Director, San Francisco Office Of Financial Empowerment
San Francisco, Ca, Us
I was honored to lead one of the most respected organizations in the field - the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment – and to play an instrumental role in the emergence of municipal government as a strong leader in national efforts to build a safe and inclusive financial system for all consumers. Working with terrific colleagues and partners, the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment spearheaded several “first in the nation” programs to reduce financial exclusion. Our first major project - Bank on San Francisco - was the first municipally led effort to bank the unbanked and has since sparked a national movement in 100 communities across the country. Kindergarten to College created the first universal and automatic college savings program for public school children and has now opened more than 19,000 savings accounts. CurrenCSF engages over 100 employers and labor unions to connect low-wage workers to crucial financial tools, like checking accounts and direct deposit, at the worksite. On the national level, the Cities for Financial Empowerment Coalition and Fund, which our office co-founded, advocates for greater financial opportunity and protection for all Americans in cities across the United States. These efforts unite diverse stakeholders to create better programs, products and policies for underserved communities. Most importantly, they provide low-income working families with the opportunity to save and build assets for the future. Our work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Economist and the San Francisco Chronicle as well as radio and television coverage on CNN, NPR and other media outlets.
