The Greenlining Institute

08/20/2026

“[Black communities] are not accessing home mortgage loans at the same rates as white communities, and they’re actually paying more to become homeowners.”

As Rami Ibrahim, Greenlining’s Program Manager of Economic Equity, explained to The Sacramento Observer: “This is systemic discrimination that is not being addressed by our state – and, of course, at the federal level.”

Read more in the article, which takes a closer look at the economic barriers Black families face in Sacramento’s housing market, drawing on findings from the forthcoming State of Black Sacramento report – a collaborative study from The Observer, the Capital Black Chamber of Commerce and the Institute for Social Research at Sacramento State.

The report also draws on Greenlining’s annual analysis of racial disparities in Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.

Homeownership is one of the primary ways families build wealth in this country. When Black borrowers continue to face discrimination accessing home loans – and pay more when they do – California’s lending system continues to reproduce patterns of exclusion and disinvestment rooted in redlining.

Access the full article here: https://ow.ly/RL2j50ZBZYF

08/11/2026

⏳ Less than 60 DAYS TO GO! ⏳
Just Future Summit 2026 is almost here! This is your invitation to be part of a movement where we build power together. 💪

Join movement builders, equity practitioners, and community leaders in San Francisco on October 8–9 for hands-on workshops, strategy labs, and partnerships designed to turn ideas into real, lasting power.

This isn't just a conference. It's a convening for people ready to build the future on their own terms.

📅 October 8–9, 2026
📍 San Francisco
🎟️ Save your spot now — the countdown is on!

This moment calls us to build power out of love for our communities. We are challenging inequitable systems, reinvesting in movement infrastructure, and reclaiming the power that makes justice durable.

08/10/2026

Thirteen organizations. One shared vision for a more equitable financial system.

The movement behind the Greenlined Banking Standards is growing ‼️

As of today, 13 community-based organizations and advocates have joined us in advancing a more equitable banking system — one that expands access to capital, strengthens local economies, and invests in the long-term prosperity of California communities.

These standards were developed by frontline community-based organizations that have experienced the consequences of disinvestment firsthand. Now, together, we're building a coalition committed to partnering with banks and financial institutions to turn our recommendations into lasting change.

To our economic justice allies and banking partners – We invite you to take a closer look at the Greenlined Banking Standards and join us in the next phase of this work. Let’s work together to translate these standards into real-world practices that expand access to critical financial services and help repair the legacy of redlining.

Our coalition is growing because the need for a more just financial system has never been greater.

Shoutout to our members:

- Asian Business Association of Silicon Valley
- Asian INC.
- San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce
- Access + Capital
- Alliance for Community Development
- Faith and Community Empowerment
- ICA
- Little Manila Rising
- Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
- Chicana Latina Foundation
- Community Housing Opportunities Corporation
- Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Collaborative

Equitable banking isn't just possible, it's achievable when institutions and communities work together.

📋 Read the Greenlined Banking Standards and join the movement here:

As federal safeguards weaken and the racial wealth gap grows, communities across California are coming together around the Greenlined Banking Standards to

08/06/2026

A new report from the Consumer Federation of America found that homeowners in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities pay significantly more for the same homeowners insurance coverage than those in predominantly white communities.

Higher insurance costs make it even harder for communities that have historically faced redlining and discrimination to build and preserve wealth through homeownership.

As climate-driven disasters become more frequent, equitable access to affordable insurance will play an increasingly important role in determining which communities can recover, rebuild, and create lasting economic opportunity.

Greenlining's Associate Director of Economic Equity, Monica Palmeira, was featured in Law360 discussing why addressing these inequities is critical:

“For many of us that have been looking at this, it's not surprising. But it is pretty damning to see the extent of the difference that communities are facing in terms of the pricing of insurance and then availability of it."

Read the full article below:

Research showing that residents of majority Black and Hispanic ZIP codes often pay more for homeowners insurance underscores what some experts say is a pressing need for more oversight of race-based discrimination in insurance. The report also suggests more data is needed to get at the problem.

08/06/2026

🎉Introducing the Greenlining the Block Video Training Series — a new series designed to support community leaders and organizations who are navigating the complex process of advancing equitable capital projects.

Through nine short training modules, project leaders will learn the fundamentals of how to:

✅ Design community-centered projects rooted in local priorities
✅ Build strong partnerships and equity-aligned teams
✅ Navigate capital stacks, fundraising, and project management strategies
✅ Develop the resources and systems needed to sustain projects for the long term

When communities have the knowledge, partnerships, and resources to advance their priorities, they can drive lasting transformation.

