And finally, thank you to award-winning journalist and author Natalie Moore for providing closing comments! www.youtube.com/watch?v=bexD...

In the final panel, panelists share their insights on the successes and stumbling blocks of HMDA data as a tool for promoting racial equity and economic justice, providing critical insight into the future of fair housing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bexD... @natfairhouse.bsky.social

In panel 2, "Where We Are," fair housing experts unpack the role HMDA data plays in highlighting lending disparities, holding financial institutions accountable, and driving policy change. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyGx... @fairhousingin.bsky.social @housingactionil.bsky.social

Panel 1, “Where We Were,” features key figures in the fight against redlining discussing how everyday people successfully took on the vast, complex, and powerful financial system. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw5T...

CHICAGO: Join us on October 21 for a conversation with @oscarthinks.bsky.social about his new book, The Banks We Deserve. Moderated by Michael Emancipator from the Independent Community Bankers of America. Don't wait! Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-banks-...

Save the date for upcoming Woodstock events! All happening in Chicago. Keep an eye on our website for registration details: woodstockinst.org/events/

Woodstock President Horacio Mendez joins WTTW to discuss the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act - “Those blessed enough to have a home have a singular focus of seeing the value of that home go up. Therefore, the mismatch between supply and demand works in their favor.” news.wttw.com/2026/07/06/b...

"The proposal also includes two dozen negative deviations from international Basel III standards. That sentence alone should set off alarms throughout the global banking system."

TOMORROW on WVON! Join @illinoisdhr.bsky.social Director James Bennett and Woodstock’s Jane Doyle for a discussion on SB 3777, the Civil Rights Safeguards Act. Listen to WVON here: www.iheart.com/live/wvon-16...

Our Director of Applied Research appeared on WVON to discuss small business lending disparities in IL & Chicago. "Across IL, businesses in upper-income neighborhoods received about twice as much small business lending as businesses in lower-income neighborhoods." woodstockinst.org/wp-content/u...

Calling Illinois mortgage licensees! Illinois regulators are hosting two virtual covering the Illinois Mortgage Community Reinvestment Act exam. Wednesday, May 20, 9-10am: illinois.webex.com/webappng/sit... Thursday, May 21, 2-3pm: illinois.webex.com/webappng/sit...

TOMORROW, Wednesday April 1, on WVON 1690 AM! Nikki Bravo, co-founder of Momentum Coffee, and Geri Sanchez Aglipay from Small Business Majority will discuss why Illinois small businesses need APR for All. Tune in here: www.iheart.com/live/wvon-16...

Illinois small businesses lose an estimated $1.25 million every day to nontransparent loans that obscure the true cost of borrowing. Those losses represent dollars that should be going toward hiring, expansion and local investment — not hidden fees and invisible interest.

APR For All! Advocates came to Springfield yesterday to urge Illinois lawmakers to pass HB 744 HA#1, the Small Business Financing Transparency Act, legislation that would require non-bank lenders to disclose the Annual Percentage Rate of loans offered to small businesses.

There's still time to sign up to join us for our APR For All lobby day this Tuesday (3/24) in Springfield! Join us as we urge lawmakers to pass HB 744 HA#1, the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/small-busi...

TOMORROW on WVON 1690 AM! Join Rufus Williams and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza to learn more about HB744 HA # 1, the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Tune in here at 8:15AM: www.iheart.com/live/wvon-16...

The “APR For All” coalition had a great phonebank last week urging IL legislators to support the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. We’re hitting the road next Tuesday, March 24, and heading to the IL Capitol to continue our small business advocacy efforts. Join us!

TOMORROW on WVON! Woodstock's Brent Adams and former State Senator Jacqueline Collins will join WVON's Rufus Williams to discuss Woodstock's new report, "The PLPA Is Still Working; But the Predatory Lenders Strike Back!" Tune in here: www.iheart.com/live/wvon-16...

Every year, Illinois small businesses lose an estimated $450 million as a result of nontransparent loans that often conceal predatory triple-digit interest rates of more than 100% —raising costs for consumers as well.

Thank you to all the IL leaders that have stood up for small businesses by endorsing APR For All legislation, including AG Kwame Raoul, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, & Mayor Brandon Johnson. woodstockinst.org/press-releas...

Yesterday, we presented new data to the Chicago City Council Committee on Finance regarding the lending patterns of the City's banking partners. These annual hearings evaluate whether Chicago’s banking partners are making progress in closing historical racial and economic lending disparities.

Learn more about the Coalition for Small Business Financing Transparency at APRForAll.com.

Last week’s Small Business Town Hall with Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, Rep. @gonggershowitz.bsky.social, Senator Laura Fine, and Commissioner Samantha Steele was a great opportunity to connect with local small business owners and learn more about their experiences with accessing financing.

The Woodstock Report on WVON 1690 AM returns this Wednesday, February 4 at 8:20am! Rep. Kam Buckner will be on this week to discuss the Small Business Financing Transparency Act, which would codify critical lending protections for IL small businesses. Listen here: www.iheart.com/live/wvon-16...

Illinois legislators and consumer advocates want to hear from small business owners about their experiences with financing their businesses and accessing capital. Free breakfast from Habibi In will be provided! Register here: evanstonthm.eventbrite.com

Redlined communities organized and fought for the mortgage data that proved they were being systemically denied access to loans. Now the current Administration’s attacks on research and racial equity are putting the future of this data at risk.

We had a wonderful turnout at our event, Data as Power: 50 Years of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act! Panelists discussed the past, present, and future of HMDA data and its role in combatting redlining and enforcing fair lending laws.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our inaugural Small Business Financing Conference a success! This event offered small business owners, lenders, civic leaders, and policy advocates an opportunity to connect and confront one of Illinois’s most urgent challenges...

We're honored to have Natalie Moore delivering closing remarks at this Wednesday's event, Data As Power: 50 Years of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Tickets are still available! Get yours here: www.eventbrite.com/e/data-as-po...

Get your tickets now for Data As Power: 50 Years of HMDA on Wednesday December 10th! lnkd.in/gZju77Yx In 2020, WBEZ reporters used Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data to discover lenders had invested more in a single white neighborhood than all of Chicago's Black neighborhoods combined... 🧵