will equip 82,000 students with the skills needed to attract industry employers to the region, and provide incentives for students to pursue postsecondary STEM degrees or certificates in local higher education institutions. Over three years, the curriculum will reach 177 schools across 19 counties in Kentucky. The initiative will also provide professional development and certification opportunities for 3,000 teachers. This commitment represents an investment in building out a highly-qualified STEM workforce that will attract businesses and high-wage, high-demand jobs to an area that desperately needs them. It will also keep more talented, young Kentuckians in a newly revitalized portion of the state.

Navajo / Shinnecock Energy Poverty and Climate Resilience
Commitment By: GRID Alternatives (GRID)
Partners: Tolani Lake Chapter House (Navajo Nation); Bird Springs Chapter House (Navajo Nation); Leupp Chapter House (Navajo Nation); Shinnecock Nation; SunEdison; Enphase Energy

In 2015, GRID Alternatives (GRID) is committing to train 500 tribal members on the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems on the Navajo Nation, and the Shinnecock Reservation, to address the need for reliable, clean energy sources, and the skilled workers who support them. GRID will work with tribal members to install rooftop solar systems for 50 homes on the Shinnecock Reservation, including a battery-backed system on the local Community Center for use in case of emergencies or natural disasters. They will also rehabilitate 36 existing off-grid rooftop solar systems – in addition to three new solar projects – on the Navajo Nation. Through their program, GRID will aim to generate a tribal solar workforce and provide communities with resources to develop and sustain green solar economies – creating financial and environmental benefits for the long term.

Scaling Energy Efficiency in Corporate Supply Chains
Commitment By: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; Johnson Controls, Inc.
Partners: Institute for Industrial Productivity; Natural Resources Defense Council; U.S. Department Of Energy; World Resources Institute

In 2015, Johnson Controls and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), are committing to scale up their Supplier Efficiency Program, through which experts visit supplier’s plants and train their in-house teams on energy efficiency measures. Over the next three years, Johnson Controls is committing to train 60 of their Small and Medium Enterprise suppliers on low-cost energy efficiency best practices. Furthermore, their partners will recruit and support at least eight additional U.S. manufacturers to implement similar programs with at least 30 of their suppliers. Collectively these efforts will save more than 62 million kilowatt hours of energy every year.

ESL Pre-Training for Workforce Development
Commitment By: Skylab Learning
Partners: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.; Goodwill Industries International, Inc.; LearnUp; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers

In 2015, Skylab Learning is committing to provide their game-based training solutions to low-skilled workers for whom English is a second language. This commitment aims to address the need for new, user-friendly education and training tools to prepare those entering the workforce with the basic skills that they need to succeed. Over the next three years – through their app – Skylab Learning will offer industry-specific vocabulary and communication skill training for the retail, home health care, food service, hospitality, and manufacturing industries to over one million people.

Urban Watershed Protection & Restoration in Development
Commitment By: Vulcan Inc.
Partners: Salmon-Safe

In 2015, Vulcan Inc., along with their partner Salmon-Safe, is committing to pilot an environmental accreditation program for real estate development, to ensure that the inevitable development and redevelopment of urban areas in the Puget Sound region does not cause irreparable damage to its ecosystem. Salmon-Safe has developed an accreditation program that will align real estate development practices with water quality protection and urban watershed recovery standards. Over the next three years, Vulcan Inc. will ensure that all of their development projects in the Seattle region have net zero impact on the Puget Sound watershed.

Strengthening ECE Teacher Practice in Native Communities
Commitment By: American Indian College Fund
Partners: Brazelton Touchpoints Center

In 2015, the American Indian College Fund, along with their partner Brazelton Touchpoints Center, is committing to deliver culturally relevant professional development training to 150 early childhood educators in Michigan, New Mexico, and North Dakota. These trainings will address the expressed desire of many tribal nations and communities across the country to have an educational system that both honors tribal culture and languages, and fosters academic success. American Indian College Fund’s commitment will ultimately reach 662 families across six tribal nations.

The Boomerang Effect: Invest in The Next Generation 
Commitment By: Marcus Graham Project
Partners: Beats by Dre; Leo Burnett; MDC Partners; Microsoft; PepsiCo Inc.

In 2015, the Marcus Graham Project is committing to make a Job One commitment to develop a stronger and more diverse workforce in the advertising, marketing, and communications industry. Over the next three years, the Marcus Graham Project will reach 500 students by scaling their flagship summer training program to at least six new markets, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. They will also launch a new yearlong series of weekend workshops and monthly mini-boot camps where students will master skills such as project management, digital marketing, content creation, and media planning.

Partnership to Grow Small Business Lending 
Commitment By: Lending Club; Opportunity Fund

In 2015, Opportunity Fund and Lending Club are committing to pilot a partnership that will provide $10 million in needed loan capital to an estimated 400 small business borrowers – with a particular focus on women and minorities – in underserved areas of California. Working together, Lending Club and Opportunity Fund will design and create a credit model specifically for businesses that lack access to credit, and offer a new co-branded loan to those that qualify.The Partnership aims to eventually have their new credit technologies enable CDFIs to grow and meet the rising demand for capital in communities underserved by traditional banking.

Fair Care Pledge: Improving Jobs for Domestic Workers
Commitment By: Care.com, Inc.; National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)
Partners: Hand in Hand The Domestic Employers Association

In 2015, Care.com and the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), along with their partner organization Hand in Hand, are committing to improve job quality for domestic care workers through the implementation of their Fair Care Pledge. The Pledge asks employers of housecleaners, nannies, and home attendants to commit to three job quality standards for their employees: fair pay, paid time off, and clear expectations for job duties, benefits, and work terms. Through their commitment, Care.com and the NDWA will support 25,000 employers – sourced through Care.com users and the public at large – with the knowledge and training materials they need to meet job quality standards for 25,000 domestic care workers.

About CGI America
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Established in June 2011 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) addresses economic recovery in the United States. CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting, CGI America participants have made more than 500 commitments, which have improved the lives of nearly 2.4 million people.

CGI also convenes an Annual Meeting, which brings together global leaders to take action and create positive social change, CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world, and, this year, CGI will also convene CGI Middle East & Africa, which will bring together leaders across sectors to take action on pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

SHARE
Previous articleBennet-Backed Rural Water Bill Passes Senate
Next articleIndependence Day Family Fun Festival to Benefit Save Our Sundial Project Coordinated and Co-Sponsored by Mor Zucker of Team Denver Homes at Kentwood Real Estate Cherry Creek