We also want to take a moment to acknowledge the staff and partners who made this work possible. This series would not have come to life without the leadership and dedication of our Greenlining the Block Team members Ariadne Villegas, Marc H. Guirand, and Meredith Lee. We’re also deeply grateful to our Greenlining the Block community-based partners and the broader Greenlining community for sharing their wisdom with us and believing that this work would make a difference.

We invite you to explore the series, reach out to our team with follow-up questions, and join Greenlining in our work to build the capacity needed to create healthier, more resilient communities.

🔗 Watch the Greenlining the Block Video Training Series: https://lnkd.in/e9DB-XwV

08/05/2026

The wait is over. 👀 The Just Future Summit 2026 agenda is here!

This October 8–9 in San Francisco, advocates, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, business leaders, organizers, and community changemakers will gather to explore the ideas, partnerships, and policy solutions shaping the future of racial, economic, and climate justice.

This year's agenda includes:

✨ Main stage conversations with Dolores Huerta, Linda Sarsour, Jeff Chang, Mira Nair, and Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome.

✨ Breakout sessions on climate investment, equitable banking, AI and community benefit agreements, green workforce development, and Tribal energy sovereignty.

✨ Interactive Equity Labs designed to equip participants with practical tools they can apply in their own communities and organizations.

✨ Dedicated opportunities to build relationships, exchange ideas, and reconnect with the purpose that drives this work.

If you're looking to strengthen your strategy, expand your network, and be part of the conversations shaping what's next, we hope you'll join us.

Explore the agenda and register today - https://cvent.me/14MzN3

08/04/2026

Highways aren't solving traffic — they're costing communities.

Across California, highway expansion projects are displacing working families, worsening air pollution, and spending billions of taxpayer dollars on a solution that decades of research shows doesn't work.

Meanwhile, as the cost of living and gas prices continue to rise, Californians struggling to make ends meet are forced to make impossible choices between filling the gas tank and paying for essentials like groceries.

So ahead of this year’s midterms, we have to ask ourselves: Why are our leaders continuing to invest in more highways instead of affordable, reliable transportation options that help people thrive in this expensive economy?

In this short video, hear directly from residents, advocates, and local leaders about the true cost of highway expansion — and why it's time to choose sustainable transportation solutions.

🎥 Watch the film.
📢 Learn the facts at https://bit.ly/GLI-HB4HW
✊ Join our movement for transportation investments that put communities first.

You can sign up to get updates and take action against highway expansion fights across California at https://www.climateplan.org/beyond-highways

Also, we just want to offer a special thank you to our partners. This project would not have been possible without the partnership, expertise, and leadership of the advocates and community leaders working every day to build healthier, more connected communities.

🌟 Active San Gabriel Valley - Active SGV, including Dale Zapata
🌟 California Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr.
🌟 Alex Contreras and the Happy City Coalition

07/29/2026

We're beyond excited to reveal the Just Future Summit 2026 Main Stage lineup!

Join us as we welcome an iconic group of movement leaders and visionaries to the Greenlining community:
✨ Jeff Chang — Renowned organizer and bestselling author
✨ Dolores Huerta — Legendary labor rights activist
✨ Mira Nair — Award-winning filmmaker
✨ Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome — Influential environmental justice advocate
✨ Linda Sarsour — Internationally recognized racial justice and civil rights activist
These trailblazers have shaped history, challenged the status quo, and continue to inspire generations to organize and lead. This October 8-9, they'll take the main stage at to share bold ideas and help us envision what's possible when we build power together.

🎟️ Don't miss your chance to be in the room: https://bit.ly/4t9MESY

07/24/2026

The federal government is rolling back financial protections and weakening oversight of financial institutions. Without strong accountability, these changes threaten fair access to capital, homeownership, and economic opportunity for communities of color.

California has an opportunity to respond and hold financial institutions accountable.

AB 801, the California Fair Lending Examination Act, would establish stronger fair lending oversight by requiring regular examinations of state-chartered banks, credit unions, and independent mortgage companies to ensure they are meeting the credit needs of the communities they serve. The Greenlining Institute is proud to sponsor AB 801 alongside Assemblymember Mia Bonta and a coalition of partners.

As Greenlining President & CEO Max Vargas said: "Our families in California are already facing rising costs, growing financial instability, and fewer pathways to building wealth. This is on top of federal deregulatory efforts. If California does not act, these gaps will grow and deepen."

Thank you to California Black Media and Antonio Ray Harvey for highlighting why stronger fair lending protections and accountability matter.

https://ow.ly/QnIl50Zs8uE