SOCIAL IMPACT AS AN ECONOMIC LEVER FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE
Energy flows where intention goes.
As an economic development leader with public and private clients, I often drive around the Mid-South’s nine-county region to see where there are disinvestments of economic resources and to identify areas of impact. It’s important in my work to not only understand the economic landscape of the region but to provide culturally competent assessments – allowing my clients to be more intentional and collaborative in their business approach to development.
In this region, it’s also important for me to share my connection with a higher calling and to bridge my clients to what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. termed, the beloved community– a community in which everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger, and hate. And, like Dr. King, I agree that the beloved community requires multiple systems of care such as law, education, infrastructure, healthcare, faith and government – all working together for total impact.
This way of working can seem overwhelming to leaders who have been used to making economic development decisions in a bubble, however, over the last two years – after experiencing a pandemic and the deaths of Armaud Arberry, Breona Taylor and George Floyd – society has demanded that business and government leaders adopt a human rights consciousness as well as be more open, inclusive, collaborative, and intentional in how they invest in communities, solve social problems and deploy resources. Society has also demanded that business and corporate leaders be more responsive in how they deal with decades of systemic and structural racism that have constricted low-income communities to food deserts, abandoned buildings, low performing schools, limited healthcare options and consistent crime.
In early May 2022, the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP), released a first-of-its-kind research study on corporate social responsibility (CSR). The study found that there’s a lack of BIPOC professionals working in the CSR field and that the field is underprepared to advance equity in their work. “The bottom line is that Corporate Social Impact teams lack the diversity and lived experience of the people and communities their programs are designed to serve, particularly at the senior leadership level,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, CEO of ACCP. “And without addressing these deficiencies, companies will not achieve their publicly stated racial equity goals.”
My intention with Dean & Associates is to provide a cultural lens to how we direct economic development to distressed areas across our community and to also be a strategic partner with corporations in the areas of corporate social responsibility, purpose and impact. We know, from experience, that this work cannot be done alone or without the right people at the table. My years of experience with the Greater Memphis Chamber and various industries have allowed me to create a framework for building alliances, sharing insights, navigating complex policies and igniting meaningful, yet equitable economic development. To some, these actions may seem easy, however, it takes an enormous amount of skill to influence leaders to align their intentions with impact.
Our goals are simply this: 1) to make sure that equity sits at the center of economic development conversations, policies, practices and investments; 2) to implore business and government leaders to be more aware of the issues marginalized communities and neighborhoods face so that they can be more intentional about the solutions they deploy and 3) to serve as strategic partners for awareness, understanding, inclusivity, and transparency.
These actions are how we improve the lives of community members across the region no matter their zip code or socio-economic status. Energy flows where intention goes, so let’s make good on our commitments and be more intentional about revitalizing our region. This is how we exercise the power of equity and justice.
Getting proximate with Tennessee's minority-owned businesses
By Andre Dean
Published in Commercial Appeal
In February, outgoing Tennessee State Senator Mike Bell of Riceville and Representative John Ragan of Oak Ridge introduced legislation to eliminate Affirmative Action from state and local governments. Senate Bill 2440 and House Bill 2569 prohibits the state from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to an individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting. Both legislators represent rural districts in East Tennessee.
Why does this matter in contracting?
It matters because those districts, according to Data USA, are predominately white and the legislation both men introduced will impact urban communities and businesses composed of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) – all of whom have historically been disenfranchised in contracting opportunities across the state of Tennessee.
In West Tennessee – specifically, Shelby County, Black residents make up 53% of the total population, however, Black businesses experience significant disparities in the number of contracts awarded by both public and private sectors. And, there are many reasons why these disparities exist, however, I’d like to call out the challenge I believe has the most significant impact on minority contracting – exclusionary networks.
It’s been well documented that one of the many reasons diverse businesses have not increased participation in government contracting, is due to a lack of access to the networks and relationships that could bring forth more efficient business decisions.
As a Black business owner, I know, first-hand, that networks can be a gamechanger. I’ve been able to grow and sustain my business not only because of my firm’s experience, but from authentic connections to networks of decision-makers who recognize my value to their bottom-line. Because of my relationships, I’ve been able to secure opportunities at a faster, more consistent rate than many of my peers.
I am not unique in this mission
There are other qualified firms that should be engaged to participate in the economic growth across the state. I believe that when governments, corporations and individuals are proximate to diverse businesses within the communities they serve, they build an awareness of the actions needed in order to make economic opportunities more equitable and inclusive.
On the contrary, when the same stakeholders are not proximate, they risk hurting underserved communities with poor legislation, misaligned policies and exclusive business practices – leaving the economic landscape, lopsided. This is what we’re seeing with the introduction of SB 2440/ HB 2569.
So, what are the implications of ending inclusive policies within state and local government contracting?
The implications would be severe not only for diverse business owners, but for the entire economy. With Ford Motor Company’s Blue Oval Project in West Tennessee, diverse businesses would miss out on what has been reported as the largest economic development project in our state’s history.
