AFN Philadelphia: Baby Bonds and Direct Cash Workshop

Join the Philadelphia Asset Funders Network for an interactive workshop examining how direct cash and baby bonds can work together to support families now and into the future.

For the first time in more than 40 years, Philadelphia’s poverty rate has dropped below 20 percent, allowing asset funders to take stock of recent progress and also build upon this positive momentum with new strategies, such as baby bonds and direct cash. Baby bonds are publicly funded trust accounts for children that can grow into a meaningful financial asset by adulthood. Direct cash programs can strengthen families’ immediate stability.

Together, we’ll examine how funders can drive bold investments in financial stability—combining near-term cash assistance with long-term asset-building tools.

This event will bring together national leaders and Philadelphia-based changemakers to answer key questions, including:

• What can Philadelphia learn from early baby bonds and direct cash efforts?
• How can funders leverage financial capital, policy influence, and convening power to scale these ideas?
• Where are the most urgent and promising opportunities for investment in our region?

Hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of AFN, in partnership with The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, this will be a day of learning, ideation, and strategy-building—designed for funders who are ready to lead.

Speakers:

• Alicia Atkinson- Research and Innovation Officer, The Wealth+ Work Futures Lab
• Amy Castro, PhD- Founding Director; Associate Professor of Social Policy & Practice, Center for Guaranteed Income, University of Pennsylvania
• Darrick Hamilton– Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy; Director, The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy
• Yuan He, MD, MPH, FAAP–  Medical Officer of Children’s Health at the Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health; Child Health Policy Advisor,  Philly Joy Bank
• Amit Khanduri- Director of Programs, Baby Bonds GRO Fund
• Chinwe Onyekere– Senior Program Officer, Vanguard
• David Radcliffe– Director of State and Local Policy, The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy

Please plan to join us for a networking reception directly following the workshop from 4:00 to 4:45 pm.

Seating is limited for this invitation-only event, with a waitlist available once registration is full. Please reach out to Paula Dworek, paula@assetfunders.org, with any questions or accommodation needs.