How Lenwood V Long Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice

An Interview With Monica Sanders

Seize Every Opportunity to Educate. Larger institutions and banks have a sense of how to serve underserved markets, but they don’t have the time to provide the necessary education. For example, banks may give you a loan but you’re on your own after that. CDFI business models provide technical assistance to help small businesses maximize their loans and succeed. At the Alliance, we are positioned to meet organizations where they are and help them grow.

According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an incredibly important environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Lenwood V. Long, Sr.

Lenwood V. Long, Sr., is the President/CEO of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs (The Alliance), a coalition of Black CEOs of Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan funds, credit unions, and venture capital funds representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Lenwood has more than three decades of experience in community economic development, human resources, and business management, including leadership positions in a variety of organizations, statewide economic and community development agencies, national consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations. As President/CEO of the Alliance, Lenwood’s work is deeply rooted in building capacity, fostering collaboration, and advocating for policies that strengthen Black-led CDFIs and the communities they serve. In addition to his work at the Alliance, Lenwood is the Founder and President of the consulting firm BV&L Associates. He has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC, a Master of Science in Urban Administration from Georgia State University, and specialized training from programs including Harvard University Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Education Program. He is the recipient of The Order of Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina, a recently retired Senior Pastor Emeritus of New Bethel Baptist Church in Rolesville, NC. Lenwood is a United States Army Veteran (Vietnam Combat Infantry Paratrooper). He received an Honorable Discharge as Sergeant (E-5). He served his country further in the North Carolina Army National Guard from 1973 to 1996, retiring as a Master Sergeant.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?

I grew up in rural North Carolina, in a little place called Bayboro, during segregation. I grew up at a time where I never thought a guy from Bayboro, North Carolina, would not only be a CEO of a community development financial institution (CDFI). But never imagined that I’d be in a position to help people fulfill their dreams, realize their aspirations, and be an advocate for change and apart of the movement towards decreasing the wealth gap that we see in this nation among people of color. As an ordained minister, I believe I was called to do this work and I’m excited to be on this mission of helping underserved communities. I am proud to be a product of that rural America, certainly not the segregation but the push for a single grandmother who encouraged me to rise about the circumstances.

Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?

I believe there were several cataclysmic moments that shaped the person I am today. But my military career was the defining moment. Growing up during segregation, I was introduced to the difficulties of life very early. These realities made me yearn for better opportunities and to rise above my circumstances. This yearning lead me to military service, which also taught me some hard-learned lessons and discipline. During my military tour, I learned that decision making must be fast and without delay, as my life as well as others depended upon my ability to implement. This lesson has served me well throughout my career — especially now that I’m in a position to improve my quality of life and create new opportunities for those in need. This position is humbling and fulfilling.

Joining the military paved the way for me to use the GI bill to obtain my bachelor’s degree at St. Augustine’s University and part of my master’s degree at Georgia State University. My decisions afforded me the opportunity to serve in senior management positions in government service and the private sector. A career highlight included working as Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton, who became the first African American Congressional representative from North Carolina in one hundred years and the first female Congresswoman from a rural area in the history of the state.

My combined experience and passion for service led me to work in the CDFI industry, as a board member then as staff. In 1990, I along with Martin Eakes and others called to serve, founded the NC Minority Support Center, which first served as source of capital and management assistance to a network of African American Community Development Credit Unions. After the 2008 economic meltdown and collapse of the credit union networks, I was asked to serve as interim President and CEO. That decision would lead to almost a decade worth of service with the Support Center and its evolution to Carolina Small Business Development Fund. During my tenure, we launched and grew a $39 million load fund that supported over 550 small business loans, job creation and retention, and forged new and innovative partnerships and programs with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and women’s business centers throughout North Carolina.

Having been a part of the NC Minority Support Center since its inception and significant milestones, I gained a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the CDFI industry. These key learnings would later serve as the foundation for the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs (The Alliance) and its programs and initiatives.

You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?

