Power Station

John Holdsclaw, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs, National Cooperative Bank, refers to himself as an "accidental banker." In this episode, we discuss his evolution from community economic development advocate to champion for housing and small business cooperatives. At Capital Impact Partners, a national nonprofit, John advocated for federal policies that invest in low-income and communities of color. He became a trusted voice on Capitol Hill for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which provide capital grants and equity investments in affordable housing and small businesses. Now at NCB, formed by an act of Congress in 1978 to support the growth of worker-owned cooperatives, John is a champion for mission-related investments in high-quality nonprofit CDFIs. As he explains, "our mission is in our DNA." John explains how CDFIs fill in where traditional financial services are lacking and our nation's racial wealth gap seems intractable. We talk about staying the course in a challenging political environment, using personal and organizational power wisely and the need for political consciousness. Always a positive force, John talks about what's next in the community development field and how, as his father counseled him, to always be prepared with "facts and stats."

Kathy Tran is a change maker and an advocate for all people seeking to fully live the American Dream. Her own journey started as a 2 year old with her family's exodus from Vietnam to America in search of opportunity and freedom. Kathy witnessed her parents perseverance after settling here and making the sacrifices needed to sustain their family. She was inspired to carry on their legacy through her service at the US Department of Labor, where she focused on education and skill building for immigrants and refugees and on veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce. At the National Immigration Forum, Kathy launched a workforce development program to address the needs of low and high skilled refugees. The 2016 election prompted Kathy to rethink her path and to find a new way to uplift communities. She ran for the Virginia House of Delegates and won, the first Vietnamese American to serve in this important body. We talk about advocacy campaigns and how to be hopeful in challenging times.

Kathy Tran is a change maker. She has worked across the sectors to make life better for all people seeking to fully live the American Dream. Her own journey started as a 2 year old with her family's exodus from Vietnam to America in search of hope, opportunity and freedom. Kathy witnessed her parents hard work and perseverance after settling here and making the accommodations and sacrifices needed to sustain their family. She was inspired to carry on their legacy through her service at the US Department of Labor, where she focused on education and skill building for immigrants and refugees and on veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce. At the National Immigration Forum, Kathy launched a workforce development program to address the needs of low and high skilled refugees. She collaborated with a number of nonprofit partner organizations to shed light on and advocate for federal policies and programs that connect people to adult higher education, community colleges and other pathways to success. The 2016 election prompted Kathy to rethink her own path and to find a new way to uplift communities. She ran for the Virginia House of Delegates and won, the first Vietnamese American to serve in this important body. Her energy for her constituency, her 4 young but community engaged children and for other progressive voices in the Commonwealth seems unstoppable. We talk about gerrymandering, Census 2020, her insights about effective advocacy campaigns and how to be hopeful in challenging times. 

Ashley Allison, Executive Vice President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, talks to Power Station about the All Voting is Local Campaign, which is building support for, and tackling systemic barriers to voting in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona. This campaign operates as a collaborative with national partners including the ACLU, the American Constitution Society, and local nonprofit partners. Their collective advocacy, litigation, organizing and where possible, partnership with supervisors of elections, has increased the numbers of poll workers and bilingual translators, improved accessibility to voting sites in communities of color and by disabled people. As Ashley explains, this campaign is one of many embraced by The Leadership Conference, a voice for over 200 powerhouse coalition members, including labor unions, civil rights and LGBTQ organizations. She shares her own journey in social change advocacy, informed by her childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, her experiences as a young teacher in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and as a lawyer, serving in the Obama Administration's Office of Public Engagement. Ashley is strategic, passionate and inspiring.

We talk as a nation about the imperative of voting but probably not enough about the challenges voters are facing now, just days before the mid-term elections. Ashley Allison, Executive Vice President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, talks to Power Station about the All Voting is Local Campaign, which is building support for, and tackling systemic barriers to, voting in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona. This campaign operates as a collaborative with national partners including the ACLU and the American Constitution Society, and local nonprofit partners in communities directly impacted by systemic barriers. Their collective advocacy, litigation, organizing and where possible, partnership with supervisors of elections, has increased the numbers of poll workers and bilingual translators, improved accessibility to voting sites in communities of color and by disabled people.

