California Asset Building: Recent and Upcoming Events

CA EVENT: Updating California's Poverty Measure

Elizabeth Wu — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:41:00 -0400

A New America Event
10/14/2009 - 12:00pm

The California Asset Building program hosted a policy roundtable discussion Wednesday October 14 in the State Capitol on updating the antiquated and misleading way we measure poverty. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Director of Poverty Research, Mark Levitan, led Assembly and Senate staff in the in-depth discussion (view his presentation here). Last year, New York City enacted an updated and improved poverty measure based on recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences.

CA EVENT: Women & Wealth

Elizabeth Wu — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:30:00 -0400

A New America Event
07/17/2009 - 12:00pm

Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña opened the Women and Wealth Asset Policy Forum event, sponsored by the New America Foundation's Asset Building Program in partnership with the California Women's Legislative Caucus, the California Commission on the Status of Women, and the California Women's Agenda.

CA EVENT: Banking on Opportunity

Elizabeth Wu — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:30:00 -0400

A New America Event
03/24/2009 - 11:30am

Too many Angelenos lack a basic financial tool – a bank account. Without one they pay more to cash their paychecks, pay their bills, and don't have a safe place to keep their money. And a bank account is the first step onto the ladder of affordable financial services people need throughout their lives. Without one, it’s harder to build credit and get well-priced car loans and mortgages – the exact financial tools needed to plan ahead and climb… more

CA EVENT: California Working Families Policy Summit 2009

Elizabeth Wu — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
01/13/2009 - 8:00am

Please join us on January 13, 2009, for the sixth California Working Families Policy Summit, hosted by the California Center for Research on Women and Families for a stimulating day of discussion and debate about the needs and aspirations of California's working families.

CA EVENT: American Dream 2.0

Communications — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
12/17/2008 - 12:00pm

On Wednesday, December 17th, the Bipartisan Asset Policy Forum hosted American Dream 2.0: Safe & Sound First-Time Homeownership Strategies for California Working Families, a dynamic lunchtime discussion on how public policy can encourage wealth-building in California to bring homeownership opportunities into reach for working families across our state.

CA EVENT: Green Assets

Communications — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0500

A New America Event
11/18/2008 - 12:00pm

Volatile energy costs are a concern for every California family-particularly the millions of households for whom every extra dollar spent on energy comes at the expense of other necessities and the ability to save. For these families, securing affordable energy would result in savings that could be used for short- or long-term investments. In a cruel twist, the people most in need of relief from high energy costs are those least able to afford the longer-term investments that… more

CA EVENT: Strengthening California’s Workforce through Education, Training, and Savings

Communications — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
10/20/2008 - 12:00pm

The California labor market has experienced drastic transformation and further change is expected as the workforce ages, immigration continues, and the gap between the earnings of skilled workers and those lacking education widens.

CA Event: ScholarShare: Expanding Savings for Higher Education and Skills Training

Communications — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
09/30/2008 - 12:00pm

Join us at the next Asset Policy Forum, a series designed to inform policymakers, legislative staffers, and advocates about asset-building research, data, and policies.

The price for higher education continues to rise. As government and institutional aid fails to keep pace with increased costs, fewer families can expect to afford higher out-of-pocket education expenses. For families wary of taking… more

CA Event: Microenterprise Development

Communications — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
07/21/2008 - 12:00pm

With a declining dollar, a burgeoning subprime crisis, and a shrinking job market, many Californians are worried about their personal fiscal future. In the face of a slowing economy, what can be done to alleviate the economic strain to create jobs and help businesses to expand? For many Californians, the answer is starting their own business. Microenterprises, small businesses with fewer than five employees, currently comprise 88% of all California businesses. These small shops, restaurants, home based businesses and… more

CA Event: Expanding Savings and Retirement Security

Communications — Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
05/21/2008 - 12:00pm

Every day, six million Californians, or roughly 43 percent of workers in the state, go to work for an employer that does not provide any type of retirement pension or savings plan. This lack of retirement savings opportunities puts California working families at risk. On Wednesday, May 21, Mark Iwry of the Brookings Institution presented on the current retirement savings crisis in America -- its causes and the continuing effect it will have on the financial security of… more

CA Event: Financial Literacy - Need, Strategy, Opportunity

Communications — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
04/17/2008 - 12:00pm

Families across America face a growing array of financial decisions in an increasingly complex financial environment. Consumers are expected to navigate an increasinly complex financial services market in order to save for retirement, higher education and homeownership. Those with low-incomes -- who disproportionately lack both financial know-how and relationships with financial institutions -- are especially vulnerable to being shut out of the financial marketplace. On Thursday, April 17th, Ellen Seidman, Director of New America's Financial Services and Education Project,… more

CA Event: Banking the Unbanked

Communications — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
03/26/2008 - 12:00pm

Currently, too many Californians are disconnected from the financial mainstream. While national estimates show that 10 percent of households, including nearly one-quarter of the minority population, are "un-banked," meaning they lack a basic checking or savings account, 28 percent of California's adults do not have a checking or savings account. Recent market research indicates that Fresno and Los Angeles have the highest and third highest percentages of un-banked residents in the country respectively. Compounding the situation is… more

California Event: The Savings Crisis

Communications — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
02/14/2008 - 12:00pm

Personal savings rates have plummeted in the past decade to an all-time historic low. Many Americans aren't saving enough money for retirement, households are increasingly living day to day on high-interest credit cards, and millions are one medical emergency or layoff away from financial crisis. Moreover, poor savings rates mean that there is less money for domestic investment and to finance our government's debt. As more and more Californians are expected to save for their own futures, millions… more

California's California

Communications — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
01/31/2008 - 12:00pm

Carol Whiteside, President of The Great Valley Center, presented on the challenges that families in California face in building savings and assets for education, retirement, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and security against economic crisis. While this is an issue throughout California, it is particularly so in the San Joaquin Valley. Capitol staff were briefed on the Valley's economy as it relates to family incomes and asset accumulation and how those factors relate to Valley residents' ability to pay for college education… more

California Event: The Mortgage Crisis in California

Communications — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
11/19/2007 - 12:00pm

The New America Foundation and the Asset Policy Initiative of California, in association with Assemblymembers Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), cordially invite you to join us Monday, November 19th, for the third in a series of policy forum discussions in Sacramento designed to inform policymakers, legislative staffers, and advocates about asset-building research, data, and policies.

Our featured speaker, Paul Leonard, will discuss the current subprime mortgage crisis — its causes, the continuing effect it will have on homeownership, wealth, and the… more

California Event: Asset Policy 101

Communications — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
08/29/2007 - 12:00pm

In association with Assemblymembers Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), New America in California hosted this dynamic policy discussion on how public policy can encourage saving and wealth building for all Californians.

Heather McCulloch, a leader on asset-building policy issues, provided an overview on the history and evolution of policy ideas, in the United States and aboard, for expanding saving by families and individuals. Ms. McCulloch is the founder of Asset Building Strategies, a nationally recognized consulting group that provides… more