To date, the numbers for minority business participation is a little over 3%. If the policies that are already in place go away, there will be no political will to do the right thing with inclusive business practices.
What is the path forward?
In business, relationships matter. This is especially true for diverse businesses which are often locked out of networks that provide information, mentorship, access to capital and technical assistance – all of which are essential for success.
Fortunately, neither bill made it out of this year’s session which gives us more time to advocate for economic inclusion across the state.
During this recess, I invite our legislators to partner with us in engaging diverse business owners and job seekers who have been historically excluded due to bias and other discriminatory business practices. Sit with them. Understand their challenges.
Visit with companies like AutoZone and FedEx that have best practices on inclusive business contracting and have also made commitments through their supplier diversity programs to increase engagement and contract awards across all functional areas.
These types of actions are critical in fostering a thriving and inclusive business environment, and should be cited as examples on how to create economic environments where everyone can participate.
As attorney and author, Bryan Stevenson, emphatically contends, “we can’t solve problems at a distance…if we are willing to get closer to people who are suffering, we will find the power to change the world.”
Andre Dean is the President and Principal Owner of Dean & Associates – a government relations, business, and professional services consulting firm. Dean and Associates works with local, state, and federal entities to develop and implement economic development initiatives geared towards growing the Mid-South region located within Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.
gender pay gap and the impact on female homebuyers
By Erica Van Buren
For Smart Cities Dive
Dive Brief
Women in the U.S. could afford 18% more of homes for sale if they made as much money as men, according to a recent analysis by Zillow. “Because owning a home is the dominant avenue for building wealth for most Americans, this disparity has a compounding impact,” it says.
This gap in access to homeownership has further ramifications for women's affluence, researchers say. And when they do buy: “The female financial return on buying the home is lower in that women buy for a higher price and sell for a lower price,” said Kelly Shue, professor of finance at Yale School of Management.
That said, the overall gender pay gap is shrinking, which in turn ought to address the problem of home value disparities, the analysis in part concluded.
Dive Insight:
Homeownership is the foundation for building wealth for many people in the U.S. Yet certain demographic groups continue to lag in that pursuit, even though overall ownership rates are on the rise.
For instance, the National Association of Realtors recently reported that the U.S. homeownership rate had its largest-ever annual increase in 2020, but White families remained homeowners at a much higher rate than Hispanic American, Asian American or Black families, with the Black homeownership rate lower in 2020 than it was in 2010.
It’s both a historical issue and an ongoing trend. Racial barriers have for decades prevented Black families from having what many people consider a central piece of the American Dream. Discriminatory practices such as redlining – in which the Federal Housing Administration refused to insure mortgages in or near Black neighborhoods – have shaped racial wealth disparities and contributed to the homeownership gap, experts say. Looking ahead, the Urban Institute predicted last year that over the next two decades, the largest decline in homeownership rates will be among certain Black households.
For women, both affordability and home value disparities have negative impacts, the Zillow analysis highlights. Yale’s Shue further detailed women’s experience with the home buying and selling process. “If you think about buying a home, on average, people make money on their investment. [Women] were more likely to buy in locations and during time periods when prices in general in an area were high, and they sold when prices in an area were low,” Shue said. “The past couple of decades, single men have done better in terms of the timing and the choosing of where to buy and sell.”
And women, on average, still get paid less than men in the same jobs, and that lower salary makes it difficult for them to access available homes.
The extent of that gap varies by job type: Women working in the financial industry, education, health services, advocacy and pet care experience more significant disparities, according to the Zillow analysis.
It also depends on where in the U.S. a woman lives and works. The pay gaps in major metropolitan areas seem similar to the national gender pay ratio of 83%, according to a study of 2018 data from the American Association of University Women, with urban areas on average having slightly smaller gaps and rural areas having larger gaps. The study found that the metropolitan area with the smallest gender pay gap was Miami, with a ratio of 91%, and the widest was Detroit, at 72%. The largest average dollar gap between men’s and women’s median annual earnings was also found in Detroit, where men were paid $16,579 more annually than women.
Jun Zhu, a nonresident fellow with the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center, noted the gender pay gap is closing “but it’s not fully closed.” Zhu pointed to a few factors contributing to that momentum, including that more women are heading households and gaining economic power. Strategies that could help women with homebuying include increasing the visibility and accessibility of homebuying resources, such as different types of down payment programs, Zhu said.
“If we can provide enough support for mortgage and down payment assistance, that will be a very good thing as a starting point,” Zhu said, adding that it will be “especially important” for female heads of the households who often have less income and are first-generation homebuyers.
By Erica Van Buren For Smart Cities Dive
SALUTE TO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Although my life has been transformed by the inclusion of some very courageous and intelligent women like my wife, Cathy, my sisters, Andrea, Valerie and Delores, and a host of others that have worked with me throughout my career and on various boards and church-based organizations, I would be remiss if I didn’t share a special word as Women’s History Month (WHM) comes to a close. More specifically, I want to take a moment to recognize a few women who have impacted my life and who exemplify this year’s WHM theme of hope and healing.