As the President & CEO of The Alliance, my work is deeply rooted in building capacity, fostering collaboration, and advocating for policies that strengthen Black-led CDFIs and the communities they serve. Since it’s inception, I assisted The Alliance in surpassing its fundraising goal of over $1 million in the first six months of operation, and established and managed a grant management system that awarded over $1.1 million in grants to its members within the first five months. But that’s not the best part. Everyday, I get to work with a passionate team that is ready to serve the underserved. We are all here on purpose. And that purpose is to connect and create solutions that are not just theoretical, but practical strategies that can make a tangible difference in communities of color.

At the Alliance, our mission is to build the capacity of Black-led CDFI CEOs and their organizations; build bridges to economic stability, well-being, and wealth for Black individuals, families, and communities; and build power in Black communities by challenging and influencing financial sectors to operate more equitably. This includes creating sustainable financing opportunities for CDFIs as they are uniquely positioned to deliver greenhouse gas reduction financing to the low income and disadvantaged communities they serve. We are the only membership organization supporting and leveraging African American CDFI CEOs’ decades of expertise, relationships, and intellectual capital to change African Americans’ odds and outcomes in underserved communities across America.

Together, we have made significant strides in our mission. We have secured over 17.5M to support capacity building grants and below-market patient debt to our members via the Black Renaissance Fund. This fund and others will support the growth of small businesses, the development of affordable housing, and the creation of jobs in Black communities. In addition, we provided training to our members via our Women-Led Initiative, and helped organization develop the skills and knowledge needed to best serve their communities through our African American Equity Impact Scorecard.

Every day, we advocate for policies and programs that support Black communities and to close the racial wealth gap. We have worked with policymakers at the local, state, and federal level to promote policies that increase access to capital, promote economic development, and create jobs in Black communities. To better fight for equity in Black communities we launched the Community Builders of Color Coalition (The Coalition), which is a national network of 19 BIPOC- led organizations led by the Alliance. The Coalition urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that Black and Brown communities can benefit equally from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) as authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. What makes our programs and initiatives promising is that they are truly rooted in our communities, and they are intentionally led by people who are from and have a pulse on those communities’ needs.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?

The challenge of staffing for a remote organization is critical. I needed to have my Executive Assistant as close to NC as possible. I would never think that after the team combed through over 200 resumes, one of the top three would live in NC, and the candidate selected lived in Durham, NC, less than 25 miles from me. Who would have ever imagined the chances.

None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?

My greatest mentor is former Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton. I was honored to serve as an SVP in her planning & management consultant firm and her first Chief of Staff in Congress. Not only did she help shape my career with her guidance, modeling, counseling, correcting, challenging, and mentoring she also pushed me always to give my best at all times. I often reflect on the time I rushed to get a report to her, and after about 15 minutes, she came to my desk, leaving the report, and only said, in her gentle voice, “This is not your best,” and walked away. What a learning moment for me, and she never had to tell me that again, and it propelled me always to give my best efforts in whatever I do. I could never say enough about her gentle giant influence on my career, humanity, and family and opportunities provided at strategic times in my life.

Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?

Before we address climate justice, we must first discuss Black wealth. When we talk about Black wealth in America, it almost always involves dispossession, and disenfranchisement. Many historical events including slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crow, the destruction of Black Wall Street, housing discrimination and current political and economic events have prevented Black Americans from accessing the resources we need to create generational black wealth. There needs to be an intentional shift in America’s culture and public reform to close the racial wealth gap. Black wealth means having access to resources and to sustainable solutions to build power and equity within our communities. Solutions to closing the racial wealth gap include, but are certainly not limited to, access to capital and education, and housing. As a result of these conditions, communities of color continue to face energy insecurity due to longstanding systemic barriers such as lower incomes, a lack of access to credit, and lower numbers of home ownership.

Climate justice means removing the barriers that prevent Black communities from building wealth. Our ability to build Black wealth and have healthy neighborhoods has been challenged by structural racism, limited access to capital (wealth disparities and inequities), and lack of representation. Climate justice also means equipping community-based organizations and financial institutions that serve disadvantaged populations with capital and resources needed to access zero-emission technologies and support environmental justice activities that lead to lower energy prices, reduced pollution, and the creation of well-paying jobs for their communities.

When it comes to achieving climate justice, it is an all or nothing fight. That’s why I always say we are stronger together! Collaboration and community first are what guides our work with the Coalition and the Justice Climate Fund. Through the fund we will advocate for policies changes and funding that better support Black-led organizations and communities to eliminate these barriers.

Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?

When it comes to creating sustainable and impactful solutions for communities of color, the work must involve the people most affected by climate change. I’m proud to share the Alliance is working on several initiatives to create long-standing sustainable solutions to address climate and economic justice. What makes these initiatives promising is that they are truly rooted in our communities, and they are intentionally led by people who are from and have a pulse on those communities’ needs.

First, is our Community Builders of Color Coalition and the Justice Climate Fund. As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to achieving climate justice, it is an all or nothing fight. As part of our advocacy efforts, the Alliance leads the Community Builders of Color Coalition (The Coalition) which is made up of 19 national BIPOC organizations urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that minority communities can benefit equally from the GGRF as authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Coalition Membership reaches frontline services to every State, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rica to include Rural, Urban, and Tribal Territories. Coalition Members include: African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, African-American Credit Union Coalition, American Association of Blacks in Energy, Black Community Developers Group, The Chisholm Legacy Project, Community Development Bankers Association, Hip Hop Caucus, Inclusiv, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, National Urban League, National Bankers Association, Native CDFI Network, National CAPACD, Opportunity Finance Network, Prosperity Now, Reimagine Main Street, Oweesta Corporation, U.S. Black Chamber, and Urban Strategies, Inc.

To better advocate for equity, the Coalition launched its first major initiative this spring, the Justice Climate Fund. This initiative will serve as the eligible applicant into the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The Justice Climate Fund is designed to provide capital, leverage private capital and support zero emission technologies, products and services throughout the United States, with a focus on low income and disadvantaged communities. Through the Justice Climate Fund, the Coalition will be able to quickly distribute capital to organizations on the front-line protecting the most vulnerable populations. Together, we will fight for:

• Over 110 million Americans living in low-income and disadvantaged communities, including 1 in 2 African Americans, Latinos, Native Indians, and Alaskans residing in Justice 40 communities.
• Nearly 37 million Americans burdened by energy poverty, impacting their family budgets, health, and resilience.
• The tens of millions of Americans affected by the growing number and intensity of climate-related events (such as droughts, storms, and floods) that strain inadequate housing and infrastructure.
• The thousands of communities that are facing adverse health impacts from pollution and environmental hazards.

Second, our Black Renaissance Fund is an initiative that drives catalytic investments for Black-led CDFIs with the goal of achieving sustainable outcomes. The BRF aims to raise $125 million in capital, which will be utilized to provide members of the Alliance with capacity-building grants and below-market patient debt at approximately 3% interest. This fund will position our members to better serve their communities.

Third, our African American Equity Impact Scorecard guides investments and accountability by quantifying a project’s impact across five areas: wealth building, leadership support, access to land, culture and place keeping, and racial equity. Using the Scorecard, organizations will learn about their impact on Black communities and elevate their approach to racial equity. Early adopters of the Scorecard have experienced the transformational effect on their organizations, helped them understand impact, and better view their work through a racial equity lens, and identify opportunities for disruption and institutional accountability.

Through meaningful partnerships with various organizations, our programs, services, and initiatives have been successful and will continue to make a positive impact on communities of color.

Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?

The Alliance was formed because we saw that historically the racial wealth gap has profoundly impacted Black-Led CDFIs and Black communities. In generational wealth, home ownership, access to capital, and entrepreneurial investment, African Americans face significant and systemic challenges to reaching true economic freedom. The three things that can be done to support our mission are rooted in community and collaboration.

One, we believe that when institutions and individuals committed to each other’s success come together, we can build a better future for all of us. For example, our Coalition is intentionally composed of 19 BIPOC organizations. As such we are uniquely positioned to understand and ensure we are creating long-term solutions that will move low-income and disadvantaged communities forward.

Two, we believe in promoting inclusivity in economic development. We could use support in actively supporting economic development initiatives that are more inclusive and that prioritize the needs and aspirations of all members of the community, including those historically marginalized. By championing economic strategies that are equitable, sustainable, and community-driven, we can foster an environment that allows Black communities to thrive and achieve economic freedom.

