Merten Bangemann-Johnson, CEO, NeighborWorks Umpqua

Challenge: The southern Oregon fishing industry was struggling as it faced global competition, with its seafood often sold to corporate buyers for export instead of to local residents. As a result, access to fresh seafood was limited.

David Price Executive Director, Nuestra Comunidad

Christopher Kui, Executive Director, Asian Americans for Equality

Noel S. Halvorsen, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Green Bay

Challenge: The Navarino neighborhood in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin, has seen some revitalization in recent years, but the low-income area still showed signs of lingering poverty. One of the biggest problems is the lack of access to healthy affordable food.

Kara Hay, President & CEO
Dana Ward, Loan Officer, MainStream Finance

Challenge: Habitit for Humanity of Waldo County, Maine, wanted to help a low-income couple obtain safe, stable housing, but local banks couldn’t offer an affordable option.

Sherry Farley, President and CEO, Frontier Housing
Stacey Epperson, President and Founder, Next Step Network

Peggy Hutchison, CEO, Primavera Foundation

Rosa Rios Valdez, CEO, Business and Community Lenders of Texas

Challenge: San Antonio had the second highest rate of obesity among U.S. metro areas in 2014. Obesity is often a precursor to diabetes and other health problems. Diabetes is prevalent among low-to-moderate income households and people of color, including Latinos.

Lou Tisler, Executive Director, Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland

Jenna Johnson, Marketing & Development Director, Origin SC
Kristin Bastian, Financial Education Manager, Origin SC