Field Notes

In this section you will find current news and inforrmation from the field of community development, opportunity finance, and asset-building.

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
In response to recent coordinated efforts in the media and elsewhere to hold the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) responsible for the current financial crisis, NCRC, along with a coalition of civil rights, consumer, community development and housing groups are working together to call attention to the real reason for the crisis: failed regulatory oversight.  
Short video on the CRA
CRA Myth and Fact

The NEXT American Opportunity: Good Policies for a Great America
OFN’s groundbreaking policy book, The NEXT American Opportunity: Good Policies for a Great America launched on September 22, 2008. This unprecedented publication makes timely recommendations that could reshape the policy landscape for the CDFI industry. Gathering the collective wisdom and success stories of 54 opportunity finance experts, The NEXT American Opportunity offers more than 200 concrete, specific recommendations for federal policy.

This ambitious work is the keystone in OFN’s sustained decade long effort to advance the opportunity finance industry, and get out the message that in this time of irresponsible lending, CDFIs represent a reasoned response. Now available on the Web at www.NextAmericanOpportunity.org.

Read the chapter co-authored by Eric Weaver Opportunity Fund CEO:
"Asset Accumulation and Protection"