Guest Blog From CFED's Assets & Opportunity Network: Assets & Opportunity Network Leaders Make Significant Strides in the Field

Assets & Opportunity Network Leaders Make Significant Strides in the Field

By Dara Duratinsky on 11/22/2016 @ 12:00 PM

Tags: Assets & Opportunity Initiative

During the 2016 Assets Learning Conference, the Assets & Opportunity Network celebrated its 4th birthday. Since its official launch, the Network has expanded its reach and connections considerably, including:

• Growing from 850 Members to 2,000 Members in every state and DC
• Having 66 Lead State, Local and Tribal Organizations to 93 Network Leaders in 44 states and DC
• Reaching 10,953 people with communications to more than 134,000 individuals
• Reaching over 107,000 people through social media to reaching over 206,000 people
• Educating 1,308 policymakers in local, state and federal government to educating more than 3,000 local, state and federal policymakers on asset building policy issues

To celebrate the Network’s fourth birthday, we wanted to share with you the 2015 Network Leader Impact Report which discusses the reach, impact and accomplishments of the 93 Network Leaders! Network Leaders Learn, Connect and Act to build an opportunity economy in their communities and nationally by participating in capacity building and learning opportunities; connecting with other stakeholders for greater sharing and collaboration and take action in policy advocacy that will improve programs and policies for low- to moderate-income households. Nearly a quarter of Network Leaders also lead local or state asset building coalitions, convening partners in their communities to advance common economic opportunity agendas. Network Leaders had many accomplishments in 2015. Highlights include:

• Engaging nearly 6,000 stakeholders nationally through coalitions
• Successfully implementing, improving or defending 60% of state and local policies that were attempted to introduce, improve or defend
• Successfully advocating for increased VITA funding and improvements to the EITC and CTC at the federal level

If you want to get more involved, you can join the Network as a General Member to stay informed and find out how to engage in learning and advocacy opportunities. CFED staff hope you can help contribute to even more success in 2017 and beyond!

Read the report here!