NATIONWIDE –Open Access, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative launched in 2020 to increase diverse representation in the community development finance (CDF) industry, is seeking candidates for its annual fellowship program that will run in early spring of 2023.
Open Access, a 12-week remote program, offers its fellows paid internships with CDF firms, which includes online training provided by Novogradac, and networking with industry leaders through webinars and virtual conference attendance. Upon program completion, fellows are prepared for community development careers in accounting, legal, finance, consultancy, development, underwriting and other related areas. The program will attract and cultivate its third cohort of economic development talent—professionals seeking to become agents of change, restoration and empowerment in communities of color. Applications are open now. Candidates must apply by 11:59 EST on Monday, December 5, 2022.
Open Access Fellowship was co-founded by Jeff Monge, president of Monge Capital, and Gina D. Nisbeth, CEO, formerly with Citibank, now president of 9th & Clinton, in recognition of an intrinsic disparity. Though the CDF industry is dedicated to improving under-resourced and underrepresented communities, including many Black and Latinx areas, the industry is grossly underrepresented by BIPOC professionals on all levels.
“We must change the balance without delay,” says Rashidah Billups, the newly appointed executive director of Open Access and owner of Billups Financial. “The current status quo is depriving the CDF industry of the cultural affinities needed to best understand and relate to the populations it serves. In addition, talented diverse professionals; employed in finance and commercial real estate (CRE) remain unaware of the career potential of CDF and how they can greatly enrich the industry by adding their knowledge and perspectives.”
Applicants must have a four-year degree from an accredited institution and be able to commit to 160 hours over 12 weeks from Monday, February 27, 2023, through Friday, May 26, 2023. Accepted candidates will be announced in January 2023. Sponsors include Novogradac, US Bancorp, PNC, Chase, Dudley Ventures, Merchants Capital, TELACU, Advantage Capital, Monge Capital, Greenline Ventures, Hunt Capital Partners, BakerTilly, Cherry Bekaert, and New Markets Support Company. See https://open-access.us/ to apply.
The Open Access initiative will launch its third annual program preparing Black & LatinX professionals for careers in Community Development Finance (CDF) in late February 2023.