I’ll start with my mother.
My mom, Betty “Shortcake” Dean, had an enormous heart that allowed her to pour into me and my five siblings as well as other individuals where we grew up in the metro Nashville area. She modeled for me how to lead at home, work, church, and in the community through selfless acts of kindness and genuine concern for others. Her political involvement at the grassroots level revealed perspective and opportunity. Because of her, I learned how to lead with empathy and compassion. I learned how to be resourceful and intentional. I also learned how to laugh. Although she’s no longer with us, her spirit lives on in me and in every life she touched, and, it’s in the spirit of gratitude that I honor her this month as a woman whose hope and healing has made me the man I am today.
Mrs. Ruby Bright
One of the women who has had a tremendous impact on my adult life is Ruby Bright, Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. Ruby is not only a fierce champion of women and girls in our community, but has served as a mentor to me as I’ve navigated my professional career through corporate and non-governmental organizations. As an accounting and finance focused professional, I learned from Ruby how to be a good steward of resources and how to use the power of proximity, inclusion and equity to achieve greater community impact. Ruby’s leadership taught me how to be a bridge between those with power and those whose voices are too low to be heard. Ruby’s support taught me how to use my influence for good as well as how to bring others along on the journey. Because of Ruby, I have a deeper understanding of the impact my firm, Dean & Associates, can have on the success of the Mid-South region.
Thank you, Ruby!
Judge Kentanji Brown-Johnson
Lastly, I want to use my platform to draw attention to President Biden’s nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for the U.S. Supreme Court and to highlight the hope, resilience and brilliance on full display during her U. S. Senate confirmation hearings. Like, Senator Cory Booker, I’m centering the joy of women and, especially, Black women, in affirming Judge Jackson’s qualifications to serve as our next Supreme Court Justice.
Let’s be clear.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring virtuosity, stellar qualifications, and sound judicial temperament to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her record as a judge and lawyer demonstrates that she is fair, impartial, and dedicated to equal justice for all. I believe that when judges and justices come from diverse backgrounds, our courts make better decisions that reflect a wider variety of perspectives. There’s no doubt that achieving gender equality and inclusion on our nation’s highest court has been in the making for a long time, and we cannot let this moment get away from us. With that, let’s make 2022 the year that we confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and inspire the next generation of leaders who will change the world! #ConfirmKBJ
WEIGHING UKRAINE
The war in Ukraine has weighed heavy on me and my staff as the days go on without resolve. We’ve been watching the news nonstop – hoping for good news in the midst of so much destruction, chaos and loss.
As a leader in government relations and public affairs, I’m constantly studying the intricacies of laws and policies, the leaders behind them, and the impacts on various stakeholders. In my opinion, our U.S. foreign policies and governance have not been consistent across administrations – Obama to Trump to Biden. These inconsistencies led Russia to invade Ukraine and further its agenda in that region. When policies aren’t consistent from one administration to the next, it allows dictators and bad actors to evolve their strategy and attack in the form of war as we’ve seen over the last 30+ days.
My hope as this war goes on, is that the Ukrainian people are allowed to find refuge in the U.S. and within countries led by our NATO allies. Secondly, I hope our government strengthens its policies and relationship with NATO in an effort to deter any other countries from committing such atrocities like Russia. Lastly, there’s no doubt that the war in Ukraine will continue to impact all of us in the U.S. through rising gas prices or supply chain disruptions. We will all pay the price for this war – directly and indirectly. As Dr. King wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." To that end, let’s be mindful of how we treat each other, remember to extend grace and never forget that our vote matters! Dean & Associates
Dean & Associates
a view from our seat at the table
We know that in the ever-evolving sectors of economic and workforce development, change happens quickly and communication is key. That’s why we’re committed to keeping our clients, partners and community in the know regarding legislation, policies and opportunities impacting the Mid-South’s nine-county region comprised of Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.
There’s a lot happening, here, and we have a lot to say!
From the Liberty Park Development in Memphis to Ford Motor Company’s Blue Oval City Project in West Tennessee, Dean and Associates sits at the intersection of this regional transformation and is proud to play an integral role in reshaping the Mid-South’s economic landscape. Whether you’re an industry decisionmaker, legislator or community partner, we specialize in bringing the right people together to think strategically about developing a region where people live, work and play. This means facilitating more intentional conversations not only about how we conduct business, but how we foster an environment where inclusion and collaboration is embedded across all that we do.
As we continue the work of helping our clients understand the complexities of doing business in this tri-state region, we invite you to subscribe to our mailing list for deeper insights, or connect with us via Facebook, Twitter or IG for quick updates and inspiration!
Let us give you a glimpse of the future from our seat at the table!
Dean & Associates