Communities & Banking
Fall 2012 
Community Lending: A Driver for Bank Growth
Financial institutions that make loans for affordable housing and economic development do well by doing good. One bank booked $125 million of good CRA-eligible loans in 2010 and 2011.
For Financial Literacy, the Play's the Thing
A theater project partially funded by a bank got teens to create a play from interviews they conducted with 80 respondents on the topic of money. Come see the play October 18.
Geographic Segregation: The Role of Income Inequality
A new study shows that as income inequality grows and higher-income people seek communities with better schools, the old neighborhood becomes segregated by income and is less likely to provide access to opportunity.
How Peers Affect Student Performance
New research, including a study by Tim Sass and the Boston Feds Mary Burke, helps identify what combination of ability levels among students is most effective at promoting learning.
Incarceration and Community Health
Poverty, illiteracy, and harsh sentences for minor offenses often result in prisons full of poor minorities. Those suffering from addictions could be treated more effectively in communities.
Mapping New England: Income Distribution by County
Franklin County, Vermont, has the smallest gap between low-income and high-income residents. Nantucket County, Massachusetts, has the biggest gap. Check the map for your county.
Moving Skills from Low to High
After job losses in manufacturing, a new program to give workers the skills most in demand at companies in Maine has been a win-win-win for workers, employers, and communities.
Resilience Circles Born in a Struggling Economy
As banking giants tottered, small groups got together to discuss possible repercussions and to provide mutual support. Resilience Circles born then are spreading today.
The Role of Mediation in Foreclosures
Using testimony that he presented at the Massachusetts state house, the author shows that having a lender, a homeowner, and a neutral third party negotiate in person can prevent foreclosure.
When Neighboring Jurisdictions Collaborate on Housing
Some municipalities are banding together to leverage funding for housing challenges that don't respect boundaries. The author explains how interjurisdictional collaboration works.