Rockefeller Centre forum in Bellagio, Italy

Jaco Hoffman participated in a forum at the Rockefeller Centre at Bellagio, Italy, in September, discussing New Partnerships to Improve Social Health and Economic Reinvestment in Low-Income Neighborhoods:  The Role of Anchor Institutions.

The week-long session focused on broad issues of health and wellness, and how new partnerships are needed to create anchor investments in some of the poorest neighborhoods in the USA. These investments can, and will, profoundly affect health outcomes that are the result of inequitable conditions of race, education and poverty.  It is increasingly apparent that Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs*) banks, and capital investors are important players in these new teams with health systems.  The group also deliberated about other community institutions that should be part of the team, such as universities; how outcomes are demonstrated; and criteria that make for a good anchor partner.

*(CDFIs) are private financial institutions that are dedicated to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream.