The multitrillion-dollar municipal bond market is a significant source of private investor capital for states, localities, school districts, and public authorities. The market is increasingly focused on environmental, social, and governance indicators. But evaluating the benefits and distribution of these benefits from issuances, particularly in terms of racial and social equity, remains a challenge.

The Urban Institute and the Public Finance Initiative invite you to an event where we will demonstrate how municipal bond issuers and other stakeholders can use the new Municipal Bond Racial and Social Equity Scorecard to document, self-assess, and summarize the potential racial equity and social impacts of proposed bond issuances. The scorecard’s results can encourage issuances that promote racial and social equity, strengthen communities, and benefit residents. We will showcase the tool, along with the broader Municipal Bond Markets and Racial Equity project, which centers on leveraging municipal bond markets to drive positive racial and social equity changes. We will then hear how issuers are thinking about racial and social equity in their issuances and how this tool could benefit their work.

Speakers

• Lauren Burdette, Deputy Chief, Office of Equity and Racial Justice, City of Chicago
• Lourdes Germán, Executive Director, Public Finance Initiative
• Amanda Hermans, Research Analyst, Urban Institute
• Brett Theodos, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute

Support for this event is provided through the Municipal Bond Markets and Racial Equity Framework project of the Public Finance Initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed at this event are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. For more on Urban’s funding policies, go to urban.org/about/our-funding.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.