As Ashley explains, this Campaign is one of many embraced by The Leadership Conference, a voice for over 200 powerhouse coalition members, including labor unions, civil rights and LGBTQ organizations. She shares her own journey in social change advocacy, informed by her childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, her experiences as a young teacher in Bed-Study, Brooklyn, and as a lawyer, serving in the Obama Administration's Office of Public Engagement. Ashley is strategic, passionate and inspiring. She is also inspired by others, including Desmond Meade, President of The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a leaders on felon disenfranchisement issues, whose work is making a national impact.

John Yang brings layers of life experience to his leadership of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. His family moved to the US from China when he was a child and coped with losing their documentation, temporarily, after overstaying a work visa. After becoming a lawyer, he litigated for a DC based law firm and was legal director for a fortune 500 company in Shanghai, China. And he served in the Obama Administration as Senior Advisor on Asian issues to US Department of Commerce Secretary Pritzker. As President and Executive Director of AAJC, the largest Asian American policy organization in Washington DC, John leads a team of 20 staff members in advocating for the civil rights of a diverse, and growing constituency. AAJC's work is informed by community partners, locally based nonprofits in 32 states that provide day-to-day services to Asian American. AAJC is now a powerhouse advocate on the most pressing issues of the day: Census 2020, affirmative action, immigration and civic engagement in the policymaking process. AAJC embraces data, debunks stereotypes and collaborates with nonprofit partners to make change possible.

John Yang brings layers of life experience to his leadership of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. His family moved to the US from China when he was a child and coped with losing their documentation, temporarily, after overstaying a work visa. After becoming a lawyer, he litigated for a DC based law firm and was legal director for a fortune 500 company in Shanghai, China. And he served in the Obama Administration as Senior Advisor on Asian issues to US Department of Commerce Secretary Pritzker. As President and Executive Director of AAJC, the largest Asian American policy organization in Washington DC, John leads a team of 20 staff members in advocating for the civil rights of a diverse, nuanced and growing constituency. AAJC's work   is informed by their community partners, locally based nonprofits in 32 states that provide day-to-day services for Asian American families and know intimately their challenges and aspirations. Together they have became powerhouse advocates, weighing in on the most pressing issues of the day: Census 2020, affirmative action, immigration and civic engagement in the policymaking process. AAJC embraces data, debunks stereotypes and collaborates with nonprofit partners to make change possible. 

Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, Associate Director of Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB), returns to Power Station with news about the expansion of its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) campaign into Washington DC's historic Wards 7 and 8. The EITC enables working people, whose employment is low-wage and sporadic, to claim a tax credit through through their annual tax filing. This return can be instrumental in providing savings towards a home, college education or a small business. The challenge is to get the word out, which is why CAAB launched DC Community Conversations. It raises awareness about the EITC through presentations in schools and community centers in neighborhoods where disinvestment has stripped communities of resources and families of personal wealth. Joseph is exactly the right person to lead this effort. He is a former financial advisor and the product of a single parent household with high aspirations but limited means. His energy and commitment seem boundless and he is a consummate collaborator with the public and corporate partners that share his vision.

Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, Associate Director of Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB), returns to Power Station with news about the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) into Washington DC’s historic Wards 7 and 8. The EITC enables working people, whose employment is low-wage and sporadic, to claim a tax credit through through their annual tax filing. The amount these households are refunded is often the largest single payment they earn in a given year. This return can be instrumental in advancing their aspirations, including savings towards a home, education or investment in a small business. The challenge is to get the word out to eligible households and support them in filing tax returns. This is why CAAB launched DC Community Conversations. It raises awareness about the EITC through presentations in schools and community centers in neighborhoods where disinvestment and the racial wealth gap have stripped communities of resources and families of personal wealth. Joseph is exactly the right person to lead this effort. He is a former financial advisor for wealthy families and the product of a single parent household with high aspirations but limited means. His energy and commitment seem boundless and he is a consummate collaborator with the public and corporate partners that share his vision.

Get ready for a dynamic conversation! Becky Belcore, Co-Director, and Jung Woo Kim, Organizer, at National Korean American Service & Educational Consortium (NAKASEC) talk to Power Station about their holistic approach to serving, engaging and advocating for Asian-Americans, this country's fasting growing population. NAKASEC, based in Virginia, has robust affiliates in Chicago and Los Angeles. They help new immigrants and multi-generational AAPI families access services and develop a voice on the issues that directly impact their lives. Becky's background in labor organizing and Jung Woo's experience as an undocumented young person inform their approach to organizing and policy advocacy. Jung Woo's launched Journey 2 Justice, a 37 day bike ride from Seattle to San Diego, in support of Citizenship for All. Once you hear him. you will want to join their next campaign!