And third, we believe in advocating for policy changes: Policymakers can play a crucial role in addressing the racial wealth gap by advocating for and implementing policies that promote economic equity and inclusivity. This may include supporting legislation that provides increased access to capital for minority-owned businesses, incentivizes investment in underserved communities, and addresses historical disparities in homeownership and generational wealth.

How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?

Businesses have the grand opportunity to increase profitability and become a leader in the renewable energy sector. They can become more profitable by adopting sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. This includes cost savings through energy efficiency and waste reduction, building a positive brand reputation, accessing new markets and investors, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

This is the signature question we ask in most of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice” and why?

1 . Be Prepared to Address Misinformation. We must first address the misinformation about CDFIs and the challenges they face. CDFIs have been perceived as just another vehicle to provide capital for the housing, lending, and other areas as simply a support organization. But there is more to them! CDFIs should be seen as full organizations that are moving the economy and underserved communities forward. The value of CDFIs has long been underestimated and devalued by public policy and other systemic issues that keep resources out of our reach. The truth is CDFIs are best positioned to address the needs of underserved communities and build stronger communities. This is our platform at the Alliance.

2 . Seize Every Opportunity to Educate. Larger institutions and banks have a sense of how to serve underserved markets, but they don’t have the time to provide the necessary education. For example, banks may give you a loan but you’re on your own after that. CDFI business models provide technical assistance to help small businesses maximize their loans and succeed. At the Alliance, we are positioned to meet organizations where they are and help them grow.

3 . Remain Vigilant and Committed: Promoting sustainability and climate justice is a challenging endeavor, and setbacks are inevitable. It is essential to stay resilient, adaptive, and persistent in the face of obstacles. This might involve learning from failures, adjusting strategies, and staying committed to the long-term vision. For instance, the Alliance can face opposition or encounter difficulties in securing funding for projects. By remaining steadfast in its mission and continuously seeking innovative solutions, the organization can overcome challenges and make a meaningful difference in the lives of underserved communities and the environment.

4 . Measure and Communicate Impact: In the pursuit of sustainability and climate justice, it is crucial to measure and communicate the impact of initiatives and at first, The Alliance was not prepared to do this because we had not gathered precise data of our members’ work in this space. Quantifying the positive outcomes is crucial and showcasing success stories can inspire others to join the movement and contribute to the cause. For instance, the Alliance will regularly track and report on the economic growth, job creation of our members, and environmental improvements resulting from the GGRF funds. Sharing these results with stakeholders, partners, and the wider public can build support, attract investment, and foster a sense of collective responsibility.

5 . Build Strong Partnerships and Collaborate: Achieving climate justice is not the task of one organization or sector alone. It requires collective effort, collaboration, and pooling of resources and expertise. There’s power in partnerships. A notable example was in October of last year with the announcement of the IRA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. I made sure to reach out to like-minded and mission-driven organizations, and the result now is the Community Builders of Color Coalition. I always like to say that we are stronger together because such collaborations can amplify the impact, provide additional resources, and create an environment of shared learning. Together, we have combined our mission, roots, and financial expertise in the communities we serve, resulting in more comprehensive and effective programs and initiatives, such as today’s Justice Climate Fund. It’s a testament to the adage that together, we can achieve more.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

If I were to have a private breakfast or lunch with someone, it would be with President Barack Obama. As a pioneering leader and the first African American President of the United States, he achieved significant milestones in breaking barriers and advancing social progress. I would love to hear about his experiences in navigating the complexities of leadership, particularly in addressing issues of economic inequality and promoting sustainable development. His insights on the intersection of climate justice, economic empowerment, and social justice would be invaluable in shaping our strategic direction as we work towards achieving true economic freedom and environmental sustainability for Black communities.

How can our readers continue to follow your work online?

For updates on our Justice Climate Fund and other programs and initiatives, readers can follow and connect with us on Instagram at @aaacdfi, Twitter at @aaacdfi, Facebook at African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs and LinkedIn at African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs. Also, please visit our website at www.aaacdfi.org.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share the great work of the Alliance and the Justice Climate Fund with everyone. I hope I was able to provide you with the kind of information that will motivate communities to fight for sustainable solutions for all.

About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org