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Resident engagement is essential for the Financial Empowerment Blueprint’s creation. Throughout the Blueprint creation process, the City of South Bend held multiple engagement opportunities for resident and stakeholder input from September – December 2022. The Financial Empowerment team worked to strategically engage over 2,000 residents in-person (350) and virtually (1,900). During this engagement period, the City provided opportunities for community members and leaders to provide their input and feedback on critical issues regarding financial empowerment and racial wealth equity. These community discussions worked to counter historic disenfranchisement, to craft equitable Blueprint initiatives, assisted in understanding the needs and gaps in residents’ financial experiences, and to build community support and momentum for the implementation of the Blueprint. During this time, the City also held scoping meetings with internal and external service providers with different City teams and departments local nonprofit organizations. The series of events for resident engagement and stakeholder input with descriptions and goals of the event are summarized in the table below: COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Engagement Date of Event Description of Event Blueprint Goals of Event Internal City Kickoff May 2022 Internal meeting with City leaders to brainstorm how to include financial empowerment and racial equity in their programs and work. Began a conversation with City leaders to partner with for financial empowerment and racial equity work Undesign the Redline Community Advisory Group Meetings August 2022 October 2022 November 2022 Discussion the effects of discrimination in South Bend and how Black residents remained resilient through policies like Redlining Informed the Undesign the Redline exhibit and provided historical context on wealth-prevention policies in South Bend. Equity Week September 2022 A chronological presentation of policies impacting Black wealth creation. A 3-part resident and stakeholder focus group series with a data presentation of the national racial wealth divide and exploration of the factors which lead to the disparate wealth accumulation levels in South Bend’s Black community. Hosted public events on racial equity and financial empowerment. Boosts and Blocks – Display and Discussion September 13th Presentation of the local chronology of Black wealth- building and wealth-prevention in South Bend and host discussions of the initiatives used to counter past, present, and future discrimination. Received resident input/feedback on Black wealth building in South Bend. Roundtable Conversations September 15th Discussions with community leaders on financial stability and how the City of South Bend can play a role in improving these critical issues. Gathered local service providers and subject-matter experts together to center financial empowerment in their work. Racial Wealth Divide Data Panel September 15th Presentation on the local racial wealth divide and conversation with community leaders whose work engages with financial empowerment. Presented data on South Bend’s racial wealth divide to the public and showcased financial empowerment resources from local community leaders. Undesign the Redline Soft Launch and Blueprint Constituency Soft Launch October 2022 Presentation of exhibit on redlining in South Bend. Held discussions on how to address financial challenges faced by different constituency groups in South Bend. Collected resident input/feedback on proposed Blueprint initiatives. Undesign the Redline Full Launch December 2022 Presentation of full redlining exhibit and held talks on this history and how to address it. Showcased local and national effects of redlining, especially for Black South Bend residents. FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT 15