The Center for Public Integrity invites everyone to join a live conversation on
Wednesday, March 29, from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. to discuss local efforts being made to
close the wealth gap between Black and white Americans. The conversation will feature
ReShonda Young, the subject of “The Heist Season 2: The Wealth Vortex”, Public Integrity’s award-winning podcast. Jamie Smith Hopkins, the podcast’s host, will moderate the discussion.
“The Wealth Vortex” is a groundbreaking podcast produced in partnership with Transmitter Media that followed Young’s efforts to open the Bank of Jabez, her state’s only Black-owned bank, and possibly the first nationwide in more than 20 years. In the live virtual discussion, Young will share updates about her progress in the year since the podcast aired and discuss community-focused actions to increase equity. Hopkins will check in with Young and moderate a Q&A session with listeners.
Young is an entrepreneur from Waterloo, Iowa, who started and franchised a popcorn business before selling the company in 2019. She is the director of an accelerator that supports Black business owners in Waterloo and is the leading force behind the planned Bank of Jabez.
The Wealth Vortex was a finalist in this year’s Ambie Awards, often called the Oscars of
podcasting. The project is also a Signal Awards silver award honoree and second-place winner of the Shaufler Prize in Journalism.
The live discussion is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the wealth gap between Black and white Americans, the challenges Black entrepreneurs face, and the importance of community-focused solutions. The event is open to all, and participants can attend virtually and ask questions at the end of the discussion.
Register for this event here.
