Aisha T. Weeks, MPA

Project Details: Yearlong engagement effort to galvanize support for and raise awareness of equity and financial inclusion; culminating in launch of national initiative in Cleveland.

Action: Overall program management, developed program objectives, goals, metrics, resources/budget, developed and executed project timeline, Stakeholder engagement, created buy-in around shared vision/goals.

Result: Resulted in four financial institutions developing tailored product for the unbanked… Show more

Project Details: Yearlong engagement effort to galvanize support for and raise awareness of equity and financial inclusion; culminating in launch of national initiative in Cleveland.

Action: Overall program management, developed program objectives, goals, metrics, resources/budget, developed and executed project timeline, Stakeholder engagement, created buy-in around shared vision/goals.

Result: Resulted in four financial institutions developing tailored product for the unbanked and the recruitment of 30 inaugural members. Show less

Project Details: Over the course of 18 months three financial institutions announced mergers. As a part of advocacy efforts to ensure the merger will benefit the community and not decrease resources, I led the City of Cleveland’s engagement in negotiating national bank merger/Community Benefits.

Action: Presented the community needs based on available data and the experiences of partners on the ground. Through my speaking role, in meetings with Bank Presidents, I advocated for… Show more

Project Details: Over the course of 18 months three financial institutions announced mergers. As a part of advocacy efforts to ensure the merger will benefit the community and not decrease resources, I led the City of Cleveland’s engagement in negotiating national bank merger/Community Benefits.

Action: Presented the community needs based on available data and the experiences of partners on the ground. Through my speaking role, in meetings with Bank Presidents, I advocated for specifically policy, procedural or product changes ensuring Cleveland residents received their fair share investments.

Result: Through the collective efforts of the group, we yielded $47B in commitments to increase access to capital for minority business owners, philanthropy, consumer mortgage lending and safe and affordable banking products. Show less

Project Details: As a National Urban Fellow, I was recruited by a nonprofit, intermediary funder of community development corporations, seeking to expand beyond place-based brick and mortar development to include a people focus, economic opportunity portfolio. They needed to “make the case” for this shift, understand strategies available and gain community and partner consensus.

Action: Extensive research on national financial capability strategies and recommendations on application in… Show more

Project Details: As a National Urban Fellow, I was recruited by a nonprofit, intermediary funder of community development corporations, seeking to expand beyond place-based brick and mortar development to include a people focus, economic opportunity portfolio. They needed to “make the case” for this shift, understand strategies available and gain community and partner consensus.

Action: Extensive research on national financial capability strategies and recommendations on application in Cleveland; produced “Making the Case for Integrated Service Delivery” report as tool for consensus building, develop an asset building pilot program and evaluated success, how to improve outcomes.

Result: Research finding provided necessary data to led to partners/stakeholder launching an integrated financial empowerment program (system) in Cleveland. Show less