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On March 25, 2025, members of the Center for Community Resilience (CCR) and the Equity Institute (EI) teams visited Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) and discuss the CCR-EI Closing the Wealth Gap framework—an innovative, community-centered initiative first piloted in Cincinnati.
This meeting was a significant step in advancing the mission of EI, which is to translate research into action that fosters racial, ethnic and socioeconomic equity. The Closing the Wealth Gap framework, developed in close collaboration with community and elected leaders over the past three years, offers a blueprint to align place-based investments in ways that close economic gaps and improve health and social outcomes.
At the heart of this approach is the establishment of neighborhood hubs: centralized, co-located service centers that connect residents to financial institutions, supportive programs, and trained professionals. These hubs are designed to fill critical service gaps in neighborhoods lacking access to brick-and-mortar institutions and trusted resources.
During their visit with Congressman Landsman, the CCR-EI team shared key insights from their Cincinnati pilot and discussed the potential to replicate this framework in cities across the country. As part of its national strategy, the Equity Institute will soon host a stakeholder luncheon in Washington, D.C., bringing together funders and prospective partners to explore opportunities for collaboration and expansion.
By combining data-informed policy design with community engagement, the CCR-EI team continues to advance a vision for sustainable economic change—one that works to close the nation's wealth gap.