A Conversation with Annie Donovan

01/30/20 • 20 min

In the first episode of 2020, Maurice speaks with LISC COO Annie Donovan about her journey before coming to LISC, lessons learned from community development finance and the continuous success of the CDFI model. Annie also reflects on her experience as interim leader of LISC’s Bay Area office and work being done there around homelessness, income inequality, racial equity, and displacement with an eye on the year ahead.

Previous Episode

Pursuing the Impossible

In the final episode of 2019, Maurice calls in from Puerto Rico where he is celebrating an exciting initiative, Play Ball Again. In partnership with Marc Anthony’s Maestro Cares Foundation, Bad Bunny’s Good Bunny Foundation, Cubs Charities and Javier Báez, as well as local officials and families, LISC celebrated the opening of a renovated baseball field at Parque de la Comunidad La Ceiba in Loíza, which was demolished by hurricanes in 2017. Play Ball Again aims to restore up to 25 athletic fields and related facilities that will serve 17,500 youth across the island.
Following the discussion of Play Ball Again, Maurice reflects on 2019, the year ahead and the goal we are all tasked with...to make the impossible possible. Thanks for another great year and we hope you will tune in in January!

Next Episode

RVA League for Safer Streets

In this episode, former LISC CEO Maurice A. Jones interviews Paul Taylor, director of the RVA League for Safer Streets in Richmond, Virginia. The League was founded in 2017 by Paul, and the late Jawad Abdu, both returning citizens, to address issues of gang violence in their communities. Before stepping foot on a court, participants attend workshops on problem solving, critical thinking and conflict resolution. In this powerful conversation, Paul shares stories of transformation–of individuals working together to forge opportunities that change lives and heal communities.