Open Access

We had a great time connecting with our recent 2024 Fellows and Alum this week in New Orleans!! Watching them network among industry experts, gain insight on the latest #NewMarketsTaxCredit trends, and even discuss their own projects was amazing!! Special thanks to Novogradac & Company LLP for sponsoring our booth at the Fall #NMTC Conference in New Orleans! We appreciate your commitment to our organization's success! #NMTC #communitydevelopment Gina Nisbeth Jeff Monge Rashidah Billups Nicole Dillard Marcus Elliott Trevor Nelson Yari S. Daniel Eliana L. Victoria Tate Kristeen Reynolds, CPA Joseph Dukes

We're in New Orleans! If you're attending the Fall Novogradac & Company LLP NMTC Conference, drop by our booth and connect with our team of Fellows!! This is a great opportunity to learn more about the work we do and how we can support your goals. Our knowledgeable team will be available to answer your questions, share insights, and discuss the latest developments in the industry. We look forward to meeting you and exploring ways we can collaborate to make a lasting impact! #NMTC #CDE #CDFI #communitybank #realestate #impactinvesting

Four years ago in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, the sketch of an idea, hastily written on a cocktail napkin, to increase the diverse representation in community development finance by two frustrated NMTC industry leaders, left its paper home and came to a wonderful life, so much bigger than ever imagined by its co-founders! #Open Access was born. Yesterday, we released our 2024 Impact Report which memorializes the cumulative four-year effort of my co-founder, Jeff Monge and me, our day-one “kitchen cabinet,” our board of directors, our staff (including our Executive Director, Rashidah Billups), our sponsors and our, now, 96 (in total) fellows. 71% have either entered or have been promoted in the industry following their participation in the program! For potential 2025 fellows, please follow us on LinkedIn to receive updates on the next cohort launch. For potential sponsors (fiscal + fellow), please don’t hesitate to connect with me, Jeff or Roz to learn more about how you can get involved. For Open Access alum, please continue to stay connected and consider getting involved with alumni classss. Finally, for our alumni, we are more proud of you than you will ever know. We need you in the industry NOW! Please stay connected to us and each other! What an amazing ride it has been this far! We are even more energized for 2025! Our esteemed board members: Kermit Billups Liliana Aide Monge @jose villalobos, Lillian A. Plata Ashley N. Wicks, JD, CPA, LL.M. Robin Houston David Clower

A message from our co-founders, Gina Nisbeth and Jeff Monge, sets the tone for this year’s Impact Report, reflecting on the journey, challenges, and successes of the Open Access Fellowship. They share their vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of continued support and collaboration to drive meaningful change in community development. The 2024 Impact Report highlights the achievements and progress of the Open Access Fellowship program over the past year. It showcases the support from key sponsors, outlines the program's efforts to increase diversity in community development, and details the positive outcomes for our fellows and the communities we serve. This report underscores our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable industry. #NMTC #CDFI #CDE #realestate #communitybank #LIHTC #HTC #energy #socialresponsibility #impactinvesting #nonprofit Read the Full report here: https://lnkd.in/exc9sNyQ

Live Today at 2pm!!

Join us this evening, September 18, for ¡Celebramos Unidos! a Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Event hosted by REĀL Nueva Gen, Real Estate Assoc. of Latinx Professionals. Free Event, Registration Required: https://lnkd.in/esaQU6yJ

Open Access is proud to announce Wells Fargo as 2024 Leading Fiscal Sponsor at the Trailblazer Level for the nationwide fellowship program. The Open Access Fellowship is dedicated to increasing Black and Latinx representation within community development companies serving inclusive communities. Despite concentrated efforts in these areas, there is still a significant lack of diversity among professionals in the industry. Through comprehensive training and job placement assistance, the fellowship develops talent to bridge this representation gap. Donations from the Wells Fargo Foundation and other program sponsors directly support the program, which offers industry training with fellowship Sponsors throughout the country for 20+ professionals annually to gain experience in the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) space. The program consists of three components: • Education: Provided by training partners to ensure fellows are equipped with industry knowledge. • Job Training: Offered by various firms providing paid job opportunities. • Mentorship: Includes organized events such as Fireside Chats and Virtual Networking Days to expose fellows to other industry professionals. Financing community development investments in Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) communities often requires a creative mix of public, private, and philanthropic resources. The Open Access Fellowship, a three-month immersion experience, creates an opportunity for professionals from diverse backgrounds to be exposed to the world of community development finance by being placed in an environment where they can receive tutelage and be trained to ultimately pursue career paths in this industry. Thank you Wells Fargo for championing our cause as the the leading 2024 Fiscal Sponsor at the Trailblazer level! Read full press release below. To learn more about the program and how you can support the upcoming year, visit us online at Open-Access.us

Fellow News!! 🚨 Congratulations to Jessica McLemore Open Access Fellow 2023 on her new role at Novogradac & Company LLP as Junior Real Estate Analyst!! We know you will make us proud and as you continue the impactful work of community development! Thank you to the Novogradac team Mike Novogradac, Amy Hook and Danielle D. Sullivan for championing our cause!!

"Calling all Alumni and Sponsors! We're excited to announce our upcoming Alumni Day celebrations and we want YOU to be a part of it! Alumni Day is a great opportunity to hear the inspiring stories of Open Access Fellows, learn about the program from their perspectives and celebrate their achievements thus far! Join us tomorrow 7/16 from 4-8pm eastern, as we livestream the conversations here on LinkedIn.